History of the IIEL

The Institute of International Economic Law was established in August 1999 at the Georgetown University Law Center in Washington, D.C. by a decision of Dean Judy Areen and Associate Dean Charles Gustafson. The IIEL commenced some activities shortly thereafter, although the academic year 1999-2000 was mainly a start-up and formative period.

Professor John H. Jackson is the IIEL's first director.  He is assisted in this task by the Institute's first Deputy Director, A. Jane Bradley, and the IIEL also benefits from the assistance of several student research assistants, one of whom serves as Program Coordinator.  In addition, the IIEL is assisted by a number of eminent scholars who have become Faculty Associates of the IIEL.

The Institute has appointed a number of outstanding students, visiting professors, and visiting researchers as IIEL Fellows, who participate in some IIEL activities, including informal lunch meetings, where fellows and participating faculty benefit from presentations by insiders and guests who live and work in Washington, D.C. Most IIEL Fellows are working toward advanced degrees at Georgetown Law, completing a thesis for another institution (such as universities abroad), or doing other research of their own. Some are visiting scholars, including professors from other institutions.

Setting - Georgetown University Law Center - Washington, D.C.

Since its establishment in 1870, the Georgetown University Law Center has prepared its graduates to excel in a range of legal careers, from private practice to teaching and public service of all kinds. The Law Center brings together an extraordinarily varied group of scholar-teachers and practitioners, as well as a highly qualified student body, representing a broad range of backgrounds and perspectives.

The Law Center is widely recognized as one of the foremost institutions of international and comparative law scholarship and teaching in the world. The work of the Georgetown faculty who concentrate on international and comparative law is well known and widely respected. Their scholarship is buttressed by extensive experience in the field working with governmental and international organizations. Georgetown Law's extraordinary adjunct faculty also bring a high degree of experience in international practice that enables the Law Center to offer the largest curriculum in the United States in international and foreign law. During the current academic year, over 80 courses and seminars concerning various aspects of international and/or foreign law will be offered at the Law Center in the J.D. and Graduate Divisions.

The Institute's activitiy is greatly facilitated by the many facilities available at Georgetown Law for faculty and student research, especially by one of the best (arguably the best) law libraries for international economic law subjects in the world, the John Wolff International and Comparative Law Library. It has the additional advantage of being located in Washington, D.C. with proximity to the centers of U.S. Government activity, international economic organizations (such as the IMF, IBRD, OAS and IADB) and to renowned non-government research centers and institutes; all of which contribute to consistent and prolific public policy debates through their activities.