IJ Builds A Legal Network Across America—And Around The Globe

IJ is proud to celebrate another Law Student Conference, an event that has attracted aspiring legal advocates from across the country for three decades. 

This summer, 35 law students participated in a series of informative and interactive sessions led by IJ’s dedicated attorneys. Over two days, students delved into topics they aren’t exposed to through law school curricula, such as the differences between public interest law and private practice; effective litigation strategies; and the intricacies of precedent-setting case development—including how we advance cases to the U.S. Supreme Court.

One highlight was a new session focused on a developing area within IJ’s property rights pillar: how we use the Takings Clause of the Fifth Amendment to challenge the destruction of innocent people’s property in SWAT raids. We used a mock case to explore the boundaries of government takings and the police power. This session provided students with a hands-on learning experience, allowing them to actively engage in case design and trial strategy. This practical approach deepens their understanding of public interest law and the litigation process, simulating the work of an IJ attorney.

The conference also underscored the relationships we maintain with program alumni through IJ’s Human Action Network. This program fosters connections with legal professionals who might not do public interest law full time but who are still dedicated to defending individual liberty. Student attendees are now poised to become either future IJ attorneys or future IJ allies, ready to support us with pro bono work and expand our network of dedicated advocates. 

IJ’s network of legal friends extends not just from coast to coast—it goes around the globe.

Public interest law firms are a venerable American tradition, but they are rare in Europe. In 2001, Gunnar Strömmer—a young Swedish lawyer—came to IJ as an intern to learn how American-style public interest law works. With that knowledge, he went back to Sweden and founded the Centrum för Rättvisa (Center for Justice), a nonprofit law firm dedicated to protecting individual rights.

The Centrum follows the IJ model and addresses issues that significantly overlap with our work, including government accountability, freedom of expression, and economic liberty. It has litigated over 100 cases and secured victories at the highest courts in Sweden and Europe.

Decades later, IJ’s friendship with the Centrum remains strong, and we are thrilled to host one of their attorneys at our law student conference each summer. As for Gunnar, he is no longer at the Centrum, but IJ hosted him recently for a lunch talk and mini-reunion when he visited the D.C. area as part of his current job—as Sweden’s minister for justice!

Looking forward, we invite aspiring legal advocates to join us at future conferences as we continue to inspire, educate, and shape the future of public interest law in both the United States and abroad.

Kathryn Wrench is IJ’s litigation operations manager.