Laura’s interest in joining the IHRC stems from her extensive travels during college, where she worked each summer with the Camp Adventure Youth Services on U.S. and British military bases abroad. While working for the camps, Laura experienced the differing cultures on the bases compared with the local cities and towns she visited in Spain, Germany, and Okinawa. Her adventures abroad motivated her to learn more about international law, and gain an understanding of how to approach pervasive and devasting human rights issues around the globe.

Laura studied international relations at UC Davis, with a focus on “peoples and nationalities,” where she focused on understanding the social and cultural foundations of different nations. While at Davis, she also studied abroad at University College Utrecht in the Netherlands. After college, Laura worked as a paralegal before starting law school. She looks forward to bridging her interests and hopes to become a strong advocate through her work with the IHRC.

Since enrolling at USC Gould, Laura has been active with the Hale Moot Court Honors Program, the International Refugee Assistant Project (IRAP), and the Art Law Society. Laura spent both her 1L and 2L summers as a summer associate at Hogan Lovells in Los Angeles. She is also a Research Assistant for Professor Garry.

“I think it is important to try [international criminal cases] for, among many other reasons, to increase justice, protect vulnerable peoples and victims, and affect positive changes around the globe with visibility and deterrence.”