Thomas Jefferson School of Law graduate finds her passion working in international human rights law and focusing on grass-roots activism.

by Ursula Furi-Perry, Esq.

Christy Edwards is making waves internationally. She not only assists asylum seekers, but also makes contributions to the human rights field.

“If there’s any possible way, do what you love,” said Edwards, a 2007 Thomas Jefferson School of Law graduate.

Coming from a family where several generations worked for nonprofits, Edwards was interested in using her legal education to work on issues that mattered to her.

Soon after graduating from law school, Edwards represented a young asylum petitioner from Darfur. The man had taken pictures of some of the atrocities that took place in his country but was able to escape, even after the Sudanese government figured out that he was documenting the events that unfolded.

“The most difficult part of working on a case is putting together [the client’s] story,” Edwards said.

Post-traumatic stress is a factor for any asylum seeker, she explains, and it can take a lot of coaxing, listening and building trust to get the client’s story.

“These are very private and personal things that happened to them,” she said. “It’s a very delicate balance of being sympathetic but also being realistic.”

Although international law encompasses many sub-specialties – including transactional law, international trade and international environmental law – human rights issues are often the most notable.

Edwards became involved in public international law early in her law school career. She worked for several human rights organizations in San Diego, where she focused on working with refugee populations in the city, including Sudanese refugees.

Intense and emotional work

Edwards said her work can be intense and emotional. In addition to dealing with a new culture and perhaps a different language with every client, attorneys help clients with more than just detached legal advice.

“The attorney really does go above and beyond just the legal work,” she said, sometimes assisting the client with basic necessities as well. “Some of them have no one, and there’s no one else for them to turn to.”

In addition to her work with asylum seekers, Edwards tutors Sudanese refugees once a week. She said she enjoys making a difference in the refugees’ lives.

For Edwards, it was always important to focus on grass-roots activism.

“I spent a semester studying at the United Nations in Geneva [as an undergraduate,]” she said. “What I saw was that the most impact came from grass-roots movements.”

Edwards is putting her activism to paper by writing academic articles about the sex trade in China based on the country’s “One Child” policy. She is also working with the United Nations’ Women’s Council putting together a conference on sex trafficking.

Edwards recommends that those interested in human rights and public international law get their start with local community organizations.

“It’s a great way to get experience and contacts,” she said, adding that nonprofits are always looking for help with a variety of projects, from development to program management.

She also advises students to get involved on campus. Edwards founded Thomas Jefferson’s Amnesty International student group, and she coordinated community service projects, organized speaking engagements and seminars and improved local community involvement at the school.

“That was a really great platform to get students more involved and draw attention to some of the issues,” she said.

Recently, Edwards was recognized for her efforts in human rights law when she received the $5,000 Sandra Day O’Connor scholarship for an essay she wrote about her commitment to ensure that international human rights treaties which are incorporated into U.S. law are followed. In addition to the scholarship, Edwards received congratulations from Justice O’Connor, whom she got to meet in person when she received the award at the National Association of Women Judges Conference.