Washington DC and Doha, July 8, 2013 – The Patton Boggs Foundation, funded by members of the law firm of Patton Boggs LLP for the support of law students doing pro bono public policy work, is pleased to award one of its 2013 Public Policy Fellowships to a law student selected by the Qatar University College of Law. This is the first year that a Fellowship has been awarded to a student studying at a law school outside the United States.
A law student at Qatar University College of Law, 2013 Patton Boggs Fellow Aisha Al Emadi will spend four weeks working in Washington DC. A substantial portion of her time will be spent assisting a human rights project sponsored by Vital Voices Global Partnership. Ms. Al Emadi will also spend time in the Washington DC office of Patton Boggs to acquire an understanding of international human rights issues under the tutorship of Patton Boggs partner and expert in the field, Joe Brand. Qatar Airways has contributed to making this historic Fellowship possible by generously sponsoring Ms. Al Emadi’s travel to Washington DC.
A non-profit organization, Vital Voices supports extraordinary women around the world by helping them to unleash their leadership potential to transform lives and accelerate peace and prosperity in their local communities.
“For many years, the Patton Boggs Foundation has provided financial support to extraordinary law students from law schools throughout the United States. We are proud that the College of Law at Qatar University is the first law school outside the United States to join our program,” noted Patton Boggs Foundation President John Oberdorfer, a long-time partner in the firm who helped establish the Foundation to commemorate the retirement of founding partner James R. Patton, Jr.
“Ms. Al Emadi is an exceptional law student, and her insights will no doubt enrich, in equal measure, the Patton Boggs Foundation, Vital Voices, and other young professionals in Qatar pursuing careers in public policy,” added Mr. Oberdorfer.
“We are very grateful to Mr. Oberdorfer and the entire Patton Boggs Foundation for granting one of our students this invaluable opportunity,” said Hassan Okour, the Dean of QU College of Law. “We are confident that Ms. Al Emadi will bring new perspectives to her work in Washington,” Mr. Okour added.
The Foundation annually provides Public Policy Fellowships to law students at 13 law schools. Since its inception, more than 115 law students have been named Patton Boggs Fellows. The Fellows have worked for governments and public interest organizations in the United States and many other countries. The Public Policy Fellowship embodies the firm’s commitment to helping law students understand the scope of the public policy field and providing opportunities for direct, hands-on experience in public policy work.
“We are pleased and excited to welcome Qatar University College of Law into the Patton Boggs Foundation Public Policy Fellowship program,” said Susan B. Bastress, managing partner of Patton Boggs’ Doha office. “Patton Boggs was privileged to be the first U.S. law firm licensed to practice law here in Doha. So we are particularly delighted that Qatar University College of Law is now the first international law school—and Ms. Al Emadi the first international law student—invited to participate in our Fellowship program.”
The Patton Boggs Foundation was initially funded through legal fees earned by Mr. Oberdorfer for success in a substantial pro bono matter. Additional funding was provided through contribution of fees from a second pro bono win by Patton Boggs Partner Charles Talisman. Further funding is provided through contributions from individual partners and friends of the firm.