This week, a delegation from Notre Dame Law School will embark on a 10-day visit to Nairobi, Johannesburg, and Cape Town, starting Wednesday, January 29. Led by G. Marcus Cole, the Joseph A. Matson Dean of Notre Dame Law School, the delegation aims to strengthen relationships with Strathmore Law School in Kenya, the Constitutional Court of South Africa, and the University of Cape Town in South Africa. This trip aligns with the goals of Notre Dame Law School's Global Lawyering Initiative, which seeks to expand the Law School’s international partnerships and connect students and faculty to global learning and research opportunities. Notre Dame Law School remains committed to equipping its students with a deeper understanding of legal issues that transcend borders.

“Through our partnerships with Strathmore Law School and the University of Cape Town, Notre Dame Law School is expanding opportunities for our students and scholars while contributing to the global conversation on critical legal challenges,” said Dean Cole. “These collaborations highlight that global perspectives are an essential foundation for advancing the pursuit of justice. Africa is at the forefront of these conversations, and our relationships here are integral to Notre Dame Law School's mission of fostering justice and collaboration on an international scale.”

Accompanying the delegation from the Law School are Paul Miller, the Robert and Marion Short professor of law and associate dean for International and Graduate Programs; Michael Addo, professor of law and director of the London Law Programme; Jimmy Gurulé, professor of law and faculty director of the Notre Dame Law School Exoneration Justice Clinic; and Christine Venter, teaching professor and director of the Legal Writing Program.

The initial part of the trip will focus on a visit to Strathmore Law School in Nairobi, Kenya, which is the first law school in Africa to partner with Notre Dame Law School in offering an exchange program for students and faculty. While in Nairobi, Dean Cole will meet with Dr. Vincent Ogutu, vice chancellor; Dr. Elizabeth Gachenga, deputy vice chancellor; and Dr. Jane Wathuta, dean of Strathmore Law School. The delegation will also be meeting with Strathmore Law School’s management committee, which includes the dean, academic director, partnerships director, research director, graduate programs director, and the school's manager. In addition, Dean Cole will meet with Notre Dame Law School alumni based in Kenya.

The delegation’s visit to Nairobi also includes academic programming at Strathmore Law School. On Thursday, January 30, Dean Cole will lead a lecture, “Restoring Faith in Faith-Based Legal Education,” sharing insights into how faith-driven legal education can cultivate principled leadership, social responsibility, and a deeper commitment to justice. His lecture will present a renewed perspective on legal education, highlighting the vital role of faith in shaping the next generation of legal professionals.

While in Nairobi, Professor Gurulé will co-chair a panel discussion, titled, “A Critical Analysis of Criminal Punishment in Africa" alongside Patrick Nzomo, a lecturer at Strathmore Law School and faculty director of the Strathmore Law Clinic. A reception for panelists and attendees will follow the discussion.

After their visit to Nairobi, the delegation will travel to South Africa for a signing with the Constitutional Court of South Africa. This agreement supports Notre Dame Law School’s mission to provide its graduates with clerkship opportunities on one of the most important courts in the Global South. Previously, a Notre Dame Law School delegation met with several members of the Constitutional Court in November 2023.

The culminating activities of the trip will take place at the University of Cape Town, which entered into a historic partnership with Notre Dame Law School through an official Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed on April 24, 2024. While in Cape Town, Dean Cole will meet with Danwood Chirwa, dean of the University of Cape Town Faculty of Law, to further discuss the current MOU, which emphasizes faculty collaboration and research.

Notre Dame Law School will also co-host a joint conference with the University of Cape Town on “Criminal Justice Reform in Africa,” building on themes from the panel discussion, “A Critical Analysis of Criminal Punishment in Africa," held at Strathmore Law School. Professor Addo will lead the session, “Governing Through International Criminal Law,” while Professor Venter will lead the session, “Decolonization Then and Now.” Addo will also deliver the conference’s closing remarks.

“I am very much looking forward to forging stronger relationships with Strathmore and the University of Cape Town, my alma mater, and participating in the joint conferences on prisoners' rights,” said Venter.

This trip to Africa underscores Notre Dame Law School’s commitment to fostering global connections and advancing legal education rooted in justice and collaboration. Through its partnerships with Strathmore Law School, the University of Cape Town, and the Constitutional Court of South Africa, Notre Dame Law School continues to prepare its students and faculty to engage with critical legal issues—such as human rights, criminal justice reform, and global governance—on an international scale.

Learn more about Notre Dame Law School's Global Lawyering Initiative here: https://law.nd.edu/global/.

Originally published by Notre Dame Law School at law.nd.edu on January 27, 2025.