Post by: Clayton Grant
As I write this post, I am spending my last few days in Bulgaria. My work with Advocates International and the Rule of Law Institute has been inspiring. It has also led with an admonition: there are always people who need your help. Whether as a criminal litigator, a contract drafter, or a human rights attorney, legal professionals will always be in need.
In the Bulgarian city of Stara Zagora, the local Romani population’s homes are destroyed by the government because the homes are built on roads that fall outside of the city’s plans. Most of the families are left without any compensation while others receive a small piece of land without any shelter. Bulgaria’s national government is in a constant series of scandals which solidify it as the most corrupt nation in the European Union. Bulgaria needs Christians who are willing to get their hands dirty and lawyers who can stand against the government which has denied the voices of citizens and unions but gives vast swaths of beachfront property to wealthy businessmen.
My work with the Rule of Law Institute and Advocates International included analyses of discrimination of Roma across Europe, briefs of copyright and contract cases, outlines of various systems of lobbying frameworks adopted by some of the least corrupt countries according to international watchdog organization, and other briefs relating to various Bulgarian political issues. By mixing in mundane law, my internship has kept me grounded while being able to participate in the solution for a country marred by its history of communism and corruption.
Whether an attorney will be working for an oppressed minority, for legislation to increase government accountability, or for human rights, a lawyer’s services will always be in demand.
The Rule of Law Institute is an organization dedicated to fighting for religious liberty, non-discrimination, and the rule of law through the context of the legal system. It seeks to connect lawyers across the European Union and beyond to monitor legislation, build a community of Christian legal professionals, and to work together on important issues within Europe.
This post was written by a Center for Global Justice Intern. The views expressed in this post do not necessarily reflect those of Regent University, Regent Law School, or the Center for Global Justice.