AUWCL Students Draft Groundbreaking Consumer Safety Law for UN Presentation
Legal Rhetoric Professor Elizabeth Keith Leads Students in Tackling Global Consumer Protection Issues
Professor Elizabeth Keith, a legal rhetoric expert at WCL, is leading a groundbreaking initiative to protect consumers worldwide. In collaboration with the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), Professor Keith's innovative "International Legal Drafting" course tackled a critical issue: unsafe consumer products in the global marketplace.
Upper-level J.D. students in the course, including Emily Moran, Victoria Paul, Natalie Rodriguez, April Song, Miriam Sopin-Vilme, Elizabeth Staffeldt, and Aissatou Toure, actively participated in researching and drafting a new model law.
"Through the course, students studied the various legal systems and existing consumer product safety policies and laws of UNCTAD member States," Keith explained. "The course culminated in the students drafting a new model law in a niche area of international consumer protection."
The draft law the students created aims to prevent the cross-border trade of millions of known, unsafe products, potentially safeguarding countless consumers around the world.
Professor Keith and her students' dedication didn't stop at the classroom. Their exceptional work was recognized by UNCTAD, leading to an invitation to present their progress at two prestigious events in Geneva, Switzerland: the 8th Session of the Intergovernmental Group of Experts on Consumer Protection Law & Policy and the 15th Meeting of the UNCTAD Research Partnership Platform.
The trip gave students an opportunity to deepen their connections in international law.
"The students networked with international lawyers, regulators, and policy leaders from around the world," Keith said. "The group also had the privilege of meeting Susan Benda, a legal affairs attaché at the US Mission to the UN in Geneva. Ms. Benda's insights inspired the students to consider pursuing careers in international law and consumer protection."
In addition to acquiring tangible legal drafting skills in an international law setting, students also gained new insight into the operations of international organizations.
Professor Keith and her students' work is a testament to the power of collaboration in tackling global challenges. This model law has the potential to significantly improve consumer safety worldwide.
Story by Brice Helms