For a group of law students from FAMU, the principles of international justice moved last week from the pages of their textbooks into the hallowed halls where it is practiced. Twelve students from the FAMU College of Law traveled to The Hague for an intensive program that offered them a rare, ground-level view of the world’s most pivotal legal institutions.
The cohort spent days immersed in the ecosystem of international law, with direct access to the International Court of Justice (ICJ), the International Criminal Court (ICC), and the United Nations’ Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals. The trip, more than just an academic tour, was designed as a deep dive into the mechanics and humanity of global legal practice.
The program’s pinnacle was an exclusive audience with the Honorable Judge Dire Tladi of South Africa, currently serving on the ICJ, inside the historic Peace Palace. Students also attended live court hearings at the ICC, received expert briefings from court officials, and participated in a career seminar at the T.M.C. Asser Institute.
For the students, many of whom aspire to careers in international law, the experience was transformative.
“It brought international law to life in a way no classroom ever could,” said Lineca Honore, a third-year law student. “Standing inside the very institutions where justice is debated and delivered deepened my passion for this field and reminded me why I chose this path.”
The trip was coordinated by Professor Jeremy Levitt, a distinguished professor of international law at FAMU, who emphasized the pedagogical value of placing students in the rooms where history unfolds.
“Standing in the halls of the ICC and ICJ, students saw firsthand how principles translated into practice, and how justice was shaped on the world stage,” Professor Levitt said. “This journey empowered our future lawyers to think beyond domestic boundaries—to become advocates who lead with both global insight and local relevance.”
Other students echoed the sentiment that the experience had reshaped their professional ambitions. Andrew McMann, a third-year student, found a meeting with Judge Tladi particularly inspiring. “It made me appreciate how much effort goes into bringing justice around the world,” he said. “The idea of using my law degree to work internationally is now more than just a dream, it is a real possibility.”
Richell DeJesus, another participant, called the trip a “once-in-a-lifetime opportunity” that exposed her to new career paths and perspectives on global professionalism.
The initiative is a cornerstone of the law school’s strategy to provide a globally connected legal education, according to Cecil Howard, the college’s associate provost and interim dean.
“We are dedicated to giving our students not just access—but meaningful engagement with global legal systems and leaders,” Mr. Howard said. The program, he noted, blends the college’s international focus with its tradition of preparing attorneys to navigate an interdependent world.
The students also participated in cultural excursions, including an evening tour of the renowned Mauritshuis Museum, home to Dutch Golden Age masterpieces, balancing their rigorous legal schedule with moments of historical and artistic reflection.
The trip underscores FAMU’s institutional commitment to “Excellence with Caring,” aiming to enhance Florida’s capacity for international legal representation and position its graduates as future leaders in global justice and advocacy. For a dozen students, the path to that future now seems a little clearer, viewed from the courtrooms of The Hague.