“It was a full-circle moment. Having studied international human rights law, taught international criminal law for about seven to eight years, and having mooted before, it meant so much to now be a judge and not just for any moot, but for this prestigious moot.”

These are the words of Dr. Claire Adionyi, one of the youngest PhD holders at Strathmore University. Dr. Adionyi is a lecturer at Strathmore Law School and the Co-Director of the Strathmore Institute for Advanced Studies in International Criminal Justice (SIASIC). Recently, she achieved a major career milestone by serving as a judge at one of the most esteemed global moot court competitions, the Nuremberg Moot Court Competition.

This international competition, organized by the International Nuremberg Principles Academy, attracts some of the world’s most respected legal minds, including judges from the International Criminal Court (ICC). Her own mooting journey began when she participated in the ELSA Moot Court Competition at the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg, France, while pursuing her master’s degree at the University of Groningen in the Netherlands. “This moot is like the starting point of international human rights law in Europe,” she explains.

Passion for International Criminal Law
International criminal law (ICL) has been at the center of Dr. Adionyi’s career. She has taught it, researched it widely, worked at SIASIC and now co-directs the centre with a vision to grow its influence. “International criminal law is very important, especially in today’s changing world and shifting geopolitics. It is one of the few tools we have to hold even the most senior and powerful people accountable, regardless of their positions.”

Interestingly, Dr. Adionyi’s dive into ICL began unexpectedly. After completing her master’s in international human rights, she joined Strathmore Law School, only to find that the lecturer in international criminal law was leaving for her PhD studies. With her masters background in international human rights, coupled with her passion for ICL, she stepped in and never looked back.

Judging Among the ‘Big Names’
At Nuremberg, Dr. Adionyi shared the bench with some of the world’s leading judges, including Judge Sergio Gerardo Ugalde Gordínez and Judge Joanna Korner. “When you interact with such people, it gives you a very unique perspective. These are giants in the field, yet so humble.”

From this experience, she learned technical lessons in judging plus the value of empathy and humility in international law practice.

Advice for Law Students
Dr. Adionyi believes that success in law school starts with one quality. “Teachability,” she says. “If you come with a ‘know-it-all’ attitude, it becomes hard. But if you remain teachable, everything becomes easier.” She also emphasizes the importance of mooting. “Imagine being a second-year student and arguing before an ICC judge. The confidence you gain is unmatched, whether you win or lose.”

Her advice to aspiring lawyers is simple yet profound. “Try. Raise your hand. Participate. That’s how you stand out.”

Challenges in International Law

One of the biggest hurdles, according to Dr. Adionyi, is enforcement. “At the end of the day, we have beautiful laws on paper, but without implementation or enforcement, they remain ineffective.”

She also notes that Africa has considerable legal and political influence on the global stage, especially through the African Union, if only it is strategically applied.

Proudest Moments
Being the youngest judge at the Nuremberg Moot was a career highlight for Dr. Adionyi. But her greatest joy comes from teaching. She lectures both first-year and final-year students, seeing them grow from shy beginners into confident young lawyers.

“It’s a privilege to meet them when they can’t even define ‘facts’ and then later hear that they have become presidents of the law clinic or editors at the Strathmore Law Review. Watching that transformation makes me so proud.”

For Dr. Adionyi, every lecture, every moot and every judgment is a step toward a world where international criminal law truly delivers justice.

Article written by Evans Ijakaa.