Doha: The Center for Law and Development (CLD) at the Qatar University (QU) College of Law, and the US Department of State, through the US Embassy in Qatar, officially launched the Fulbright Specialist Program.
This Fulbright Specialist Program pairs the CLD with highly qualified academics and professionals, who will share their expertise to help strengthen institutional linkages and capacity building at the CLD and QU’s College of Law, the host institution.
The Fulbright Specialist hosted by the CLD at this time is Prof. Martin Geer, a retired US law professor who specializes in legal skills training and public interest law, including civil rights litigation, criminal defense, and legal aid. Prof. Geer previously taught law at the University of Michigan Law School, University of Baltimore, University of New Mexico Law School, and UNLV Boyd Law School.
Through the Fulbright Specialist Program, American academics and professionals can engage in short term academic visits to Qatar and apply their knowledge and expertise in a diverse array of activities. Fulbright Specialists may deliver seminars, trainings or workshops; consult on faculty or workforce development; develop academic or training curricula and materials; lecture at the graduate or undergraduate level; engage in strategic or institutional planning; and conduct needs assessments or evaluations of a programme or an institution.
Established in 2016, the CLD is a law and policy research center based in QU’s College of Law. The CLD is committed to engaging with government, industry and stakeholders to deliver clear policy perspectives, advice and insight through publications, roundtable discussions, and hosting of international panels and conferences. The Center has a team of academic researchers conducting and disseminating research on law and policy fields in areas related to economic diversification, environmental development, and human and social development.
Dr. Rafael Dean Brown, Assistant Professor of Legal Skills and CLD Executive Legal Training Programme Coordinator commented: “The Fulbright Specialist, Prof. Geer, will help improve the CLD’s Executive Legal Training Program at Qatar University, and will give a Client Interviewing training session during his visit.”
The CLD’s Executive Legal Training Program is designed to assist, develop, and promote personnel efficiency in all public and private sectors in Qatar. The CLD conducts legal research addressing high priority national and regional challenges. These include delivering excellence in topical legal research related to the four pillars of the Qatar National Vision 2030.
“The partnership between Fulbright and QU-CLD helps LAWC develop Qatari national capacity and build talent in law-related subjects required by the Qatar National Vision, through legal training programs designed to meet the needs of the present and the future,” added Dr. Jon Truby, CLD Director.
Fulbright Specialist Dr. Martin Geer said: “I am impressed with the organization of the CLD Executive Legal Training programme which delivers excellent capacity-building for the legal training needs of Qatar. I am thrilled to be advising on further expanding the programme to achieve its outreach objectives to serve the Qatari community.”
