4 days ago
Stanford Law Graduate to Be First Moroccan Clerk at International Court of Justice
Marrakech – A lawyer will make history as the first Moroccan to serve as a clerk at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) since the creation of its prestigious Judicial Fellowship Program in 2000.
Adil Auraghi, who recently graduated from Stanford Law School, ranked the number one law school globally by Times Higher Education, will begin working at the ICJ in September. He will serve as a Judicial Fellow, working directly for Judge Leonardo Nemer Caldeira Brant from Brazil.
'It is essential that African countries, and more generally, countries of the Global South are represented in international justice, especially in the current context of globalization,' Auraghi told Morocco World News (MWN).
Auraghi's journey began in Belgium, where he faced discrimination in high school that led to his being homeschooled to complete his diploma. Despite these challenges, he went on to graduate with High Honors from the Université Catholique de Louvain in 2021.
For three years, Auraghi worked as a lawyer at the Brussels Bar while simultaneously serving as a teaching and research assistant at the Université Saint-Louis Bruxelles for two years.
His academic excellence earned him the Belgian American Educational Foundation (BAEF) scholarship to study at Stanford University, where he graduated with a Master of Law focused on Environmental Law and Human Rights in June of this year. During his time at Stanford, he also worked as a research assistant in Human Rights.
The ICJ, often referred to as the 'World Court,' is the principal judicial organ of the United Nations. Located in The Hague, Netherlands, it resolves legal disputes between states and provides advisory opinions on legal questions from UN organs and specialized agencies.
The court is composed of 15 judges who are elected for nine-year terms by both the United Nations General Assembly and the Security Council, with each judge being a national of a different country.
Each year, the ICJ selects only 15 lawyers worldwide for its highly competitive Judicial Fellowship Program. Fellows are chosen based on their language skills, academic achievements, and extracurricular activities.
Auraghi asserts that Moroccan lawyers have a unique responsibility on the global stage. 'For too long, our countries have been subjects of international policy with a limited participation in shaping them,' he explained to MWN.
'As citizens of one of the most politically stable and economically powerful countries in Africa, with a strong diplomatic presence in the MENA region, Moroccan lawyers have a particular responsibility to use this influence.'
He believes this influence should be directed toward 'fostering peace-making and advocating for the dignity and sovereignty of all countries of the Global South.'
'I would advise always advocating for the interests of Morocco'
For young Moroccans aspiring to careers in international law, Auraghi recommends a multidisciplinary approach. 'Learn law as such, but also develop an interest in other subjects such as history, geopolitics, and economics,' he advised.
This broader understanding helps reveal 'the underlying reasons for the adoption of certain international conventions and judgements.'
He also stressed the importance of language skills, particularly 'the command of French, English and Arabic, which many Moroccans have and which is a very important asset in this field.'
'On the ground, in day-to-day work, I would advise always advocating for the interests of Morocco, but also for all African countries, and the Global South in general,' Auraghi insisted.
Auraghi recognizes the broader significance of his appointment. 'I understand the importance of my presence at the ICJ for Moroccan representation internationally, and more specifically for young Moroccans living in Belgium, where students of African origin are facing systemic discrimination,' he stated.
'Although access to higher education in Belgium is, in theory, affordable and within reach, many students of African origin do not reach university-level education,' Auraghi shared with MWN.
He pointed to reports from UNHRC (2025) and UNIA (2017 and 2024) highlighting 'school segregation' in the Brussels high-school system. This systemic issue explains 'why law schools, and ultimately the Belgian legal sector, lack diversity,' according to Auraghi.
Various organizations are working to address these problems, particularly the Diversity and Inclusion Commission of the French Brussels Bar, headed by Sophie Huart, as noted by Auraghi.
Auraghi's first-of-its-kind appointment in 25 years goes beyond personal acclaim; it signals a pivotal advance in Morocco's footprint within international legal bodies. It also speaks volumes about the untapped force of the nearly 5 million Moroccans abroad, whose global presence continues to propel the country's stature worldwide.
Read also: Belgian-Moroccan Political Scientist Fatima Zibouh Named Brussels Leader of the Year
