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Kirraley Bowles undertook an LLM in International Law with International Relations in 2007, graduated with a Distinction and now works in the President’s Office at the Special Tribunal for Lebanon. Before this she worked in the Immediate Office of the Prosecutor at the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY).
While working on her dissertation at BSIS, Kirraley undertook a five month internship in the Office of the Prosecutor at the ICTY. In an ‘Australian Lawyers Weekly’ article written by Alice Ramsay, Kirraley said: ‘To translate studies into a career in this area, an internship is essential. I would almost go so far as saying, a prerequisite. The internship made it clear to me that international criminal law was the area I wanted to work in. When you work for free for five months and can’t wait to get to the office each day, it is a clear indication that you are in the right field. I wasn’t working for money or status, but for the right reasons and that was transformative.’
For Kirraley her postgraduate degree at BSIS ‘was instrumental in helping to secure both [her] internship and [her] current role at the ICTY. ‘BSIS gave me the academic grounding I required in order to move into the competitive field of international criminal law. I would go so far as to say that my postgraduate studies were the key to my successful career transition (from private legal practice to the public sector).’
When talking about her time at BSIS Kirraley is characteristically enthusiastic. ‘The school offers a wide array of subjects that are directly relevant to those interested in international affairs, and which set the foundation for a future career on the international plane. Importantly, BSIS’s staff members are knowledgeable, encouraging and committed to their students. They responded with professionalism, patience and genuine warmth to all my queries – be they related to my studies, or simply the practical aspects of settling into Brussels.’
‘I would not hesitate to recommend BSIS to prospective students. To study fascinating subjects with peers from all parts of the world is in itself extraordinary. But to do this whilst discovering a new city with your new friends makes the BSIS experience even more special.’