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<\/a>Despite Osama choosing a different LLM pathway to his brother, Ahmed says they have a lot in common with respect to their studies: \u2018There are many intersections about our opinions about law and how it operates. The law school\u2019s culture of critical thinking in asking questions about what the law is and how it works is a common ground for us. So, we end up asking each other about references on broader themes and topics that we have a shared interest in.\u2019<\/p>\n
Before coming to Kent, Osama was working as a legal practitioner with a focus on immigration, taxation, customs, land, constitutional law, and succession. One of his main reasons for choosing to study an LLM was to develop his interest and skills in International Commercial Law, particularly trade law, arbitration and intellectual property – much of the work he did as a practitioner was in these areas. Osama said: \u2018Another reason for my interest is that these areas of law give me an understanding of how the global political-economy works, and why the law is the way it is. I think that this is where Kent Law School\u2019s critical legal perspective really helps. Subjects that normally people would expect to be doctrinal are taught with different critical or multi-disciplinary perspectives.\u2019<\/p>\n
Ahmed\u2019s main interests lie in public international law, or specifically historical approaches to international law. He said: \u2018I am particularly drawn to how we can understand contemporary problems by re-examining the history of international law as a discipline. I think history as an approach to understand law is just fascinating in a way which it reveals to us very different stories and realities about how things were \u2013 and in many ways \u2013 how they then develop. Thinking about the past can really have a bearing on what we know and do not know about our present.<\/p>\n \u2018My research delves (if not in so much depth) into critical perspectives of political economy, international global order and issues of global governance. Having to talk to Osama about these broader topics is always a learning opportunity as we both bring different interdisciplinary ways of thinking about these issues from the perspective of our specific interests.\u2019<\/p>\n Ahmed\u2019s doctoral thesis is tentatively titled \u2018Network Governance and violence: A Critical Third World Approach to International Law History.\u2019 He said: \u2018My project is drawing on a critical, historical approach to re-examine how different forms of violence through transnational institutions are rendered invisible by the orthodox understanding and application of international law. This particular project makes the case that the unaccountable violence of the contemporary counter terrorism networks, such as US Special operation forces, can only be understood by understanding how international law historically approached transnational institutions and their violence. My project sketches the history of this relationship between the violence of transnational institutions and international law from the 17th Century Holy Roman Church, Commercial networks of the 18th Century, international organizations and policy\/regulatory networks in the 20th Century and finally counter terrorism network of the post 9\/11 era.\u2019<\/p>\n In addition to his studies, Osama also has duties at Kent Law School as an LLM Student Representative: \u2018As a Student Rep, my main duties include acting as a link between my class, Kent Union and the University, and to take any issues that the students have to the appropriate body or forum in the University. As a Student Rep, I am also invited to attend meetings within Kent Union or the School, such as the Student Staff Liaison Committee, or the Graduate Studies Committee, where I can discuss or raise relevant issues that the students feel are important.\u2019<\/p>\n Once Osama completes his LLM, he expects to be heading home to Karachi to work in a corporate law firm. But he\u2019s not closing the door on the possibility of further study: \u2018My time here at Kent has also inspired me to consider pursuing a doctorate in the foreseeable future.\u2019<\/p>\n Ahmed is clear that he wants to stay in academia: \u2018I\u2019d like to find a teaching job and continue doing research within my area of interest. Perhaps sometimes in the future, it would be interesting for us to do a collaborative project combining some theoretical aspects of my research with Osama\u2019s interest in global trade and commercial regulation.\u2019<\/p>\n The brothers agree that studying together at Kent has been a source of \u201cmassive mutual support\u201d: \u2018We can share everyday, mundane but absolutely necessary burdens. Small things such as cleaning and cooking, to getting a book from the library or getting together to eat on campus when we take breaks in between studying all become part of our everyday life. The only downside is probably the amount of coordination required when studying and living together!\u2019 But, despite having each other to lean on, both believe it\u2019s the friendships they have made during their time at the Law School which has made their experience at Kent particularly valuable.<\/p>\n<\/a>