UP Law grad chosen for ICJ clerkship

MANILA, Philippines - UP Diliman College of Law’s Diane Desierto, graduate of Economics (summa cum laude) and Law (cum laude) and a UP Debate Society alumna, received official appointment to the 2010-2011 traineeship/clerkship at the International Court of Justice.

In a letter to Law dean Marvic Leonen, Desierto said, “I am grateful to report that I have been unanimously selected and appointed by the (ICJ) to one of the most prestigious eight clerkship positions at the Court, awarded only to JD/LLM/JSD students with demonstrated academic excellence, an established record of international publications and scholarly writing, and (preferably) legal practice experience.” 

Desierto is currently finishing her Doctorate in Laws at Yale University.

This has been the first appointment given to a Filipino or a Southeast Asian. The only other Asian who was appointed into the program was a Japanese, also from Yale Law School, in 2005. Desierto said that candidacies for the clerkships had only been solicited from law schools in North America, Europe and the Australian Law School of the Australian National University.

In recognition of the appointment, Yale Law School is awarding Desierto a full fellowship to cover living and travel expenses during her clerkship year.