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The professionalization of lawyers through a Center for Human

Rights:The Facultad Libre de Derecho de MonterreyExperience

Fernando Villarreal-GondaFacultad Libre de Derecho de Monterrey, Mxico

Ivonne GARZA, Fernando VILLARREAL and Juan GARZA

The legal culture of human rights emerged recently in Mexico, characterized by a deepinfluence of international law. The multicultural practice is an additional feature of thoseconcerned in improving the human rights situation in the country. The growing popularity ofhuman rights finally materialized in the constitutional reform of 2011, where human rightstreaties and the pro homine principle became part of the supreme law of our nation. Inaddition, the panorama of violence and organized crime has triggered a revalorization oflegal education through aspects that were previously left behind. Human rights matters arenow positioned in a prioritized space. We wander if they offer answers to the currentchallenges we face in Mexico.

It has been three years since Facultad Libre de Derecho de Monterrey created a Center forHuman Rights.118 The initiative came from a small group of professors and students. Thisproject has been essential in the learning process of students in our Law School.

Since the beginning, being part of the Center for Human Rights has meant much more thanjust participating in any other academic activity. Through the implementation of a dynamicand relaxed functioning strategy, and the direction of young professors, the Center forHuman Rights has been able to combine different creative elements that are attractive toour students. The consequence is a deep sense of belonging to the Center and its work.Students value the different perspectives that the Center uses to address law matters. In

most instances, they dispel the stereotype of lawyers: the formal-dressed one who createsa distant relationship with its clients, works long hours at an enclosed space and is totallyindifferent to his/her surroundings. An environment of caring and empathy is promoted.Professors and students create close relationships through their work. Activities areorganized in a horizontal coordination. All members have the same level of responsibilityand involvement. Thus, in this healthy working environment important achievements havebeen made.

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1. Panels and continuing legal educationDiscussion panels and continuing legal education programs bring together currentcontroversial issues and experts in discussions that attract the community. This activity perse constitutes a way in which human rights are promoted. The experience has showed that

trial lawyers, students and scholars may share their knowledge and experience. This area ofthe Center has also enabled the construction of networks with other law schools anddomestic human rights organizations.

2. Model United Nations and Moot Court CompetitionsModel United Nations and Moot Court Competitions are an opportunity to teach and learn ina different and innovative way. They offer students new tools, knowledge and skills thatshape unusual professional profiles. They allow opening their minds and rethinking theinteraction between domestic and international law. For law professors, competitions are an

118 Contact: centrodederechoshumanos@fldm.edu.mx ; facebook.com/CDHFLDM ; @CDH_FLDM

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opportunity to engage, from the academic arena, in the construction of new visions of theworld.

Assuring a mix of practice and theory, the study of case law enhances and promotes grouptasks that force students to confront real life situations in real life conditions. From differentperspectives and expectations, competitions ensure the creation of new dynamics andrelations that eventually influence the way politic, economic, social and legal practicesinteract around the globe.

Moot Courts and Model United Nations competitions are an entertaining challenge. Eventhough the processes of preparation and organization imply diary work and enormousefforts, such activities provide a global perspective and a wide range of network of studentsand scholars who meet in this type of events. The identification of clear objectives and theharmonization of ideas from all the actors in the institution have been essential in theimplementation of this academic activity.

Three years ago, our law school started participating in the Inter-American Human RightsMoot Court Competition, organized by American University Washington College of Law. In2012 we achieved a 6th place (109 universities participated in the competition). We havenow expanded our participation to international Model United Nations Contests HarvardUniversity this year- and other Moot Court competitions such as the Francisco Surez,organized by Universidad Javeriana in Bogota, Colombia.

3. Ins Fernndez and Valentina Rosendo ScholarshipIn 2012, the Center created the Ins Fernndez and Valentina Rosendo Scholarship with thepurpose of generating a fund to provide students with resources to participate in the Inter-American Human Rights Moot Court competition organized by American University and a

six-month internship at the Inter-American Court of Human Rights. We firmly believe thatthe experience obtained in both the internship and the competition will be relevant in theacademic and professional lives of people involved.

Ins Fernndezand Valentina RosendoDUHYLFWLPVRIKXPDQULJKWVYLRODWLRQVSHUSHWXDWHGby the Mexican military forces. Their cases were brought up to the Inter-American Court ofHuman Rights, were the violations were recognized and the Mexican State was condemnedto reparation. Both are now human rights promoters and defenders in the country. Theirnames were chosen to fulfill two objectives: to honor them for their courage and tenacitytowards the defense of human rights, and to set an inspiring example for students.

The Center for Human Rights has transformed the dynamics of our law school. Students arenow more conscious about human rights issues. The Human Rights elective has also beenintroduced to the academic program. Human rights never have been more popular.

The current social and legal situation in Mexico forces us to keep up with innovations in legaleducation. The creation of a Center for Human Rights is one of the many possible ways inwhich law schools can accomplish this objective. For Facultad Libre, the risk taken hasbrought us to the discovery of a new legal path full of positive rewards, in which we hope tokeep on walking for a long time.