Photo by Tony Cece

Wednesday, September 18, 2013

Law Students Make International Impact

Ra Hee Jeon participating in a
WHC fundraising event.
Photo courtesy of Ra Hee Jeon
By Brett Wilson
September 12, 2013

Though school was out of session for most Regent University School of Law students during summer break, serious issues such as assault and human tracking do not take a hiatus.

The Center for Global Justice, Human Rights, and the Rule of Law interns understood this as they traveled to different corners of the world, following the Biblical calling of "seeking justice" and "encouraging the oppressed."

One Global Justice intern, Kellisia Hazelwood, 3L, spent her summer interning at Dream Ghana, combatting the legal issues revolving around gender-based violence unfurling within many of the country's schools. Hazelwood, along with Dream Ghana, worked to support the efforts of the Human Rights Advocacy in Africa.

Hazelwood explained that in the nation of Ghana, many women attending schools are being abused, kidnapped and raped simply because of their gender. Her work with Dream Ghana entailed educating parents and students and giving presentations to raise awareness of this issue.

As the summer progressed, Hazelwood was encouraged by the number of people who would attend the trials of perpetrators of these particular crimes to see justice served.

"It was like a baseball game or something," said Hazelwood. "Everyone wanted to come out."

Along with her law degree, Hazelwood is also working toward her M.Div. And while she knows the two degrees together are not a traditional educational pursuit, Hazelwood is simply following her calling.

"It just came to me when I went on a mission trip last year to Ghana—I heard God say, 'international law,'" said Hazelwood. "I just wanted to help in a way that was different from a typical missionary, to protect people from a legal aspect."

Like Hazelwood, Ra Hee Jeon, 2L, spent her summer weaving together the threads of ministry and the law as she worked to combat human and domestic violence in her home nation. She interned with Women's Hope Center (WHC), an non-government organization (NGO), in Pohang, South Korea.

Jeon presented research projects regarding the rights of adolescents and single mothers in Korea. She also explored South Korea's social infrastructure to aid victims of sex trafficking. While she was thankful for the exposure to international law in South Korea, Jeon explained her ability to minister to those she worked with was what was most meaningful about her internship experience.

"I loved that I could share how God's grace and love changed my life when I was 20 years old," said Jeon. "Seeing the clients making conscious choices to learn about God's teaching and love, I was reminded of God's love for me as well."

Jeon explained that serving and learning about her home country's legal system was humbling. And though she is quite confident that God has plans for the nation where she was sent to complete her legal education, she also knows there is much work to be done in the nation that she calls home.

"Honestly it was heartbreaking to learn about the social reality of my home country and of the world," said Jeon. "However, I am hopeful this will change because the people of South Korea have a deep care for one another and that carries the power of unity and love."

Learn more about Regent University School of Law and the Center for Global Justice, Human Rights, and the Rule of Law.

PR/NEWS CONTACT: Mindy Hughes, Public Relations Phone: 757.352.4095 Fax: 757.352.4888 E-mail: mhughes@regent.edu

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