Speaking from Kyiv amid drone attacks, Aonghus Kelly shares insights from his remarkable journey from corporate law to international criminal justice. His experience offers valuable lessons for lawyers seeking to build careers in human rights and international criminal law while highlighting the growing intersection between corporate practice and human rights work.

The Path to International Practice

Kelly’s journey illustrates there’s no single route to international human rights law. After qualifying in New Zealand and Ireland, he followed his passion for human rights through various roles, including:

• Working on death row defence issues
• Investigating British Army actions in Iraq
• Prosecuting war crimes in Bosnia Herzegovina
• Handling organised crime cases in Kosovo
• Supporting rule of law missions in conflict zones

“Getting experience in a domestic system before going into the international world is hugely useful and important,” Kelly emphasises. “One of the flaws in the international system right now is that a certain number of lawyers there have not practised domestically.”

Corporate Experience as Foundation

Contrary to what some might expect, corporate law experience can provide a valuable foundation for human rights work. Kelly notes that many leading international human rights lawyers started in corporate firms, gaining essential skills that transfer well to human rights practice. The structured approach and rigorous training of corporate practice offers advantages for later specialised work.

The Changing Landscape

The field is evolving rapidly, with several key trends:

1. Environmental Justice Corporate sustainability and human rights are increasingly interlinked, especially regarding climate change and migration. “If you look at the history of homo sapiens,” Kelly notes, “massive war or mass changes in climate or massive changes in food production have led to mass migration.”
2. ESG Integration Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) considerations are creating new opportunities for lawyers to bridge corporate and human rights work. Many firms now seek expertise in these areas, pulling talent from NGOs into corporate practice.
3. Pro Bono Evolution Major law firms are expanding their pro bono work, driven partly by younger lawyers’ desire for meaningful work. As one lawyer told Kelly, “The main reason I changed firms was that this one allows me to spend time doing pro bono work.”

Starting Your Career

For those interested in this field, Kelly recommends:

1. Build Domestic Experience Start with several years in domestic practice to develop fundamental legal skills.
2. Be Flexible “You may have to take a hit… step down a little bit to step up,” Kelly advises. The path isn’t always direct.
3. Consider Corporate Training Time spent in corporate firms can provide valuable skills and perspective for later human rights work.
4. Stay Open to Opportunities While planning is important, many opportunities arise through “luck and happenstance.”

The Future of Human Rights Law

Several factors are shaping the field’s future:

1. Technology Integration AI and open-source intelligence are becoming crucial tools, especially in investigating human rights violations and processing large amounts of evidence.
2. Corporate Integration The lines between corporate law and human rights work are blurring, creating new opportunities for lawyers with both skill sets.
3. Climate Justice Environmental issues are increasingly central to human rights work, creating new legal challenges and opportunities.

Challenges and Opportunities

While the field is more competitive than ever, with “so many more people coming out of institutions with relevant qualifications,” Kelly sees continuing opportunities. “With the crises, there will be opportunities too,” he notes, particularly as global challenges create new needs for legal expertise.

The intersection of corporate law and human rights work continues to grow, driven by:

• ESG requirements
• Supply chain legislation
• Climate change regulations
• Human rights due diligence

Looking Ahead

For lawyers considering this path, Kelly emphasises the importance of both patience and preparation. While building a career purely in human rights law can be challenging in smaller jurisdictions, opportunities exist, particularly in larger markets and through corporate law firms’ expanding human rights work.

The field’s future likely lies in the integration of corporate and human rights practice, with lawyers increasingly needing to understand both worlds. As global challenges mount, the demand for lawyers who can navigate these intersections will only grow.