WORLDWIDE LAWYER

The Worldwide Lawyers Association (WOLAS) is an independent organization working in the field of international law and human rights. Dedicated to the global pursuit of justice and equality, WOLAS promotes the protection of human rights and the rule of law through legal research, advocacy, and capacity-building initiatives. Grounded in the universal values of international law, the Association seeks to contribute to a more just and equitable global legal order.

About the Worldwide Lawyer Education Program

The Worldwide Lawyer Education Program is one of WOLAS’s core initiatives, designed for individuals interested in pursuing careers in international law and human rights. The program combines theoretical instruction with practical components, including monitoring, reporting, and applied legal work. Through specialized courses, reading groups, and supervised practice, participants gain the knowledge and skills required to engage effectively in international legal and human rights processes.

Program Rationale

In Türkiye, legal education and professional training largely focus on domestic law, which limits the ability of young lawyers and human rights advocates to engage effectively with international legal mechanisms. As a result, many qualified individuals face challenges in responding to international human rights violations and global justice issues with the necessary legal expertise. This gap highlights the need for structured, practice-oriented training that connects international legal theory with real-world application.

Program Structure and Institutional Framework

The program is structured over a five-month period and consists of four main stages. It is delivered as an educational activity of Boğaziçi University Lifelong Learning Center (BÜYEM) in cooperation with Boğaziçi University Development Foundation (BUVAKIF). The program is implemented within the scope of an Erasmus+ KA154 Youth Participation Activities project and is supported by the Turkish National Agency.

You can access the details of the program via the introductory booklet. If you have any questions regarding the program, feel free to reach us via egitim@wolas.com for further information.

The Association is firmly committed to the promotion, protection, and defense of the universal values of justice and human rights.

2026 Education Program

The Worldwide Lawyer Education Program is structured to span a total of five months and is divided into four primary stages. Although the program’s language of instruction is Turkish, participants are expected to engage with academic articles, research materials, and other essential readings in English. Accordingly, applicants are required to have an adequate level of English proficiency. A 90% attendance rate is required for all participants. The program will take place weekly on Saturdays at Boğaziçi University’s South Campus. Each stage’s courses will be covered weekly, and students are expected to attend all sessions.

The stages of the program and the courses to be covered at each stage are as follows:

International Human Rights Law - Lecturer: Dr. Hasan Basri Bülbül ( Lecturer at Boğaziçi University Faculty of Law)
International Law - Lecturer: Prof. Dr. Akif Emre Öktem ( Head of the Department of International Law, Galatasaray University Faculty of Law)
Modern International Politics - Lecturer: Assoc. Prof. Dr. Oğuzhan Göksel (Lecturer at Marmara University Faculty of Economics)
Legal Diplomacy and Strategy - Lecturer: Hüseyin Dişli ( Lecturer at Boğaziçi University Faculty of Law) and Dr. Beheşti Aydoğan (Lecturer at Boğaziçi University Faculty of Law)

International Criminal Law - Lecturer: Prof. Dr. Ali Emrah Bozbayındır (Dean of Boğaziçi University Faculty of Law) and Dr. M. Buhari Çetinkaya (Lecturer at İstanbul University Faculty of Law)
Use of Force and the Law of Armed Conflict - Lectures: Dr. Ayşe Didem Sezgin (Lecturer at Boğaziçi University Faculty of Law), and Dr. Mehmet Emin Büyük (Lecturer at İbn Haldun University Faculty of Law).
Critical Approaches to International Law - Lecturer: Dr. Beheşti Aydoğan (Lecturer at Boğaziçi University Faculty of Law)

International Economic Law - Lecturer: Dr. Ömer Erkut Bulut (Lecturer at Boğaziçi University Faculty of Law)
The Law of International Organizations - Lecturer: Dr. Beheşti Aydoğan (Lecturer at Boğaziçi University Faculty of Law)
International Law of the Sea - Lecturer: Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ali Osman Karaoğlu (Lecturer at Yalova University Faculty of Law)
Operational Practice in International Law
- Monitoring in International Law - Lecturer: Hüseyin Ammaroğlu
- Reporting in International Law - Lecturer: Dr. Ömer Metehan Aynural (Lecturer at Istanbul University Faculty of Law)
- International Legal Operations - Lecturers: Enes Kafadar ( Chairman of the Board - WOLAS ), Hüseyin Dişli (Lecturer at Boğaziçi University Faculty of Law)

Participants’ final presentations (In the final stage of the program, participants are required to actively engage in the educational process by preparing and delivering final presentations.Through this process, participants are encouraged to critically analyze selected topics, translate theoretical knowledge into practical outputs, and contribute to a participatory learning environment.)

Application

The primary target group of the Worldwide Lawyer Education Program consists of Master’s and PhD students in the fields of Law, International Relations, and Political Science. Applications are also open to undergraduate students provided that they demonstrate the relevant academic background and competencies required for the program. In addition, trainee lawyers and practicing lawyers are eligible to participate. Applications are open exclusively to individuals between the ages of 18 and 30.

As part of the application process, applicants will be required to submit additional documents. Since the program is implemented as part of an Erasmus+ KA154 Youth Participation Activities project and is supported by the Turkish National Agency, the application and selection process is carried out in line with the eligibility, transparency, and reporting requirements of the Erasmus+ Programme.

Participation Fee and Scholarship for Program

As the program will be implemented as an Erasmus+ Project in cooperation with the National Agency, all participating students will benefit from a tuition-fee waiver and will not be required to pay any program fees.

Partners

The Education Program is carried out by WOLAS in cooperation with the Boğaziçi Üniversitesi Geliştirme Vakfı. The program will be delivered at the Boğaziçi Üniversitesi Yaşam Boyu Eğitim Merkezi (BÜYEM). In addition, the program is implemented within the scope of an Erasmus+ KA154 Youth Participation Activities project and is supported by the Turkish National Agency. This multi-institutional collaboration is intended to enhance the effectiveness and impact of the program through institutional synergy.