Bilgeyiskhanim is an international lawyer with extensive experience providing strategic legal advice to individuals, governments, and non-governmental organisations across a wide spectrum of public international law.
She has worked at leading law firms in London and completed mini-pupillages at prominent chambers, contributing to complex litigation and advisory work.
Her experience also includes roles within major international institutions such as the Council of Europe, the European Court of Human Rights, and the European Commission, where she worked on the development and implementation of EU legal and policy frameworks.
Alongside her professional practice, Bilgeyiskhanim is actively involved in mentoring and delivering lectures on pathways into public international law, supporting aspiring lawyers with practical and academic insight.
Bilgeyiskhanim on Public International Law
“The journey into this field is rarely linear or clearly defined. There is no single path to becoming an international lawyer, and that uncertainty can be both challenging and motivating. It requires continuous self-development—academically, professionally, and personally. In many ways, the process is as important as the outcome, demanding resilience, adaptability, and a willingness to grow over time.”
While there is no fixed route into public international law, she identifies several foundational steps that can help aspiring practitioners navigate this complex and evolving field:
1. Academic Qualifications
Academic qualifications form an important foundation for a career in public international law. While many practitioners begin with an undergraduate law degree, there is no single academic route into the field. Degrees such as politics, international relations, history, or related disciplines can also provide a strong understanding of international legal and political systems. However, for those intending to practise law professionally, formal legal education and qualification remain important.
At postgraduate level, many aspiring international lawyers pursue a specialised master’s degree in Public International Law, International Human Rights Law, International Criminal Law, or related areas. Advanced study allows for deeper engagement with key areas of international law, including treaty law, state responsibility, jurisdiction, international dispute resolution, and the work of international courts and institutions.
The choice of university can also be significant. Institutions with well-established international law faculties, specialised modules, research centres, and links to international organisations often provide more focused academic exposure to the field. Studying within a strong academic environment can also offer greater insight into contemporary developments and debates within public international law.
2. Gaining Relevant Practical Experience
Practical experience is an essential part of developing a career in public international law. It provides the opportunity to move beyond academic study and engage directly with how international legal principles operate within institutional, governmental, and litigation contexts.
Early exposure to the field helps develop core skills such as legal research, legal drafting, analytical reasoning, case analysis, and advocacy, while also offering a clearer understanding of the day-to-day realities of international legal work. It can further assist aspiring practitioners in identifying particular areas of interest and shaping long-term career direction within the field.
Given the competitive nature of public international law, relevant experience is often a significant differentiator in applications for postgraduate study, training opportunities, and professional roles. As a result, many aspiring international lawyers seek internships, traineeships, research positions, and volunteering opportunities with law firms, barristers’ chambers, government departments, non-governmental organisations, and international institutions, including those within the United Nations, the Council of Europe, and the European Union.
Participation in mooting competitions, legal clinics, and academic research projects can likewise strengthen both legal skills and professional engagement with the field. In many cases, consistent involvement and demonstrated commitment to international law are just as important as the prestige of a particular role or institution.
3. Building a Professional Network
Exposure to the public international law community often plays a decisive role in understanding how the field operates beyond academic study. It allows aspiring lawyers to gain insight into current debates, institutional practices, and the practical realities of international legal work.
Attending conferences, seminars, and professional events offers valuable opportunities to connect with practitioners, academics, and representatives of international organisations. These interactions can broaden understanding of the profession and provide insight into the variety of career paths available within international law.
More importantly, networking should be viewed not simply as the exchange of contacts, but as the cultivation of professional relationships grounded in shared interests, intellectual engagement, and long-term development within the field.
4. Qualifying as a Lawyer
For those pursuing a career in public international law, obtaining formal legal qualification is an essential step in becoming a practising lawyer. In the United Kingdom, this requires qualifying either as a solicitor or as a barrister, depending on the intended area of practice.
To qualify as a solicitor, candidates must complete the Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE), which is divided into two stages: SQE1, which assesses functioning legal knowledge, and SQE2, which evaluates practical legal skills. Those who wish to qualify as barristers must complete the Bar training pathway, followed by a pupillage—an intensive period of practical training under the supervision of an experienced barrister.
While the specific qualification routes vary across jurisdictions, the underlying principle is consistent: practising as an international lawyer requires formal admission to the legal profession in at least one jurisdiction before engaging in legal work at a professional level.
5. Developing Language Proficiency
In public international law, the ability to work across different legal systems often depends on effective communication beyond a single language. As legal work increasingly spans multiple jurisdictions, language proficiency becomes an important practical skill rather than simply an additional advantage.
Proficiency in one or more foreign languages can significantly enhance access to international legal documents, improve collaboration in cross-border contexts, and strengthen overall professional capability in the field.
Certain languages can also be particularly relevant depending on the institution or career path. For example, French remains widely used within European Union institutions, while Arabic, Spanish, Russian, and Chinese are highly valuable in roles connected to the United Nations and other international bodies. Even within global law firms and non-governmental organisations, multilingual ability is often a key differentiator, reflecting both adaptability and a deeper understanding of different legal and cultural systems.
6. Specialising in Subfields
Given the breadth and complexity of Public International Law, developing expertise in a subfield can be a decisive step in shaping a successful career. Specialisation allows practitioners to deepen their knowledge, refine their skills, and position themselves more effectively within a competitive and diverse legal landscape. Over time, greater clarity often emerges from engaging with different areas of the field and identifying the work that is most intellectually engaging and professionally rewarding. This process of focus not only strengthens expertise but also helps to create a more coherent and purposeful career trajectory.
Key subfields within public international law include human rights law, international humanitarian law, international criminal law, maritime law, and environmental law.
Rather than following a predefined path, careers in public international law are shaped through incremental development and accumulated experience. The field demands patience, consistency, and adaptability, with progress often emerging over time through exposure and engagement. For those who remain committed, it offers a challenging but highly rewarding professional landscape.