On Wednesday, March 14, the Institute for International Law and Public Policy held the third in a series of alumni panels discussing careers in different international fields. During the panel discussion, three Temple Law alumni provided insights into their careers and described how their experiences in international law at Temple led to their current jobs. The panel included Oksana Wright ’09, Jane Charles-Voltaire ’11, and Benjamin Kraut ’14, and was moderated by Professor Jaya Ramji-Nogales.
Oksana Wright is an associate in the New York office of Fox Rothschild LLP. Her practice focuses on complex commercial litigation and cross-border disputes. Ms. Wright has significant experience in the enforcement of foreign judgments and arbitration awards, obtaining evidence abroad, and protecting intellectual property and trade secrets. In her private practice, she represents both domestic and foreign entities. Born in Russia, Ms. Wright received her B.A. and M.A. from St. Petersburg State University School of Law in 2004. She then earned her LL.M. in International and Comparative Law in 2005 from the University of Georgia School of Law. In 2009, Ms. Wright obtained her J.D. from the Temple University James E. Beasley School of Law.
Jane Charles-Voltaire currently works as a Senior Program Officer for the International Association of Women Judges, and manages projects in Haiti, the Dominican Republic, and Pakistan. In Haiti, she works with the Haitian Association of Women Judges to promote Haiti’s new anti-trafficking legislation. In the Dominican Republic, she collaborates with justice sector institutions to improve access to justice for victims of gender-based violence. In Pakistan, she works with women judges to promote gender equality within courts. Before joining the IAWJ, Ms. Charles-Voltaire worked in Haiti for four years as local counsel, with a Haitian law firm, for the United States Agency for International Development in Haiti (USAID). Ms. Charles-Voltaire, a Haitian-American, has dedicated her work and education to advancing human rights, community development, and environmental sustainability. She received her B.A. from Wesleyan University in 2007 and her J.D. from Temple Law in 2011.
Benjamin Kraut currently works at the U.S. Department of State where he leads the Department’s implementation of the Global Magnitsky Sanctions Program, combatting human rights violations and corruption worldwide. A career civil servant, Mr. Kraut joined the State Department in 2015 as a Presidential Management Fellow in the Bureau of Economic and Business Affairs, Office of Sanctions Policy and Implementation. He has served as a member of the Iran Sanctions team, working towards the Obama Administration’s implementation of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, or “the Iran Deal.” He has also led successive Administrations in crafting comprehensive sectoral sanctions on North Korea. Additionally, Mr. Kraut worked overseas at the United States Embassy in London on sanctions policy, and in the Department’s Office of the Legal Adviser as a sanctions attorney. He earned his B.S. from West Chester University of Pennsylvania in 2011 and his J.D. from Temple Law in 2014. At Temple, he was a Law and Public Policy Scholar and interned with the Department of Veterans Affairs Office of General Counsel in Washington, D.C.
Throughout the discussion, each panelist pointed to specific opportunities and professors at Temple Law that helped mold their international experiences. Each emphasized that students seeking careers in international law should take advantage of Temple’s study abroad programs and distinguished international law faculty. Further, the alumni advised students to diversify their interests and gain transferable skills like language ability to best market themselves to employers.
This panel was the third in a series of international alumni career events hosted by the Institute. On January 21, the Institute hosted three recent graduates that detailed their career paths since graduation, and on February 1, Neil Nolen ’95 gave a lecture about his experiences in Kosovo, Afghanistan, and Ukraine.