Earlier this month, Legal Change had the pleasure of hosting a panel at Sciences Po on “Legal Careers in International Institutions and NGOs.”

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The discussion brought together three legal professionals with great diversity in both their backgrounds and work: Sandra Cossart, Executive Director of Sherpa, Catherine Ellwanger, Case Handler at the the European Commission, and Ilya Nuzov, Head of the Eastern Europe and Central Asia Desk at International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH). Their diversity—two women leading in spaces where gender parity is still being built, and Nuzov, born in Russia and now working at the heart of international human rights advocacy in Eastern Europe—mirrored the breadth of the legal field itself.

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Cossart described Sherpa’s use of litigation to hold corporations accountable for human rights violations, while Ellwanger explained how the European Commission balances law, policy, and negotiation at the supranational level - more specifically regarding competition law. Nuzov shed light on FIDH’s role in documenting abuses and building coalitions across regions where political contexts are often fragile and unpredictable. Together, they painted a picture of a legal profession that reaches far beyond law firms, encompassing advocacy, regulation, diplomacy, and research.

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What resonated most was the sense that the legal world is not a single path but a landscape of interlocking missions—shaped by global challenges like climate change, technology, and corporate responsibility. Their careers showed students that international law and advocacy thrive precisely because of this diversity of perspectives, disciplines, and experiences. We thank Sandra, Catherine, and Ilya for sharing their insights and for reminding us that there are many different, equally vital ways to build a career in the service of justice.

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