Chicago-Kent signs alliance agreement with Organization of American States

Chicago-Kent College of Law at Illinois Tech is one of four institutions to form an alliance with the Organization of American States to promote legal scholarship and education among the 35 independent states of the Americas.

Also joining the alliance are the University of Notre Dame, the National Autonomous University of Mexico, and the Monterrey Institute of Technology and Higher Education, Guadalajara Campus.

"With this alliance, the Organization of American States reaches out to the American Midwest, as well as to Mexico, to develop initiatives involving legal issues of critical importance to its member states," said Chicago-Kent Dean Harold J. Krent. "I think this is a nod to the essential role the Midwest can play in advancing cooperation among the states of the Western Hemisphere."

Signed April 26, the alliance will promote scholarship, research and training pertaining to international law, international human rights law and the Inter-American Human Rights System. The alliance hopes to train legal professionals and future professionals, establish legal education exchange programs, and sponsor conferences, seminars and other forums to build dialogue and cooperation among legal entities and professionals from member states.

Founded in 1888, Chicago-Kent College of Law is the law school of Illinois Institute of Technology, also known as Illinois Tech, a private, technology-focused, research university offering undergraduate and graduate degrees in engineering, science, architecture, business, design, human sciences, applied technology, and law.