Career Timeline of Amal Clooney: Major Achievements and Milestones

From career breakthroughs to professional milestones, explore how Amal Clooney made an impact.

Amal Clooney is a highly respected British international human rights lawyer known for her dedication to advocating for victims of human rights abuses. She has represented numerous high-profile clients, including political figures like former Maldivian president Mohamed Nasheed and former Ukrainian prime minister Yulia Tymoshenko. Furthermore, she has championed the rights of journalists and activists, such as Julian Assange, Maria Ressa, Khadija Ismayilova, Mohamed Fahmy, and Yazidi human rights activist Nadia Murad. Her work has made a significant impact on international law and human rights advocacy.

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Full Timeline Early Life & Education Career & Achievements

2002: Admitted to the New York Bar

In 2002, Amal Clooney was admitted to the bar in New York, qualifying her to practice law in the United States.

2004: Judicial Clerkship at the International Court of Justice

In 2004, Amal Clooney completed a judicial clerkship at the International Court of Justice, serving under Judge Vladlen S. Vereshchetin from Russia, Judge Nabil Elaraby from Egypt, and ad hoc Judge Sir Franklin Berman from the United Kingdom.

2005: Prosecutor at The Special Tribunal for Lebanon

In 2005, Amal Clooney worked as a Prosecutor at The Special Tribunal for Lebanon. She prosecuted the case against five members of Hezbollah, who were accused of assassinating former Lebanese Prime Minister Hariri and others.

2010: Called to the Bar of England and Wales

In 2010, Amal Clooney was called to the Bar of England and Wales, Inner Temple, further expanding her legal qualifications.

January 2015: Member of legal team representing Armenia

In January 2015, Amal Clooney became a member of the legal team representing Armenia in an appeal before the European Court of Human Rights against Turkish politician Doğu Perinçek, who was convicted of denying the Armenian genocide.

2015: Visiting Faculty Member at Columbia Law School

Starting in 2015, Amal Clooney became a visiting faculty member and senior fellow at Columbia Law School's Human Rights Institute. There, she co-taught the Human Rights Course with Professor Sarah H. Cleveland.

2016: Clooney Foundation for Justice Co-founded

In 2016, Amal Clooney and her husband, George Clooney, co-founded the Clooney Foundation for Justice. The organization aims to advance justice through accountability for human rights abuses around the world.

2016: Co-founded the Clooney Foundation for Justice

In 2016, Amal Clooney co-founded the Clooney Foundation for Justice (CFJ) with her husband, George Clooney. The Foundation provides free legal aid in defense of free speech and women’s rights in over 40 countries. CFJ focuses on two initiatives: TrialWatch and Waging Justice for Women.

2017: $1 Million Grant to Southern Poverty Law Center

In 2017, the Clooneys awarded a $1 million grant to the Southern Poverty Law Center in Charlottesville, Virginia, aimed at combating hate groups in America.

March 2018: Joined Legal Team for Reuters Journalists

In March 2018, Amal Clooney joined the international legal team that represented the Pulitzer Prize-winning Burmese journalists for Reuters, Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo, who were sentenced to seven years in prison in Myanmar.

2018: Donations Following Stoneman Douglas Shooting

In 2018, following the Stoneman Douglas High School shooting, the Clooneys pledged $500,000 to the March for Our Lives and said they would be in attendance. They also donated $100,000 to the Young Center for Immigrant Children's Rights.

May 2019: Reuters Journalists Released

In May 2019, the Reuters journalists Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo, who were represented by Amal Clooney's legal team, were released from prison in Myanmar.

July 2019: Leads Legal Team for Maria Ressa

In July 2019, Amal Clooney and Caoilfhionn Gallagher became the leaders of the international legal team that represented Filipino-American journalist Maria Ressa, who faced legal charges.

2020: Donation to Lebanese Charities After Beirut Explosion

In 2020, Amal and George Clooney donated $100,000 to three Lebanese charities, the Lebanese Red Cross, Impact Lebanon, and Baytna Baytak, to help provide aid to those affected by the explosion in Beirut.

2020: $1 Million Donation to Coronavirus Relief Efforts

In 2020, the Clooneys donated $1 million to coronavirus relief efforts, including donations to the NHS, The Lebanese Food Bank, and The Mill at Sonning Theatre to help them through the pandemic.

November 2021: Islamic State member convicted of genocide

In November 2021, Amal Clooney was co-plaintiff's and victims' counsel in the first case in which an Islamic State member, Taha al-Jumailly, was convicted of genocide and crimes against humanity and sentenced to life in prison.

April 27, 2022: Remarks at UN Security Council Meeting on Atrocities in Ukraine

On April 27, 2022, Amal Clooney delivered remarks at a United Nations Security Council Arria-Formula Meeting on Ensuring Accountability for Atrocities Committed by Russia in Ukraine, highlighting her involvement in addressing the legal ramifications of the conflict.

2022: Launched the 'Get Her There' Campaign

In 2022, Amal Clooney, along with Michelle Obama and Melinda French Gates, launched the 'Get Her There' campaign that seeks to catalyse educating and empowering teenage females.

2022: Partnership with Obama Foundation and Melinda French Gates

In 2022, the Clooney Foundation for Justice partnered with the Obama Foundation’s Girls Opportunity Alliance and Melinda French Gates to advance gender equality and reduce levels of child marriage worldwide.

December 2023: Filed Civil Case Against Lafarge on Behalf of Yazidi Plaintiffs

In December 2023, Amal Clooney filed a civil case on behalf of over 800 Yazidi-American plaintiffs against French cement manufacturer Lafarge for allegedly providing material support to the Islamic State group.

January 2024: Convened by ICC for Gaza War Investigation

In January 2024, Amal Clooney served on an advisory panel that was convened by the International Criminal Court (ICC) at the request of ICC Prosecutor Karim Ahmad Khan to review the investigation into potential war crimes committed in the Gaza war.

May 2024: Announcement of Service on Advisory Panel for ICC Investigation

In May 2024, it was announced that Amal Clooney served on an advisory panel that reviewed the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court's investigation into potential war crimes committed in the Gaza war. She and other legal experts recommended arrest warrants against Benjamin Netanyahu and Hamas leaders.

October 2025: Co-Founded the Oxford Institute of Technology and Justice

In October 2025, Amal Clooney co-founded the Oxford Institute of Technology and Justice, a collaboration between Oxford University and the Clooney Foundation for Justice, aimed at using AI and new technologies to increase access to justice.

2025: Visiting Faculty Member at Columbia Law School

From 2015 to 2025, Amal Clooney was a visiting faculty member and senior fellow at Columbia Law School's Human Rights Institute. There, she co-taught the Human Rights Course with Professor Sarah H. Cleveland.