History of Amal Clooney in Timeline

Amal Clooney is a distinguished British-Lebanese international human rights lawyer known for her representation of high-profile clients like Julian Assange, Nadia Murad, and Maria Ressa. Her work extends to serving as an adjunct law professor at Columbia Law School and holding appointments with the United Nations and the UK government. In 2016, she co-founded the Clooney Foundation for Justice with her husband, George Clooney. Her career highlights her commitment to advocating for human rights and justice on a global scale.

Sections (3)

Full Timeline Early Life & Education Career & Achievements

February 1978: Born in Beirut, Lebanon

On February 3, 1978, Amal Alamuddin, now Amal Clooney, was born in Beirut, Lebanon.

Others born on this day/year

1991: Father returned to Lebanon

In 1991, one year after the Lebanese Civil War ended, Amal Clooney's father, Ramzi Alamuddin, returned to Lebanon after receiving his MBA degree.

2000: Graduated from St Hugh's College, Oxford

In 2000, Amal Clooney graduated with a BA degree in Jurisprudence from St Hugh's College, Oxford, where she was awarded an exhibition grant and the Shrigley Award.

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: Completed judicial clerkship

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: Worked as a Prosecutor at The Special Tribunal for Lebanon

In 2005, Amal Clooney worked as a Prosecutor at The Special Tribunal for Lebanon, prosecuting the case against five people 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, solidifying her qualification to practice law in the UK.

July 2013: First meeting with George Clooney

In July 2013, Amal Clooney first met American actor George Clooney through a mutual friend.

April 2014: Engagement to George Clooney

On April 28, 2014, Amal Clooney became engaged to American actor George Clooney, whom she had first met in July 2013.

August 2014: Obtained marriage licenses

On August 7, 2014, Amal Clooney and George Clooney obtained marriage licenses in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea in London.

September 2014: Married George Clooney in Venice

On September 27, 2014, Amal Clooney married George Clooney at Ca' Farsetti in Venice, in a ceremony officiated by Walter Veltroni.

October 2014: Bought the Mill House

In October 2014, Amal and George Clooney bought the Mill House on an island of the River Thames at Sonning Eye.

January 2015: Joined legal team representing Armenia

In January 2015, Amal Clooney became a member of a legal team representing Armenia on 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

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

2016: Co-founded the Clooney Foundation for Justice

In 2016, Amal Clooney and her husband, George Clooney, co-founded the Clooney Foundation for Justice (CFJ) to protect human rights globally, providing free legal support to victims of human rights abuses.

February 2017: Reported pregnancy

In February 2017, it was reported by the American television talk show The Talk that Amal Clooney was pregnant.

June 2017: Birth of twins

In June 2017, Amal Clooney gave birth to fraternal twins, Ella and Alexander.

September 2017: Reporting on the murders of ten Rohingya men

In September 2017, the Pulitzer Prize-winning Burmese journalists for Reuters, Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo, reported on the murders of ten Rohingya men by the Buddhist villagers and Myanmar paramilitary police in the village of Inn Din.

2017: Awarded grant to Southern Poverty Law Center

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

March 2018: Joined legal team for Reuters journalists

In March 2018, Amal Clooney joined the international legal team representing Reuters journalists Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo, who were sentenced to seven years in prison by the Government of Myanmar.

2018: Pledged funds to March for Our Lives and donated to Young Center

In 2018, following the Stoneman Douglas High School shooting, the Clooneys pledged $500,000 to the March for Our Lives and donated $100,000 to the Young Center for Immigrant Children's Rights.

May 2019: Reuters journalists were released

In May 2019, Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo, the Reuters journalists represented by Amal Clooney, were released from prison.

July 2019: Became leader of legal team for Maria Ressa

In July 2019, Amal Clooney and Caoilfhionn Gallagher became the leaders of the international legal team representing Filipino-American journalist Maria Ressa.

2020: Donated to Lebanese charities

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

2020: Donated to coronavirus relief efforts

In 2020, the Clooneys donated $1 million to coronavirus relief efforts, supporting the NHS, The Lebanese Food Bank, and The Mill at Sonning Theatre.

November 2021: Co-plaintiff's counsel in Islamic State member case

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

2021: Maria Ressa awarded the Nobel Peace Prize

In 2021, Maria Ressa, whom Amal Clooney represented, was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for her courageous fight for freedom of expression in the Philippines.

April 27, 2022: Delivered remarks at UN Security Council meeting

On April 27, 2022, Amal Clooney delivered remarks at a UN Security Council Arria-Formula Meeting on Ensuring Accountability for Atrocities Committed by Russia in Ukraine.

2022: Launched '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.

December 2023: Filed civil case against Lafarge

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

2023: Commented on St Hugh's College

In 2023, Amal Clooney commented on how St Hugh's College took a chance on her and opened her eyes and mind, for which she is grateful.

January 2024: Convened by the ICC Prosecutor

In January 2024, the advisory panel that Amal Clooney served on was convened by the ICC at the request of ICC Prosecutor Karim Ahmad Khan.

May 2024: Announcement of review of ICC investigation into Israel-Hamas war

In May 2024, it was announced that Amal Clooney had served on an advisory panel that reviewed the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court's investigation into potential war crimes committed in the Israel–Hamas war.

2024: Recipient of a Legal 500 lawyer of the year award

In 2024, Amal Clooney received a Legal 500 lawyer of the year award in recognition of her outstanding work and contributions in the field of international law.