History of Amal Clooney in Timeline

Amal Clooney is a highly respected Lebanese-British international human rights lawyer. She is renowned for representing prominent clients in significant human rights cases. Some of her notable clients include former Maldivian president Mohamed Nasheed, Julian Assange of WikiLeaks, Yulia Tymoshenko, and Nobel Peace Prize winner Nadia Murad. She has also advocated for journalists facing persecution, such as Maria Ressa, Khadija Ismayilova, and Mohamed Fahmy, demonstrating her dedication to defending human rights and freedom of expression on a global scale.

Sections (3)

Full Timeline Early Life & Education Career & Achievements

February 1978: Amal Clooney's Birth

In February 1978, Amal Clooney (née Alamuddin) was born. She is a Lebanese and British international human rights lawyer.

Others born on this day/year

February 1978: Amal Alamuddin was born in Beirut, Lebanon

On February 3, 1978, Amal Alamuddin was born in Beirut, Lebanon. Her father is Lebanese Druze and her mother is Lebanese Sunni Muslim from Tripoli.

Others born on this day/year

2000: Graduation from Oxford

In 2000, Amal Clooney graduated from St Hugh's College, Oxford, with an upper second-class degree in Jurisprudence. She is now an honorary fellow of the college.

2002: Admittance to the New York Bar

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

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 judges Vladlen S. Vereshchetin from Russia, Nabil Elaraby from Egypt, and ad hoc judge Franklin Berman from the United Kingdom.

2005: Prosecution Work 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 members of Hezbollah accused of assassinating former Lebanese Prime Minister Hariri.

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.

July 2013: First Meeting with George Clooney

In July 2013, Amal Clooney first met 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.

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: Marriage to George Clooney

On September 27, 2014, Amal Clooney married George Clooney at Ca' Farsetti in Venice.

October 2014: Purchase of Mill House

In October 2014, it was announced that the Clooneys had bought the Mill House on an island of the River Thames at Sonning Eye at a cost of around £10 million.

January 2015: Joined Legal Team Representing Armenia

In January 2015, Amal Clooney became a member of a 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

From 2015, Amal Clooney was 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 Cleveland.

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, to provide free legal aid in defence of free speech and women’s rights in over 40 countries.

February 2017: Reported Pregnancy

In February 2017, it was reported that Amal Clooney was pregnant.

June 2017: Birth of Twins

In June 2017, Amal Clooney gave birth to fraternal twins, a girl and a boy.

September 2017: Murders of Rohingya men by Buddhist villagers and Myanmar paramilitary police

In September 2017, ten Rohingya men were murdered by Buddhist villagers and Myanmar paramilitary police in the village of Inn Din. This was the event that led to the jailing of Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo, the Reuters journalists that Amal Clooney later defended.

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, 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 Burmese Reuters journalists, Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo, who were imprisoned 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 also donated $100,000 to the Young Center for Immigrant Children's Rights.

May 2019: Release of Reuters Journalists

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

July 2019: Leadership of Legal Team Representing Maria Ressa

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

2020: Donations 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: $1 Million Donation to Coronavirus Relief Efforts

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

November 2021: Conviction of Islamic State Member for 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 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 to catalyse educating and empowering teenage females.

2022: Partnership to Advance Gender Equality

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 conspiring to provide material support to the Islamic State group.

January 2024: Convening of ICC Advisory Panel

In January 2024, the International Criminal Court (ICC) convened an advisory panel, on which Amal Clooney served, to review the prosecutor's investigation into potential war crimes committed in the Gaza war.

May 2024: Recommended Arrest Warrants in Gaza War 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. The panel recommended arrest warrants against Benjamin Netanyahu and Yahya Sinwar.

2024: Recipient of 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 to international law.

2024: Recognition of CFJ's Crucial Work

In 2024, Professor Margaret Satterthwaite recognized the crucial work of the Clooney Foundation for Justice in supporting brave justice advocates and advancing human rights.

October 2025: Conviction for crimes against humanity in Darfur

As of October 2025, Amal Clooney represented 126 victims of the genocide in Darfur, Sudan, and obtained the only trial that resulted in a conviction for crimes against humanity in Darfur at the International Criminal Court against Ali Muhammad Ali Abd-Al-Rahman.

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 to harness AI and new technologies to increase access to justice.

2025: Visiting Faculty Member at Columbia Law School

Until 2025, Amal Clooney was 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 Cleveland.

2026: AI to address the gap between the supply of qualified lawyers and the need for justice with the Women Lawyers Association (WLA) in Malawi.

In 2026, Amal Clooney reported on the foundation's work to use AI to address the gap between the supply of qualified lawyers and the need for justice with the Women Lawyers Association (WLA) in Malawi.