UVA Law School’s National Security Law Center allows students to study the most pressing issues in national security law and to explore the wide range of career opportunities available in the field. Our course offerings provide the constitutional and statutory foundations of national security law, but also address contemporary challenges flowing from new technologies, terrorism and geopolitical changes. The center is the hub for national security law activities at the Law School, and cooperates with student groups, faculty members, the Public Service Center and Career Development, and outside organizations to coordinate speakers, events, summer and postgraduate employment, and pro bono opportunities. A leader in national security law since 1981, we take advantage of our proximity to the Judge Advocate General’s Legal Center and School and the wide range of national security practitioners in Washington, D.C., to enrich the Law School’s course offerings with expert speakers from government and policy groups.
In the her fall National Security Law class, Professor Ashley Deeks discusses military targets and the use of drones, along with other national security law issues. Deeks previously served as the assistant legal adviser for political-military affairs in the U.S. Department of State’s Office of the Legal Adviser, and as the embassy legal adviser at the U.S. embassy in Baghdad, during Iraq’s constitutional negotiations.
In the name of national security, the Trump administration has taken a stake in Intel, acquired a “golden share” in U.S. Steel, obtained equity stakes...
We are living in a dangerous inverted world. Abusers claim the mantle of victimhood while pummeling their victims with abuse. Would-be authoritarians...
A resilience agenda is an essential part of protecting national security in a digital age. Digital technologies impact nearly all aspects of everyday...
The use of autonomy to initiate force, which states may begin to view as necessary to protect against hypersonic attacks and other forms of ‘hyperwar...
In the name of national security, the Trump administration has taken a stake in Intel, acquired a “golden share” in U.S. Steel, obtained equity stakes...
We are living in a dangerous inverted world. Abusers claim the mantle of victimhood while pummeling their victims with abuse. Would-be authoritarians...
A resilience agenda is an essential part of protecting national security in a digital age. Digital technologies impact nearly all aspects of everyday...
The use of autonomy to initiate force, which states may begin to view as necessary to protect against hypersonic attacks and other forms of ‘hyperwar...
The President sometimes delegates important constitutional and statutory powers to use force or conduct other national security operations. Although...
The Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022 provoked the imposition of economic sanctions that are unprecedented in their swiftness, severity, and novelty...
States are increasingly turning to artificial intelligence systems to enhance their national security decision-making. The real risks that states will...
This article analyses those hurdles, which are different for privately owned property such as oligarch yachts and state property such as bank deposits...
When a state suffers an internationally wrongful act at the hands of another state, international law allows the injured state to respond in a variety...
Some who should know argue, and I find plausible, that among these aspects of AI, accumulation and organization of data sets is the most significant...
Reason-giving plays an important role in our system of governance. Agencies provide public reasons when making rules so that individuals affected by...
In recent years, legislative bodies such as the U.S. Congress and the U.K. Parliament have struggled to maintain a role for themselves in government...
Debates about how best to check executive branch abuses of secrecy focus on three sets of actors that have access to classified information and that...
The concept of checks and balances is a core tenet of our democracy; we fear letting any single institution become overly powerful or insufficiently...
Big data technology and machine learning techniques play a growing role across all areas of modern society. Machine learning provides the ability to...
Technology has facilitated both the amount of trade secrets that are now stored electronically, and the rise of cyber intrusions. Together, this has...
The following is a list of courses offered during 2024-26. Numbers in parentheses indicate which academic year(s) the courses were offered, i.e., 2023-24 is coded (24), 2024-25 is coded (25) and 2025-26 is coded (26). (SC) stands for short course and (YR) stands for yearlong.
Admiralty (SC) (24,25) Advanced Crimes and Defenses (JAG) (SC) (24,25) Advanced Topics in Professional Responsibility (JAG) (SC) (24,25) Advanced Topics in the Law of Armed Conflict (JAG) (SC) (24) Border Policy and Politics (24,25) Contemporary Challenges in Military Justice (SC) (24) Critical Analysis of the Military Justice System (JAG) (SC) (24,25) Cyber Security and Privacy Boot Camp (SC) (25) Cybersecurity Law and Policy (24) Digital Evidence from Theory to Practice (JAG) (SC) (24,25) Economic Statecraft and Public International Law (SC) (25) Emotional Intelligence and Legal Practice (JAG) (SC) (25) Foreign Relations Law (24,25) Government Secrecy (24) History and Evolution of Victims’ Rights (JAG) (SC) (24,25) Immigration Law and Policy Lecture (24,25,26) Innovating for Defense (24,26) Introduction to Legal Aspects of Cyberspace Operations (JAG) (SC) (24,25) Law of Armed Conflict (24,25) Law of Sea, Air and Space Operations (JAG) (SC) (24,25) Mindsets for Successful Legal Practice (JAG) (SC) (25) National Security Law (24,26) National Security Law Proseminar I (JAG) (SC) (24,25) National Security Law Proseminar II (JAG) (SC) (24,25) Rights of the Accused (JAG) (SC) (24,25) Shifting Priorities in Humanitarian Immigration (26) Special Topics in Client Services (JAG) (SC) (24,25) The Economic Tools of National Security (24,25,26) Veteran Benefits and Retirement Planning (JAG) (SC) (24,25) War Crimes and Atrocity Law (JAG) (SC) (24)
Neil Noronha, who will soon graduate from the University of Virginia School of Law, never gave up on his goal of attending law school and is ready to keep taking his shots, which have already landed him jobs at the Pentagon, the White House and Capitol Hill.
Alexander Wentker, a senior research fellow at the Max Planck Institute for Comparative Public Law and International Law, discusses what makes countries party to a conflict when providing wartime support. Wentker was introduced by Professor Ashley Deeks. The event was sponsored by the National Security Law Center and co-sponsored by the Center for International & Comparative Law.
U.S. Army Judge Advocate General’s Legal Center and School
UVA Law students can take certain courses at the neighboring Judge Advocate General’s Legal Center and School, and JAG officers serving in Charlottesville frequently coach UVA Law students serving on trial advocacy teams and in other kinds of competitions.
Professor Thomas B. Nachbar, senior fellow with the center, is a judge advocate in the U.S. Army Reserve, where he has, among other assignments, edited an Army handbook on the development of legal systems, trained Palestinian security forces in the West Bank and deployed to Iraq.
Related UVA Schools and Centers
Frank Batten School of Leadership and Public Policy
The Batten School is committed to solving the world’s toughest policy challenges. Its multidisciplinary approach to problem-solving and emphasis on ethics reinforce the school’s focus on how leadership works, why context matters in decision-making and which actions lead to tangible results. J.D.-M.P.P. Program
National Security Policy Center
Housed within the Batten School, the National Security Policy Center provides evidence-based teaching, research and policy engagement on pressing security issues facing the United States and the globe. The center co-sponsors an Innovating for Defense course with the School of Law, and also fosters connections with national security law professionals.
School of Data Science
The School of Data Science — the first of its kind in the nation — is guided by common goals: to further discovery, share knowledge, and make a positive impact on society through collaborative, open, and responsible data science research and education. Founded in 2019 through the largest gift in UVA history, the school positions the University and the community to play a national and international leadership role in the global digital future.
The Miller Center
The Miller Center is a nonpartisan affiliate of the University of Virginia that specializes in presidential scholarship, public policy and political history, and strives to apply the lessons of history and civil discourse to the nation's most pressing contemporary governance challenges.
Much like the university where it's made its home, the U.S. Army Judge Advocate General's Legal Center and School can trace its roots back to America's Founding Fathers. At the request of George Washington in 1775, the Continental Congress appointed the Army's first lawyer, known as a judge advocate
Professors Asaf Lubin of Indiana University, Martin S. Lederman of Georgetown University and Alan Rozenshtein of the University of Minnesota discuss Vice Dean Ashley Deeks’ new book, “The Double Black Box: National Security, Artificial Intelligence, and the Struggle for Democratic Accountability.” Professor Danielle Citron moderated the panel and Dean Leslie Kendrick ’06 introduced the event, which was sponsored by the Law School and co-sponsored by the LawTech Center.
The J.B. Moore Society is a driving force in international law activities at the Law School. Each year the society hosts a symposium on topics such as the war on terror or corruption in foreign governments, as well as a lunch lecture series in which international law faculty and foreign graduate students present papers. The society also sponsors the Jessup International Law Moot Court team and pro bono human rights projects. Website
Law, Innovation, Security & Technology
LIST focuses on the novel legal, policy and business problems caused by the recent proliferation of emerging technologies. It educates students about issues in the area; prepares them with practical skills and experience to enter the legal workforce; connects them to a network of mentors, experts and resources; and collaborates with the policy, business and technology communities. Recent areas of focus have included cyber crime, net neutrality and autonomous vehicles, among others. Website
National Security Law Forum
National Security Law Forum connects UVA law students with national security law and broader government issues by hosting speakers, educating students about career opportunities and facilitating student work on national security problems during law school. The forum seeks to produce the next generation of national security law leaders by engaging the school’s faculty, alumni network and connections with the national security community.
Virginia Journal of International Law
Now in its fifth decade, the Virginia Journal of International Law is the oldest continuously published, student-edited law review in the United States devoted exclusively to the fields of public and private international law. It is the most frequently cited student-edited journal of international and comparative law, and the third-most-frequently cited student-edited specialty journal of any kind. Website
Virginia Journal of Law & Technology
UVA Law's only e-journal, VJoLT, provides a forum for students, professors and practitioners to discuss emerging issues at the intersection of law and technology. Recent issues of the journal have included articles on biotechnology, telecommunications, e-commerce, internet privacy and encryption. Website
Virginia Law Veterans
Virginia Law Veterans supports student members of the military community and serves as an information resource for anyone conducting research on national security or international law and policy issues. Membership is open to any interested person and does not require any past or present tie to the military. Website
Kelsey Frizell, a West Point alum who will soon graduate from the University of Virginia School of Law, is heading to Alaska to continue her military career as a lawyer with the Army’s Judge Advocate General’s Corps.
Neil H. MacBride ’92, general counsel of the U.S. Department of the Treasury, delivers the keynote address for the conference “Regulating Conflict and Competition: The Economic Levers of National Security.” Professor Kristen Eichensehr opened the conference, and Dean Risa Goluboff introduced MacBride. The event was sponsored by the Law School’s National Security Law Center.
Students have access to a range of job opportunities relating to national security law, and in the past have worked for the following employers during the summer or immediately after graduation:
CIA
National Security Agency
U.S. Department of Defense Office of General Counsel
U.S. Department of Defense, Office of Military Commissions
U.S. Department of Justice, National Security Law Division
U.S. Department of Justice, Criminal Division (various sections)
U.S. Department of State
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces
U.S. Army
U.S. Navy
ACLU National Security Project
U.S. Transportation Security Administration
U.S. Department of Homeland Security (Homeland Security Investigations, Human Rights Violator and War Crimes Center)
Students and graduates also benefit from an extensive alumni network.
Fellowships
Monroe Leigh Fellowship in International Law
The fellowship provides a total of $10,000 for one or more students to pursue a public international law project of their own choosing during the summer following the first or second year, during the fall and/or spring of the third academic year, or for a postgraduate internship. Application Information
Summer Public Service Opportunities
The Law School, in conjunction with the student-run Public Interest Law Association, offers $3,750 to $6,500 grants to help fund a broad array of summer public interest opportunities, including with federal agencies. Where Recent Fellows Worked
A new course at the University of Virginia School of Law takes an in-depth look at a range of legal issues affecting veterans, from VA benefits to disability claims.
Panelists discuss how the roles and responsibilities related to U.S. cybersecurity are shared by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, the U.S. Department of Defense and the private sector, and how each woman has become involved in this aspect of national security law. The speakers include M
Kelsey Frizell, a West Point alum who will soon graduate from the University of Virginia School of Law, is heading to Alaska to continue her military career as a lawyer with the Army’s Judge Advocate General’s Corps.
David Del Terzo, a graduating student at the University of Virginia School of Law, discusses how his classical education and experiences in law school prepared him for a career in national security and foreign relations law.
Neil Noronha, who will soon graduate from the University of Virginia School of Law, never gave up on his goal of attending law school and is ready to keep taking his shots, which have already landed him jobs at the Pentagon, the White House and Capitol Hill.
New research from Professor Elizabeth Rowe and third-year student Harrison Kearby of the University of Virginia School of Law explores how trade secrecy affects the Department of Defense’s ability to repair their equipment quickly.
Vice Dean Ashley Deeks of the University of Virginia School of Law explains how protesters in Iran are using Starlink to bypass an internet crackdown, Iran’s steps to shut it down, and what it means for international law and foreign relations.
Professors Asaf Lubin of Indiana University, Martin S. Lederman of Georgetown University and Alan Rozenshtein of the University of Minnesota discuss Vice Dean Ashley Deeks’ new book, “The Double Black Box: National Security, Artificial Intelligence, and the Struggle for Democratic Accountability.” Professor Danielle Citron moderated the panel and Dean Leslie Kendrick ’06 introduced the event, which was sponsored by the Law School and co-sponsored by the LawTech Center.
Alexander Wentker, a senior research fellow at the Max Planck Institute for Comparative Public Law and International Law, discusses what makes countries party to a conflict when providing wartime support. Wentker was introduced by Professor Ashley Deeks. The event was sponsored by the National Security Law Center and co-sponsored by the Center for International & Comparative Law.
At this year’s “Live From L,” U.S. State Department officials discuss the advisory jurisdiction of the International Court of Justice. Panelists include Legal Adviser Margaret Taylor, Attorney Adviser Niels Von Deuten, and Assistant Legal Advisers Maegan Conklin ’03 and Mary Mitchell, with Professor Ashley Deeks moderating. The event was sponsored by the UVA Law National Security Law Center, American Bar Association International Law Section, American Society of International Law and the U.S. State Department Office of the Legal Adviser.
Lee C. Buchheit, an expert in sovereign-debt restructuring and a former UVA Law School lecturer, discusses the current state and future of Russian assets frozen during the war with Ukraine. UVA Law professors Mitu Gulati, Paul B. Stephan ’77 and...
Kashmir Hill discusses her 2023 book, “Your Face Belongs to Us: A Secretive Startup’s Quest to End Privacy as We Know It," with UVA Law professor Danielle Citron during a LawTech Center talk, following an introduction by Professor Elizabeth Rowe. The book explores how facial recognition technology threatens privacy.
Already equipped with their J.D.s, five military lawyers are furthering their legal education by earning master’s degrees at the University of Virginia School of Law this academic year.
Kashmir Hill discusses her 2023 book, “Your Face Belongs to Us: A Secretive Startup’s Quest to End Privacy as We Know It," with UVA Law professor Danielle Citron during a LawTech Center talk, following an introduction by Professor Elizabeth Rowe. The book explores how facial recognition technology threatens privacy.
The fall general body meeting is the National Security Law Forum’s annual kickoff event. NSLF will introduce the organization, welcome new and returning members, and preview the events calendar for the year.
This event is sponsored by a student organization.
The terror attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, fundamentally altered the American presidency and the exercise of executive power. A panel featuring Vice Dean Ashley Deeks will explore how a quarter-century of crisis governance — beginning with the constitutional and strategic decisions of the Bush administration — continues to expand and constrain presidential powers today. Join the Miller Center for a discussion of the long-term impact of post-9/11 governance and the lessons that can inform future leaders confronting national emergencies.
Dramatic changes in the world make it important for America to rethink and reconfigure its grand strategy. The changes include an ongoing technological revolution, the arrival of China as a peer competitor, Russia’s violent assertiveness in Eastern Europe, the reformation of traditional alliance relationships, U.S. intervention in Venezuela, recent U.S. and Israeli actions in Iran and a widening conflict in the Middle East, and the United States’ own rebellion against the international order that it has sustained for 80 years. As the United States enters another presidential election cycle, Americans are debating how best to sustain U.S. power, influence and economic vitality, as well as relationships with allies around the world. Vice Dean Ashley Deeks will be among the panelists.
The joint event that will examine the interaction of international law, corruption and U.S. domestic law with Professor Jayanth Krishnan, Court Golumbic ’90 of Goldman Sachs and Professor Paul Stephan ’77. Professor Kevin Cope will moderate. Food will be provided.
This event is sponsored by a student organization.
The role of artificial intelligence in U.S. national security creates potential challenges for democratic accountability. A panel of experts examines how Americans can be confident that the federal government's use of these AI systems comports with American values, including rationality, lawfulness, and accountability. This program is inspired by The Double Black Box: National Security, Artificial Intelligence, and the Struggle for Democratic Accountability, a new book by Miller Center Senior Fellow Ashley Deeks.
Rachel Alpert is chief counsel to the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control. In this role, she leads the team of attorneys who provide legal advice and guidance to OFAC in the administration and enforcement of U.S. economic and trade sanctions. Food will be provided.
This event is sponsored by a student organization.
Thursday, September 24, 2026, 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
The National Security Law Forum will host Rachel Alpert of Jenner & Block for a speaking engagement. Students from the Law School are invited to attend and learn about careers in National Security Law and public service. Food will be provided for registrants; registration will be limited to 15 students.
This event is sponsored by a student organization.
The fall general body meeting is the National Security Law Forum’s annual kickoff event. NSLF will introduce the organization, welcome new and returning members, and preview the events calendar for the year.
This event is sponsored by a student organization.
The terror attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, fundamentally altered the American presidency and the exercise of executive power. A panel featuring Vice Dean Ashley Deeks will explore how a quarter-century of crisis governance — beginning with the constitutional and strategic decisions of the Bush administration — continues to expand and constrain presidential powers today. Join the Miller Center for a discussion of the long-term impact of post-9/11 governance and the lessons that can inform future leaders confronting national emergencies.
Dramatic changes in the world make it important for America to rethink and reconfigure its grand strategy. The changes include an ongoing technological revolution, the arrival of China as a peer competitor, Russia’s violent assertiveness in Eastern Europe, the reformation of traditional alliance relationships, U.S. intervention in Venezuela, recent U.S. and Israeli actions in Iran and a widening conflict in the Middle East, and the United States’ own rebellion against the international order that it has sustained for 80 years. As the United States enters another presidential election cycle, Americans are debating how best to sustain U.S. power, influence and economic vitality, as well as relationships with allies around the world. Vice Dean Ashley Deeks will be among the panelists.
The joint event that will examine the interaction of international law, corruption and U.S. domestic law with Professor Jayanth Krishnan, Court Golumbic ’90 of Goldman Sachs and Professor Paul Stephan ’77. Professor Kevin Cope will moderate. Food will be provided.
This event is sponsored by a student organization.
The role of artificial intelligence in U.S. national security creates potential challenges for democratic accountability. A panel of experts examines how Americans can be confident that the federal government's use of these AI systems comports with American values, including rationality, lawfulness, and accountability. This program is inspired by The Double Black Box: National Security, Artificial Intelligence, and the Struggle for Democratic Accountability, a new book by Miller Center Senior Fellow Ashley Deeks.
Rachel Alpert is chief counsel to the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control. In this role, she leads the team of attorneys who provide legal advice and guidance to OFAC in the administration and enforcement of U.S. economic and trade sanctions. Food will be provided.
This event is sponsored by a student organization.
Professors Asaf Lubin of Indiana University, Martin S. Lederman of Georgetown University and Alan Rozenshtein of the University of Minnesota discuss Vice Dean Ashley Deeks’ new book, “The Double Black Box: National Security, Artificial Intelligence, and the Struggle for Democratic Accountability.” Professor Danielle Citron moderated the panel and Dean Leslie Kendrick ’06 introduced the event, which was sponsored by the Law School and co-sponsored by the LawTech Center.
