Hassan M. Ahmad

Human Rights Lawyer and PhD candidate, University of Toronto, Faculty of Law, University of Toronto
Hassan M. Ahmad is a Toronto-based human rights lawyer and doctoral candidate at the University of Toronto, Faculty of Law. Recognized by the American Society of International Law as a "New Voice," Hassan focuses his research on access to justice issues for marginalized groups. His work has appeared in, among others, the Annual Proceedings of the American Society of International Law (ASIL), Berkeley Journal of International Law (online), Osgoode Hall Law Journal, Issues in International Criminal Justice, and the Pace International Law Review. He has also presented his published research and works-in-progress at the European Society of International Law (ESIL) Annual Conference, Law and Society Association Annual Meeting, and other regional and international conferences. His legal commentary has been featured in media outlets such as the Toronto Star, CBC News, CBC Radio as well as local television, radio, and newspaper outlets.

Hassan teaches an international law course in the Law and Society program at Wilfrid Laurier University. He has also taught an introductory course on Canadian law to graduate law students at the University of Toronto. Hassan has guest lectured in international law and refugee law courses at the University of Toronto, Faculty of Law, and Osgoode Hall Law School. He previously co-instructed an International Criminal Law course and related moot at Osgoode Hall.

Prior to commencing his doctoral research, Hassan was a civil litigator appearing before trial and appeal courts as well as administrative tribunals. In addition, he worked at the International Criminal Court where his research contributed to the court's first decision on command responsibility. He also served as a judicial extern for Judge Marsha S. Berzon of the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. Hassan continues to litigate select public interest cases including a several-week hearing at the Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario (Al-Turki v. HMQ Ontario). He also supervises law students in applications to the United Nations High Commission for Refugees.

In the fall of 2019, Hassan will be a visitor at the Lauterpacht Centre for International Law at the University of Cambridge.