Today’s interview is with Guliko Matcharashvili, a legal research fellow working with Assistant Law Librarian Peter Roudik in the Global Legal Research Directorate of the Law Library of Congress.
1. Describe your background.
I was born in Gori, a small historic city in Georgia. After completing high school in Gori, I moved to the capital, Tbilisi, where I attended law school at Ivane Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University. My keen interest in equality, social justice, and human rights is thanks to my family, particularly my deaf parents, who have regularly required sign language interpreters ever since I was little. At an early age, I became a sign language interpreter and was often called upon to serve as an official interpreter in court, participating in various legal procedures. This allowed me to put my theoretical knowledge of law into immediate practice, enriching my experience in the field.
2. What is your academic/professional history?
For the past four years, I have served as the specialist/senior specialist at the administration of the Government of Georgia, Human Rights Secretariat, focusing on the rights of persons with disabilities and equality. Concurrently, I teach human rights and Georgian constitutional law at two universities in Georgia. For several years, I worked as a sign language interpreter to assist persons with disabilities in accessing legal aid. Previously, I held the position of parliamentary program fellow at the International Democratic Institute (NDI) within the Gender Equality Council of the Parliament of Georgia. Additionally, I interned at the Constitutional Court of Georgia, which deepened my knowledge of Constitutional Law and Human Rights. In 2016, I worked as an assistant to the Parliamentary Secretary of the President of Georgia, focusing on the rights of prisoners.
I hold bachelor’s degree in law and a LL.M degree in public law from Ivane Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University. In 2023, I received a Fulbright Scholarship, funded by the U.S. Department of State, and in May 2024, I graduated from University of Connecticut, School of Law with an LL.M. in human rights and social justice. Currently, I am a Ph.D. student at Ivane Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University.
3. How would you describe your job to other people?
As a foreign law fellow at the Global Legal Research Directorate at the Law Library of Congress, I assist Peter Roudik and Iana Fremer in providing legal research regarding the post-Soviet jurisdictions, in response to requests from Congress, executive agencies, or the public.
4. Why did you want to work at the Law Library of Congress?
In 2024, I received the Edmund S. Muskie Professional Fellowship Program Scholarship, funded by the U.S. Department of State, which allowed me to gain real-world experience in the United States after graduation. I applied for an internship at the Law Library of Congress, as it provides a unique opportunity to gain further experience in legal research and writing, particularly on issues of international and comparative law. This opportunity represents a significant step in my professional and personal development, given that the Global Legal Research Directorate of the Law Library of Congress delivers high-quality, timely, and cutting-edge research on foreign, comparative, international, and United States law.
Moreover, as a Ph.D. student, I am eager to deepen my knowledge in comparative analysis and research. The internship at the Law Library of Congress helps me to refine my skills and experience in working on human rights-related laws and to gain further experience in comparative analysis.
5. What is the most interesting fact you have learned about the Law Library of Congress?
It was fascinating to learn, that from 1921 to 1952 the original Declaration of Independence and the Constitution of the United States were housed in the library.
6. What’s something most of your co-workers do not know about you?
I am a proud alumna of the UConn School of Law, and I was lucky enough to have been elected as a commencement speaker at graduation, on behalf of the Master of Laws graduates from six master of laws degrees.
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