Mr Rolando Seijas Bolinaga

Cambridge University: Downing College, Cambridge, UK. 

Ph.D. in Law Candidate. 2017.

Dissertation Topic: Referendums and their relationship with constitutional theory. 

Co-Student Chair of the Cambridge Pro-Bono Project (2018-2019). The Cambridge Pro-Bono Project is undertaking projects of four different clients in areas concerning justice reform in the UK, recovery of assets, migration and refugee law and stop and search laws.

Co-Convener of the Cambridge International Law Conference (March 20thand 21stof 2019). The topic of the conference is ‘New Technologies: New Challenges to Democracy and International Law.’ 

Harvard University. Law School. Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA.

Magister in Legibus. Master of Laws. 2015.

Universidad Católica Andrés Bello. Law School. Caracas, Venezuela.

Abogado. Summa Cum Laude. 2014. 

Honours and Recognitions: i) Juris Vitols Award,  this is the most prestigious recognition awarded by Universidad Católica Andrés Bello. This recognition was awarded to just two students of the entire graduating class of the year 2013-2014, ii) winner of the Inter American Court of Human Rights Moot Court Competition, organized by American University in the year 2011, iii) winner of the Research Competition for the Bicentennial of the Venezuelan Independence with the written work: “Militarism in the Political History of Venezuela” and iv) recognition to the Ucabista Integral. I was also elected as a representative of the students to the Board of the Faculty of Law (2012-2013).

Experience.

Assistant Professor.Tenured track position. Lecturer in Constitutional Law, Political Theory, Public Policy and Comparative Constitutional Law. Vice Editor of the Faculty of Law Journal. Faculty of Law of Universidad Católica Andrés Bello. Caracas, Venezuela. September 2015-May 2017.

Legal Counsellor to the Congressional Caucus of Primero Justicia (largest parliamentary group in Venezuela’s congress). Drafted Laws and congressional motions related to Venezuela’s humanitarian and political crisis. Amongst the legislative projects I worked on are: Statute of The Central Bank of Venezuela, Telecommunications Legislation, Anti-Corruption and Recovery of Assets Legislation and Legislation for the recovery of expropriated assets. Provided assistance for the drafting of documents concerning the subpoena of government officials and votes of no confidence against Ministers of the Government. Responsible for the review of all individual initiatives presented by members of Congress and the constitutional analysis of the legal implications of the issues debated in Parliament and in Parliamentary Commissions. I was also elected as a member of the Disciplinary Tribunal by the party’s National Committee, my responsibilities consisted on rendering decisions on cases for breaches of the Statutes and the Code of Conduct of the Party. Office of the Congressional Caucus of Primero Justicia. Caracas, Venezuela. January 2016 to June 2017. 

Member of the Board of Directors of Caracas Mi Convive. ‘Caracas Mi Convive’ is a charity that works with youth at risk in Caracas’ impoverished communities. My role consisted of advising the board on the legal implication of its initiatives, as well as assessing and recommending public policy initiatives. Board of Directors of Caracas Mi Convive, Caracas, Venezuela. Since August of 2015- May 2017. 

Professional Visitor at the Inter American Court of Human Rights. Drafted judgments, examined international human rights’ standards and researched rulings and judgements of Regional Human Rights Courts and Tribunals. Drafted portions of judgements that referred to due process, the prohibition against torture and other forms of cruel and unusual punishment, illegal arrests and freedom of expression. Inter American Court of Human Rights, San Jose de Costa Rica. September to December of 2013. 

Legal Assistant at D’Empaire Reyna Abogados. Legal Assistant at the public law department of the firm. D’Empaire Reyna Abogados. Caracas Venezuela. September 2010 to July 2013.