Amal Clooney Biography

(Lebanese-British Barrister Specialising in International Law and Human Rights & the Wife of Actor George Clooney)

Birthday: February 3, 1978 (Aquarius)

Born In: Beirut, Lebanon

Amal Clooney, born Amal Ramzi Alamuddin, is a Lebanese-British barrister, human rights activist and philanthropist. A graduate of Oxford University and New York University School of Law, her long and accomplished career in the fields of international law and human rights have won her international acclaim. Her high-profile clients have included several nation-states, including the country of Armenia in its fight for recognition of the Armenian Genocide by the Turkish government. Amal Clooney became engaged to and married American actor George Clooney in 2014, instantly becoming a household name in popular culture. Years before this, though, she was already well-known and respected in legal circles for consistently representing her clients with skill and success. The scope of her work ranges from tackling social justice and human rights issues to representing several multinational corporations in their negotiations and court actions regarding government regulation. As of 2015, she is a barrister—one type of legal representative in British courts—at London-based Doughty Street Chambers.
89
Quick Facts

British Celebrities Born In February

Also Known As: Amal Alamuddin

Age: 46 Years, 46 Year Old Females

Family:

Spouse/Ex-: George Clooney

father: Ramzi Alamuddin

mother: Bariaa Alamuddin

siblings: Samer Alamuddin, Tala Alamuddin, Ziad Alamuddin

children: Alexander Clooney, Ella Clooney

Born Country: Lebanon

Lawyers Activists

Height: 5'8" (173 cm), 5'8" Females

Ancestry: Lebanese American

Notable Alumni: St Hugh's College, Oxford, New York University School Of Law

City: Beirut, Lebanon

More Facts

education: New York University, New York University School Of Law, St Hugh's College, Oxford

  • 1

    What is Amal Clooney known for?

    Amal Clooney is known for her work as a human rights lawyer and activist, specializing in international law and human rights issues.

  • 2

    What languages does Amal Clooney speak?

    Amal Clooney is fluent in English, French, and Arabic.

  • 3

    Has Amal Clooney written any books?

    Yes, Amal Clooney has co-edited a book titled "The Special Tribunal for Lebanon: Law and Practice".

  • 4

    Where did Amal Clooney study law?

    Amal Clooney studied law at St Hugh's College, Oxford and New York University School of Law.

  • 5

    Does Amal Clooney have any involvement in philanthropic activities?

    Yes, Amal Clooney is involved in various philanthropic efforts, including advocating for refugees' rights and supporting organizations that promote human rights and justice.

Childhood & Early Life
Amal Clooney was born as Amal Alamuddin on February 3, 1978, in Beirut, Lebanon. Since Lebanon was in the midst of a the deadly Lebanese Civil War during that time, her family moved to London when Amal was two years old.
Her father, Ramzi Alamuddin, is of Lebanese-Druze descent, and worked as a University professor and as the owner of a travel company. Her mother, Bariaa Alamuddin, is a Sunni Muslim and an internationally recognized journalist.
Amal was raised in the Sunni Muslim faith. She has three siblings: her sister, Tala, as well as two half-brothers via her father's previous marriage, Samer and Ziad. Her pre-college education came at Dr. Challoner's High School.
Continue Reading Below
Career
Amal Clooney attended Oxford University on an Exhibition Scholarship. She graduated from St. Hugh's College at Oxford with a Bachelor of Arts in Jurisprudence in 2000.
She attended New York University School of Law beginning in 2001 and graduated with a Masters in Laws degree.
During her time at NYU, Amal worked clerkships in both the International Court of Justice and United States Court of Appeals. She carried out one of her clerkships in the offices of Sonia Sotomayor, who is today a U.S. Supreme Court Justice.
Amal worked for 3 years for Sullivan & Cromwell in New York City on cases representing Enron and Arthur Andersen, among others.
She moved to London in 2010 to begin work as a barrister at Doughty Street Chambers. Different than a lawyer in U.S. courts, a barrister can speak in court on behalf of clients but does not seek out or work with them directly. That role is held by a solicitor, another type of legal representative.
From 2010 to the present day, Amal has had a strong but controversial presence in international court proceedings, having represented former Libyan intelligence chief Abdullah al Senussi in a war crimes trial at the Hague.
She has served as a special adviser to former U.N. security general Kofi Anaan as well as on several UN human rights investigation and conflict resolution panels.
Her representation of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange in his fight against extradition brought her strong recognition in the international law community, even as she had been plagued by controversy earlier in her career.
Her recent work as of 2015 has been in the field of advocating for the protection of women against physical and sexual violence in conflict zones.
Continue Reading Below
Major Works
Amal Clooney has co-authored the book "The Law and Practice of the Special Tribunal for Lebanon", published in 2013 by the Oxford University Press.
She has written chapters for several high-profile works on international law, plus countless advisement papers for judges, politicians and corporations from many nations.
Awards & Achievements
While Amal was a student at St. Hugh's College of Oxford, she received the prestigious Shrigley Award given for excellence in law studies.
At NYU, she was presented with the Jack J. Katz Memorial Award, given to the student displaying the highest level of proficiency in the field of entertainment law.
Amal Clooney was appointed special counsel to a United Nations inquiry on counter-terrorism and human rights regarding the use of drones in wartime.
In 2014, she was offered another position at the UN, this time on a panel investigating war crimes in Gaza. She declined, citing her commitment to her current caseload.
Family & Personal Life
Amal Clooney's engagement and subsequent marriage to American actor, George Clooney, rocked the entertainment media with the news that Clooney, a notorious bachelor, would be settling down.
The couple's official wedding ceremony took place on September 27, 2014 at Venice, Italy's city hall, though they held a lavish ceremony attended by many celebrities a few days earlier in Venice.
In June 2017, Amal gave birth to twins; a daughter named Ella and a son named Alexander.
When not traveling, the Clooneys live in London on a large estate occupying an island along the River Thames. The Clooneys' considerable combined wealth has allowed them the ability to take part in philanthropy work. The issues they share in common include protecting human rights during times of international conflict.
Facts About Amal Clooney

Amal Clooney holds dual citizenship in both Lebanon and the United Kingdom, allowing her to practice law in multiple countries.

She is fluent in three languages: English, French, and Arabic, which has greatly aided her in her international human rights work.

Amal is a published author, having written articles on international law and human rights issues for various prestigious publications.

In addition to her work as a lawyer, she is also a visiting professor at Columbia Law School, where she teaches courses on international human rights law.

Amal and her husband, George Clooney, have actively supported numerous charitable causes, using their platform to raise awareness and funds for important social issues.

See the events in life of Amal Clooney in Chronological Order

How To Cite

Article Title
- Amal Clooney Biography
Author
- Editors, TheFamousPeople.com
Website
- TheFamousPeople.com
URL
https://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/amal-alamuddin-5564.php

People Also Viewed


George Clooney Biography
George Clooney
(American)
 
Pixie Geldof Biography
Pixie Geldof
(British)
 
Kim Sears Biography
Kim Sears
(British)
 
Gaia Wise Biography
Gaia Wise
(British)
 
Nicholas Winton Biography
Nicholas Winton
(British)
 
Caroline Norton Biography
Caroline Norton
(British)
 
Josephine Butler Biography
Josephine Butler
(British)
 
Ingrid Newkirk Biography
Ingrid Newkirk
(American, British)