The Law School
Notre Dame Law School recently welcomed distinguished alumna Eka Tkeshelashvili LL.M. ’01 for a lecture, “Transforming the State from the Inside: Corruption, Accountability, and the Foundations of Human Rights and the Rule of Law.” Tkeshelashvili is the former vice prime minister and minister of Foreign Affairs of Georgia, president of the Georgian Institute for Strategic Studies (GISS), and currently a distinguished fellow at the German Marshall Fund of the United States. She previously led flagship anti-corruption programs funded by the European Union and USAID in Ukraine and headed the global Anti-Corruption Practice at Dexis Consulting Group.
Tkeshelashvili’s main event was her lecture, the first in the series, “Life After Notre Dame,” which brings distinguished alumni back to Notre Dame Law School to share real-world insights, career guidance, and lessons learned from leadership at the highest levels.
Tkeshelashvili appreciated the opportunity to return to her alma mater for the first time since graduation. She expressed her gratitude for her education at Notre Dame Law School, which helped shape her career and prepared her for impactful leadership in Georgia.
“It is emotionally very fulfilling to be here in person,” she expressed.
During her lecture, Tkeshelashvili analyzed corruption as a systemic model of governance and examined how it erodes institutional accountability, weakens democratic governance, and undermines the protection of human rights and the rule of law.
She stressed that a country’s rule of law and judiciary are critical as the foundation of governance. Undervaluing the rule of law during the development of these countries has been a prevalent issue and led to the rise of systemic corruption in the operations of many states, she said.
“When it comes to the rule of law, it is the core spine on which the whole body of state governance holds on,” she said. “If it is corrupt, it is hard to imagine strong fiscal services, efficient courts, or strong governance.”
Tkeshelashvili further discussed how systemic corruption undermines the protection of human rights.
“Relevance of human rights and corruption is very intertwined. If a system is corrupt in any given country, then political rights, foundational rights, and economic rights are all jeopardized because nothing functions the way it should,” she stated.
Tkeshelashvili stressed the necessity for the commitment of the people to drive change and promote transparency in weak and corrupt systems. She encouraged students to share their experiences, teach others, and build the capacity needed to help countries affected by corruption become stronger than before.
“Don’t take things for granted, but realize that everyone has a role in developing governance, legal studies, and anti-corruption,” she said.
Tkeshelashvili’s inspiring lecture challenged Notre Dame Law students to consider how they can strengthen justice systems and uphold the rule of law in their future careers. She modeled to students how she has personally used her Notre Dame Law School education to combat corruption and advance her constant fight for transparent institutions and humanitarian development.
The president of Notre Dame Law School’s International Law Society, Tiffany Su, closed the lecture with final remarks of gratitude on behalf of Notre Dame Law School. She highlighted Tkeshelashvili’s strong example of leadership and continued pursuit of justice in a world of systemic corruption.
“Eka Tkeshelashvili represents a great example of how to be a ‘different kind of lawyer,’” said Su. “Her work challenges us to think about the ways we can strengthen our systems, whether public or private, and uphold the role of law.”
During her visit to campus, Tkeshelashvili also participated in a coffee chat with students, had lunch with Notre Dame Law School’s Global Human Rights Clinic, met with Dean G. Marcus Cole, and toured the University, including a visit to the office of former University president Rev. Theodore M. Hesburgh, C.S.C.
“Life After Notre Dame” is an ongoing series highlighting distinguished alumni and their professional journeys. Additional features will be shared in the coming months.
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Eka Tkeshelashvili LL.M. ’01, Former Vice Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Georgia, Delivers First Lecture in New “Life After Notre Dame” Series – University of Notre Dame
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