Bringing a Central Asian Perspective to U.S. Law Classrooms

Carolyn Coolidge at University of Arizona’s law school sums up the impact that LEAD fellow Alisher Khuchakov has had on campus in one word: “Wow.”

Throughout his studies at the James E. Rogers College of Law, Alisher Khuchakov, a Legal Education and Development Program for Tajikistan fellow from Dushanbe, brings academic excellence and a unique cultural perspective to the campus and community.

Coolidge is his academic advisor and serves as senior business analyst and program coordinator for the LLM in International Trade and Policy program. She welcomes Khuchakov’s presence both inside and outside of the classroom: “He is a keen observer, and not afraid to ask for help—has made staunch friends and they kid around. I think he has showed extreme adaptability.”

To Coolidge, Khuchakov exemplifies the benefits U.S. schools reap when they host international students through the LEAD program: “We love the slightly older student with a few years of experience under their belt and they can bring their experiences into the classroom. Professors love that! What we really see in the classroom is this intermix between reality and theory. ” Khuchakov brings a particularly unique perspective, having worked in a legal capacity in the Government of Tajikistan before coming to the U.S.

Through her relationship with Khuchakov and hosting students from Eurasia and Central Asia, Coolidge has learned about Tajikistan and the countries and culture of the former Soviet Union. “It has personally expanded my information about the region, the history and knowledge about other places that I had only read about before; it has helped me stay informed.” Coolidge learned that Tajik and Persian have much in common, both languages sharing common foundation, and was “pleasantly surprised” to find Khuchakov communicating with Persians in the community and welcoming new Iranian students to campus.

For Khuchakov, his experience studying the legal system in the U.S. has been a journey of knowledge, thought, and comparison. “I understand that knowledge is useless without action. When I return I'll definitely figure out how to implement what I've learned in practice. The knowledge I gained of U.S. law, international trade and business law, and legal practice skills will open up a world of opportunity for me in academic and practical purposes, as well as in my individual enrichment.”

Coolidge has seen firsthand the impact of his studies. "He started comparing and contrasting how it’s done here and at home and I could see him running around looking at this problem from different angles. I thought ‘There’s learning. I love university for that. To watch them go through that moment.'"

The Legal Education and Development Program is a program of the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs of the U.S. Department of State and is implemented by IREX and the American Bar Association Rule of Law Initiative (ABA ROLI).