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The Indiana University Robert H. McKinney School of Law celebrates its two most recent graduates of the Doctor of Juridical Science (S.J.D.) program, both of whom also are 2011 graduates of the law school’s Master of Laws (LL.M.) program: Mohamed Abdelaal and Mohammad Bedier.

Mohamed Abdelaal

Abdelaal is from Alexandria, Egypt, where he received a bachelor of laws, cum laude, from Alexandria University School of Law. He has joined the faculty of his alma mater in Egypt, and will return to IU McKinney in Spring 2016 to teach.

Titled “Towards A Theory of Political Accountability in Egypt: Impeachment As A Constitutional Tool to Hold the President Accountable for Official Misconduct (A Comparative Study),” Abdelaal’s dissertation explores means of keeping the chief executive in check, and provides a religious basis for accountability and impeachment in the context of Islamic law as an attempt to justify its existence in the context of Egyptian law. He also examines the provisions for impeachment in the United States Constitution and its use in U.S. history.

“I went to law school because I was interested in understanding the serious legal and constitutional challenges facing my home country and the Arab world in general. I also sought to have a better understanding of the concept of social justice through the study of law,” Abdelaal said.

After completing his Master of Laws degree at IU McKinney in 2011, Abdelaal said he decided to pursue a Doctor of Juridical Science degree because of the knowledge the law school’s faculty had surrounding what he was considering for his dissertation topic.

That was a major factor in his decision, but Abdelaal also says that he just felt at home at McKinney.

“Honestly, it is the friendly environment that the law school uniquely provides that persuaded me to conduct my S.J.D. research at IU McKinney,” Abdelaal said. During his LL.M. studies, he was impressed by how easy he found it to assimilate into life at the law school and on campus. “They really know how to contain international students and help them integrate into a new society.”

Mohammad Bedier

One of Bedier’s favorite sayings is “Change lives. Change organizations. Change the world.” It sums up his decision to join the law school in his native Egypt.

“I believe that joining the law school will help transfer the acquired knowledge to the people in my community, to my colleagues at my work place, and even to my family and friends,” Bedier said.

After receiving his legal degree, an LL.B. at Cairo University, Bedier started his journey to contribute to his community as he was admitted to the Egyptian Bar Association in 2000, and then he was appointed as an associate district attorney at the Egyptian Ministry of Justice in 2001. Subsequently, he was appointed as a junior judge at the Egyptian State Council (Conseil d’Etat) in 2001.

Bedier knew soon after receiving his LL.M. from IU McKinney that he also wanted to teach. Holding a doctoral degree is a requirement for teaching law in Egypt, so Bedier says he adopted the philosophy of legendary American football coach Vince Lombardi: “Once you learn to quit, it becomes a habit.” Once Bedier completed his LL.M. at IU McKinney, he elected to just keep going until he received his S.J.D.

“Once I finished my LL.M. thesis, I decided not to quit and to start planning to accomplish that professional goal,” Bedier said of receiving his S.J.D.

Titled “Cross-Border Mergers & Acquisitions: The Case of Merger Control v. Merger Deregulation,” it is a subject he is well-versed in from his experiences as a legal professional. Judge Bedier is currently Vice President of the Egyptian State Council, which is the highest judicial rank in his home country. He also was seconded as a legal expert at the Presidential Office of His Highness the Prince of the State of Qatar. His work in Qatar includes negotiating, drafting, reviewing, assimilating, and advising on various transactions and legal documents. He also was appointed as an Associate Secretary General of Qatar Petroleum International, the entity mandated to represent Qatar in international oil and gas portfolio investments worldwide. In addition, Bedier has advised Qatar University on research activities and funding agreements.