Celebrating our Graduates
CCLS alumna recently promoted from a First Level Court Judge in Philippines to a Second Level Regional Trial Court Judge.
As we cheered on our second batch of graduates this year and celebrated their achievements on 30th April, it was especially heart-warming to receive a message of gratitude and an update from our recent graduate Gloria Monica Lopez (International Law and Arbitration LLM, 2025).
Gloria writes: “I’m Gloria Monica Lopez from the Philippines. It is with profound honor to have earned a Master of Laws degree with Merit from Queen Mary University of London. I took the program concurrently while working as a judge and a professor of law teaching Bar Review subjects.
As a judge, the topics and lessons during the courses were new and unfamiliar but our extremely effective professors, especially Norah Gallagher made my LLM journey worthwhile. This LLM journey instilled in me invaluable insights and propelled me to learn more International Law and Arbitration which I also continuously share with my law students. It broadened my perspective not only in having in depth knowledge of arbitration but also its significance in resolving conflicts on a global perspective. Truly, it has been a wonderful experience to have been a part of this program and to finish my LLM journey under the tutelage of Queen Mary University of London’s faculty and staff.
I extend my gratitude not only to Queen Mary University but also to my dissertation adviser, Darya Shirokova for paving the way for me to have further studies in International Law and Arbitration. In fact, I have recently been chosen and granted a full scholarship by The Center for American and International Law, USA to attend their intensive law program. Adding to this, I have been fortunate to have just been recently promoted from a first level court judge to a second level Regional Trial Court judge in March 2025. All of these achievements, I specially attribute to Queen Mary University of London as it has truly opened new doors for me.
Even after my LLM journey, I shall bring with me the wealth of knowledge, the learnings from other classmates during the sessions, and the insights from lecturers. It is my honor to be included in the roster of alumni of this prestigious University. This honor of being an alumna is indeed an invaluable achievement and a worthwhile investment of a lifetime. Thank you Queen Mary University of London!”.