Michael Richards - Personal Resume

About Me

Mac Richards is a law student at American University Washington College of Law, focusing on international criminal law and technology law. He has previously worked with the War Crimes Research Office, the Human Rights Brief, and Scouting America, and will be studying international counterterrorism law at the Asser Institute in The Hague.

His research centers on accountability for war crimes and human rights violations under international law, with an emphasis on corporate responsibility in conflict settings. His work has explored issues including atrocities committed during the Russian invasion of Ukraine, international crimes in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and the intersection of business and international criminal liability.

In addition to his academic work, he has contributed to legal blogs and journals, served as a blog writer for the International Criminal Law blog, and will work on post-conflict legal development initiatives through the Lawyering Peace Program. He brings over a decade of national leadership experience in youth development and public service through Scouting America, and has a technical background in IT infrastructure and web systems integration.

Legal Research

Legal Writing & Analysis

Human Rights Advocacy

Policy Analysis

Public Speaking & Communication

Project Management

IT & Infrastructure Support

Cross-Cultural Competence

Collaborative Leadership

Resume

My Education

2024 - 2027

Juris Doctor

American University Washington College of Law

Journal: Business Law Review, Junior Staffer
Activities: Human Rights Brief, Senior Columns Editor | War Crimes Research Office, Blog Writer | Lawyering Peace Program
Study Abroad: T.M.C. Asser Institute, The Hague, NL, June 2025

2020 - 2023

Bachelor's in Political Science

Minor in Law, Societies, and Justice

University of Washington

overall GPA: 3.61
Honors: Dean's List
Activities: Phi Alpha Delta Pre-Law Fraternity, Social Committee Member

My Experiences

Oct. 2023 - Jul. 2024

Legal Assistant

Suttell & Hammer

Prepared motions to amend, judgment renewals, and judgment domestications.
Conducted legal research and utilized JST Collect Max for case management.
Entered judgment data and e-filed motions with the court.
Coordinated with courts to maintain a hearing calendar.

Oct. 2021 - Mar. 2023

Learning Spaces IT Student Assistant

University of Washington

Responded to eight queries a day on the phone, via email, or through an IT ticketing system.
Set up and maintained video matrix servers and other IT infrastructure.
Resolved network issues alongside faculty and staff.

Jan. 2019 - Dec. 2024

National Key Volunteer

Scouting America

Oversaw, planned, led, and developed high-profile projects as directed by the National Committee.
Followed and maintained operational methods, accounting procedures, and tracked information.
Delegated daily tasks to over six volunteers to provide development opportunities.
Supervised site investigations, reported issues, and escalated those that required further assistance.

Awards: Distinguished Service Award

Publications

Article

Business Accountability in Business Dealings with War Criminals

Human Rights Brief

Vol. 28 No. 2 Forthcoming This article examines international legal mechanisms for holding corporations accountable when doing business with sanctioned war criminals. It analyzes the Dodd-Frank Act, the EU Conflict Minerals Regulation, and the Rome Statute, and proposes reforms to address legal gaps.

Blog

Taking the Internet by Law

Property Law Today

Apr. 20, 2025 The article argues that Comcast’s monopoly over internet infrastructure in many areas has led to slow service and predatory pricing, harming vulnerable communities. It proposes that local governments could use eminent domain under the Fifth Amendment to seize Comcast’s infrastructure and open it to competition, similar to the Kelo v. City of New London case. Given the internet's essential role in modern life, such a move could be justified as serving the public interest.

Blog

International Criminal Law Updates

War Crimes Research Office of American University Washington College of Law

Feb. – Apr. 2025 Reported on developments on the International Criminal Court's investigation into the Situation in Ukraine and Preliminary Investigation into the Republic of Belarus.

Get In Touch

Call Me

+1 360 510 0009

Email Me At

[email protected]

Location

Washington, DC
Seattle, WA

Michael "Mac" Richards

JD Candidate