As a young man from Lebanon, taking an interest in International affairs comes naturally. We Lebanese live daily through a cauldron of conflict: political, economic, and even physical. We are especially keenly aware, many of us, of the need for clear-headed dialogue rather than fighting. Any many of us, are struggling with this. Given the great significance of Lebanon to the new strategic patterns emerging in the international politics of the Middle East, Lebanon must have well-trained legal professionals, since it is only through the passing of progressive legislation that Lebanon can find peace. Sadly, it seems to me that Lebanon will not achieve peace until there is a broader peace in the Middle East, until the Palestinian question is resolved, and until the United States and Iran can agree to the last vacation, there will be little peace for Lebanon.

I see business, and international trade, at all levels, not only commerce but art, theater, and so many other areas. We Lebanese want most this exchange with the rest of the world. So I ask your help to prepare me to serve my people by facilitating the foreign presence in Lebanon. We want to work and struggle to make Lebanon a place where people from the West would like to come to visit, again, even though it seems unrealistic. Who wants to vacation in Lebanon these days with a U.S. destroyer anchored off the coast ready to launch its bombs. It is only by a sheer love and respect for optimism that I feel so highly motivated in this struggle, to make Lebanon a part of a world at peace rather than a world at war.

Lebanon does not want to be in the crosshairs of a war between the United States and Iran. And I am not alone in thinking that we depend on the help of Great Britain. While there are a whole host of reasons why the University of London is my first choice for graduate study, foremost among them will be the opportunity to discuss the plight of my people with the finest minds of England. I feel that it is essential for the world to help the people of Lebanon. Thus, offering assistance to someone like myself, inviting me to share in your academic community, as an ambassador of goodwill, this would be the highest privilege that I could imagine.

I was born in 1980 in our Lebanese village of Al Chehabie. Yet I was raised in Beirut since my family moved there to be safe during the Lebanese civil war. I finished my secondary education at Al Doha High school, and I passed the official Baccalaureate exams in the 1997 regular session. At only seventeen, I attended the highly prestigious faculty of law at the Beirut Arab University for four years, where I graduated with a the LLB Degree (Bachelor of Law - LLB). Graduating in early 2001, I was one of the youngest graduates. I attribute my success early on in life to a great deal of hard work. This is one of my greatest personal assets, my determination always to keep working long hours. I am driven to succeed not only for myself, but perhaps most of all for my family. Family honor is a big part of my value system. And my parents have instilled in me early on the value of service, the joy of working for others rather than oneself, and being of service to one’s people.

I have never stopped studying. Currently, I am working towards my BA in English Language and Literature at the Open Arab University in Lebanon, where I have already finished approximately 50 credits out of the 128 credits needed for the BA. If I were to be accepted to London University, then I would not anticipate finishing this degree. I am especially interested in doing postgraduate work in the area of corporate finance law. My short-term plans, after achieving the LLM Degree, would be to continue to acquire experience by working for a law firm as a junior corporate attorney and, in the coming years, to become a senior attorney eventually.

This past December, I completed a written and spoken assessment test in the English Language at the British Council in Lebanon, where I achieved a score of 7 on both oral and written parts of the examination. This is not to say that English is not still a great struggle. But I take great delight in the extent to which I improve my English. And I am pleased that this examination has certified that I can at least “understand the main ideas of complex text on both concrete and abstract topics,” and that I “can interact with a degree of fluency and spontaneity that makes regular interaction with native speakers quite possible without strain for either party.” Furthermore, I can also “explain the viewpoint on a topical issue giving the advantages and disadvantages of various options."
Also, on the 26th of January, I completed an IELTS test and achieved an overall band score of 6.5 (speaking 5, writing 7, listening 7, reading 6.5). The date of the above speaking test was determined by the administrators after a couple of days from the writing, listening, and reading test, where I was suffering from a severe sore throat and was unable to postpone the exam. So, due to my health problem, I have to accept this humble mark on the speaking test. I have registered for a new academic IELTS as soon as possible, but this will not be until the 28th of this coming June, 2008.  

I feel strongly that, in addition to my education, that I also have valuable professional experience that has helped to prepare me for your program, serving, for example, as a member of the administrative body of the Social and Cultural Association in Deirkifa/Lebanon. After graduating in 2001, I started my first job as a legal administrator at the American Language Academic Centre, serving in this capacity from October 2001 until December 2003. My primary responsibilities in this position of were to: coordinate teachers’ and students’ schedules to register and confirm at the Ministry of the Technical Education and to, complete all required legal documentation at the National Social Security, and draft and maintain the necessary paperwork for the institute to comply with the state's requirements. Furthermore, I organized rules of procedure inside the institute and managed all legal correspondence. My next position was working for attorneys XXXX & XXXX, beginning in May 2004. I am licensed to practice in Lebanon as a member of the Attorneys Beirut Bar Association upon taking the oath of office and passing the Bar exams, also in 2004. I have had the right of audience in lower courts, and by last August of 2007, my record was transferred to the general schedule of the Bar after passing further examinations, and now I have the right of audience in higher courts. I want to thank you for consideration of my application.