Counselor Yousra Mohamed Kamal… Between International Arbitration and Judicial Capacity Building in the Era of Technology

In recent years, major legal cases are no longer confined to texts and legislation; they have expanded to include new fields imposed by globalization and technological advancement—from international arbitration to the governance of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the justice sector. At the heart of this intersection stands the career of Counselor Yousra Mohamed Kamal, a member of the Egyptian State Lawsuit Authority (SLA). Her journey reflects an integrated model that combines judicial practice, institutional work, and engagement in developing the justice system.

Her academic journey began with the study of law at the Faculty of Law, Ain Shams University, where she obtained her LL.B. She continued her studies by earning a diploma in Private Law from the same university before moving into the international arena by pursuing further studies in the United States. She joined the LL.M. program at Emory University and subsequently at Pepperdine University – Caruso School of Law (Straus Institute), where she earned a Master of Laws (LL.M.) in International Commercial Law and Arbitration.

This international academic experience contributed to solidifying her specialization in international commercial and investment arbitration—fields that later became a primary focus of her professional career. She also received a scholarship from the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology (MCIT) in the field of software development and worked for a period as a web developer. This added a technical dimension that enhances her current interest in AI issues and its applications in the legal field.

She began her professional career in research, working as a legal researcher at a consultancy firm. There, she participated in preparing specialized legal research on corporate governance, restructuring, and comparative regulatory frameworks. She also contributed to preparing analytical reports and organizing training programs, which provided her with early experience in multidisciplinary work.

Later, she joined the Egyptian State Lawsuit Authority, where she practices her role as a Counselor and participates in representing the state before international arbitration bodies and national courts. Within the Authority, she moved between several departments, gaining extensive legal experience, including:

 * The Foreign Disputes and International Arbitration Department for more than five years, where she participated in representing the Egyptian state before international investment and commercial arbitration tribunals, including the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID), the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA), the Cairo Regional Centre for International Commercial Arbitration (CRCICA), the Arab Investment Court, and other international arbitral bodies.

 * The Values, Supreme Values, and Arbitration Department.

 * Civil Judiciary.

 * Administrative Judiciary.

 * Economic Courts.

 * The General Secretariat (in a significant institutional administrative role).

 * The Judicial Department at the Ministry of Labor.

 * The Government and Institutional Communication Department.

This diversity has provided her with a deep understanding of the nature of institutional legal work, both from the perspective of litigation and legal management within state apparatuses.

In addition to her judicial work, she currently serves as the Vice President of the Judicial Studies, Training, International and Cultural Cooperation Center (JSTICC) at the State Lawsuit Authority. In this role, she plays a pivotal part in designing and implementing training programs and legal capacity building. Her duties include preparing specialized training programs, assessing training needs, coordinating with international experts and institutions, and organizing high-level legal conferences and events, as well as preparing reports and monitoring the implementation and impact of these programs.

She also manages the Academic Master’s Program in Investment Arbitration in cooperation with the Faculty of Law at Ain Shams University. This program is considered one of the pioneering initiatives linking academic study with practical application in the field of investment arbitration in Egypt.

Counselor Yousra has played a prominent role in organizing several major legal conferences, including the First Arab Judiciary Conference in cooperation with the Arab Organization for Administrative Development (ARADO), and the Conference on Ship Accidents and Maritime Safety in light of the Blue Economy in cooperation with the Arab Academy for Science, Technology and Maritime Transport (2026).

Additionally, she co-organized the First International Conference on Civil Aviation Law and Dispute Settlement in cooperation with the Ministry of Civil Aviation, the German University, and the law firm of Kosheri, Rashed & Riad. She is currently participating in organizing the Second Arab Judiciary Conference.

Regarding professional development, she has participated in numerous specialized international programs, including the Hague Academy of International Law, Queen Mary University of London in the field of investment law and arbitration, Columbia University in the investment agreements and investment arbitration program, and the WIPO Academy in arbitration and mediation. This is in addition to the PatentX program in cooperation with Harvard Law School, and the European Law and Economics program at the Riga Graduate School of Law in Latvia.

She has also obtained a number of advanced courses in fields such as anti-corruption, AI governance, climate change law and sustainable development, intellectual property, competition law, and cybercrimes related to AI challenges, among others.

As part of her interest in legal technology, she participated in organizing and implementing the "Digital Justice Pioneers" initiative in cooperation with international entities including UNESCO, Queen Mary University, Ain Shams University, and the Information and Decision Support Center (IDSC). She also contributed to organizing the "AI Ambassadors – State Lawsuit Authority Batch" program, reflecting a trend toward integrating technology into the development of the judicial system.

On the academic front, she co-authored a scientific chapter in a book published by Springer titled:

“Artificial Intelligence and the Future of International Law” (2025), which addressed the relationship between AI and international arbitration.

She has also earned accreditation as a certified arbitrator in Intellectual Property (IP) disputes, alongside her participation in several specialized training programs in governance, legal regulation, and modern legislation.

Throughout her career, she has received several certificates of appreciation, including recognition from the Ministry of Justice at the Distinguished Judges Ceremony (2023), a letter of thanks from the President of the State Lawsuit Authority (2025), certificates of appreciation for organizing legal conferences, and recognition for her efforts in the Foreign Disputes and International Arbitration Department (2024), as well as honors from government agencies and regional bodies.

This professional journey also reflects an important dimension: the ability of female talents to undertake advanced leadership roles within legal and judicial institutions. This is achieved through effective contribution to developing institutional programs, capacity building, and leading initiatives within a professional framework based on merit and specialization.

This career represents a professional model that combines judicial expertise, institutional administrative work, and engagement with contemporary legal issues. Through her work in international arbitration, her management of training programs, and her participation in technological initiatives, Counselor Yousra Mohamed Kamal contributes to supporting and developing the role of judicial institutions in facing modern challenges.

In this context, her experience represents a model for a judicial and legal generation capable of bridging established judicial and legal foundations with the requirements of institutional and technological development in a world where justice transformations are accelerating at an unprecedented pace.