Since marrying her famous spouse, actor George Clooney, Amal Clooney has become a household name; however, before tying the knot with George, Amal was powering through a noteworthy legal career. Born in Lebanon, Clooney’s family moved to the U.K. during the Lebanese Civil War. Post-university, she entered the legal field, holding jobs in the U.K. and the U.S., and the International Court of Justice in The Hague. She is a practicing barrister to the Bar of England & Wales, Inner Temple, practicing at Doughty Street Chambers. In this capacity, she practices international law, working on criminal and human rights cases.
Why They Made the Worthy 100: In 2016, the Clooneys cofounded the Clooney Foundation for Justice. The organization works to “get archaic laws overturned, unfair sentences thrown out, perpetrators behind bars, and persecuted men and women out of prison.” In late September 2022, the Foundation held the inaugural Albie Awards event, named after Justice Albie Sachs, best known for working to end apartheid in South Africa. The event awarded four first-time winners, including journalist Maria Ressa, social justice organization iACT, human rights defense organization, Viasna, and Dr. Josephine Julea for her work protecting Kenyan girls from abuse. The awards event brought international attention to these causes due to Clooney’s star power pulling a long list of celebrity attendees. The Clooney Foundation has also partnered with the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and the Obama Foundation to continue its international efforts in the future.
