Michelle Chowdhury

Michelle joined Thirdway as a volunteer in September 2009.  She holds a BA in Philosophy, Politics and Economics from Oxford University and is also a non-practicing solicitor, qualified in England and Wales.  Michelle trained for two years with a top international law firm, Allen & Overy LLP, gaining experience in litigation, restructuring, competition and environmental law.  She worked at both the London and Brussels offices.  Michelle will be starting an LL.M. at Georgetown Law in Washington, D.C. in 2010.
 
Before volunteering with Thirdway, Michelle had been involved with various pro bono initiatives, including advising on human rights issues and microfinance projects.  As the Manager of the Legal Department, Michelle will be responsible for the launch of Thirdway’s Legal department.  It is vital that Thirdway is able to fulfil its mission to promote human rights in Ghana and across the world, and in order to achieve this Legal department will work to ensure that Thirdway is acting within the relevant legal and regulatory frameworks.  Michelle will also be working closely with the Manager of the Microfinance department.
 
In order to gain a better understanding of the challenges facing sustainable economic development in the region, Michelle will be travelling across Africa before beginning her Masters programme.  She first became interested in Thirdway when looking for a flexible volunteer opportunity that would allow her to develop her legal skills, particularly in the context of microfinance, both remotely and in-country.  Thirdway’s virtual office allows volunteers to work from their home countries anywhere in the world.  During her travels, Michelle hopes to visit Ghana to implement projects that have been planned collaboratively using the virtual office, gaining experience of the international work of NGOs in West Africa.