Profile
Jeronimo Lau Alberdi researches and teaches constitutional law, judicial politics, and comparative constitutional law, using an interdisciplinary approach that integrates doctrinal analysis with empirical methods.
Currently a Doctor of Juridical Science (S.J.D.) Candidate at the University of Virginia School of Law, he also serves as President of the university’s Legal Research Forum. He holds a Master of Laws (LL.M.) from Georgetown University Law Center, as well as an LL.M. in Constitutional Law and a Juris Doctor equivalent from Universidad Austral in Buenos Aires, Argentina. In addition to his doctoral studies, Lau Alberdi is an Adjunct Professor of Comparative Law at Washington and Lee University School of Law (Lexington, Virginia, United States) and a Lecturer of Constitutional Law at Universidad de Buenos Aires (Argentina).
His academic work has earned numerous scholarships and awards, notably the prestigious Supreme Court of Argentina Award from the Argentina Legal Philosophy Association for his research on personal precedent and dissenting opinions. As a recognized scholar, he has presented at major international conferences across the Americas (Argentina, Brazil, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, and the United States), Europe (the U.K., Ireland, and Switzerland), and Australia.
Prior to his academic career, Lau Alberdi gained extensive practical experience in constitutional litigation at leading Argentine law firms, representing clients in high-profile cases before the Supreme Court of Argentina. This professional background directly informs his teaching of constitutional litigation and civil procedure, allowing him to seamlessly integrate theory with real-world case studies.
Beyond his individual research, he actively contributes to the global legal community by organizing workshops and speaker events to foster international dialogue between scholars and practitioners. Currently, he is conducting two studies funded by the Center for Global Inquiry and Innovation (CGII) at the University of Virginia: one examining the judicial use of foreign law in Latin America, and another exploring when and how courts act to protect democracy.
Formal Education
Research Interests
Honors. Argentine Supreme Court of Justice Award 2024, awarded by the Argentine Association of Legal Philosophy for the best research paper by a scholar under 35 years old.
Grants. Graduate Global Research Grant, Center for Global Inquiry + Innovation, University of Virginia (Fall 2023 & Spring 2026). Fall 2023: “Courts Without Borders: Judicial Diplomacy and Comparativism in Latin America.” Spring 2026: “We the Courts. When and How Do Courts Step Up to Protect Democracy?”.
Bar Admissions. City of Buenos Aires Bar (admitted Sept. 2015) and Federal Bar of Argentina (admitted Sept. 2020).
Associate Editor. The Independent Law Journal and Revista Jurídica Austral.
Peer-Reviewer. Revista Chilena de Derecho, Revista República y Derecho, and Revista Derecho del Estado.
