Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Law, research, policy, and public-facing work.

I am Yishak Baraki Desta, an LL.B graduate from Addis Ababa University with experience across legal research, litigation support, international advocacy, legal writing, youth leadership, and data-informed problem solving.

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LL.B · Great Distinction · 2026

LL.BGreat Distinction, Addis Ababa University

2 awardsJohn H. Jackson WTO Moot, African Regional Round

5+Published research and legal articles

ALXCertified Data Analyst

Selected work

Work that shows how I think.

Research, advocacy, writing, and applied professional work.

Senior Thesis · 2026

Critical minerals, investment protection, and regulatory autonomy in Ethiopia

My LL.B thesis examined whether Ethiopia’s mining investment framework preserves sufficient regulatory autonomy while protecting investment in strategically important minerals. The research combined doctrinal legal analysis with limited expert and institutional interviews.

Grade: A
Investment law · Mining law · Public policy
Doctrinal research + interviews

Read the thesis ↗

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How can a state protect investor confidence without surrendering the policy space it may later need?

Yishak Baraki Desta at the International Relations Institute of Cameroon

International Advocacy · 2026

John H. Jackson WTO Moot

Team Captain for Addis Ababa University at the African Regional Round in Yaoundé, Cameroon. Our team received Best Overall Written Submissions and Best Respondent’s Written Submissions.

WTO lawWritten advocacyLeadership

About the authors of the moot court research

John H. Jackson WTO Moot Court team with awards

Research Publication · 2025

Ethiopian law students and international moot courts

Co-authored research examining exposure to international moot court competitions, the barriers Ethiopian law students face, and practical recommendations for institutions, donors, and educators.

Open publication ↗

Selected publications

Legal writing for public audiences

Breaking the Silence: The Critical Need for Mental Health Awareness in Law StudentsInsight Online Magazine Internship Insecurities: The Struggles of Law Students in Gaining Practical ExperienceInsight Online Magazine Voluntarism and the Legal Profession: A Partnership for JusticeInsight Online Magazine Federal Ethics Committee’s Role in Ethiopian Medical Malpractice Investigations Justice Club Legal Digest · 2024

Experience

Across legal practice, research, and institutional work.

2024 — Present

Young Lawyers Initiative (YLI)

Senior Principal, Professional Development · Executive Board Member

Professional-development programming, legal education, research, content development, event planning, and collaboration with law-school clubs across Ethiopia.

Oct 2025 — Jan 2026

Link to Justice Law Office

Legal Intern

Legal research, case analysis, drafting of pleadings and legal documents, court observation, and litigation support.

Jun — Aug 2025

Boldmark Marketers S.C.

Research & Development Intern

Feasibility research, demand-supply analysis, business-model assessment, and research-driven recommendations for real-estate consulting projects.

Jun 2024 — Jun 2025

Insight Online Magazine

Editorial Board Member

Legal article review, editing, fact-checking, publication quality control, and original writing on justice, legal education, and professional development.

Mar — Aug 2024

FDRE Ministry of Justice — Prosecutors Office

Legal Extern

Criminal case preparation, file review, legal research, procedural and evidentiary analysis, and courtroom observation.

Yishak Baraki Desta during a professional session at Link to Justice Ethiopia Law Office

Practical legal training at Link to Justice Ethiopia Law Office.

Public engagement

Research is most useful when it can be communicated.

My work has also involved speaking, panel participation, professional-development events, and community-oriented initiatives.

Television Interview

Discussing the Young Lawyers Initiative and research on moot court participation

I appeared on a legal television programme to discuss the Young Lawyers Initiative and our research on international moot court participation among Ethiopian law students, including the barriers students face and the role that law schools and other institutions can play in expanding access to these opportunities.

Watch on YouTube ↗

Interview with Yishak Baraki Desta on Commercial Hub

FEATURED INTERVIEW

Meet Our Guest: Yishak Baraki Desta

Featured by Commercial Hub in an interview discussing my journey in legal education, and my work with the Young Lawyers Initiative.

Read interview ↗

Yishak Baraki Desta giving a professional presentation on Ethiopian taxation — Pleading at the John H. Jackson Moot Court Competition, African Regional Round, in Yaoundé, Cameroon.

Yishak Baraki Desta participating in a panel discussion — Panel discussion and public-facing legal engagement.

Yishak Baraki Desta at a Young Lawyers Initiative and Metassebia Law Group event — Young Lawyers Initiative / Metassebia Law Group professional engagement.

Yishak Baraki Desta speaking at the 2026 Young Lawyers Initiative Forum — Speaking at the 2026 Young Lawyers Initiative Forum in Addis Ababa.

Participants attending the 2026 Young Lawyers Initiative Forum in Addis Ababa — The 2026 Young Lawyers Initiative Forum, bringing together law students, legal professionals, and members of Ethiopia's legal community.

About

I am interested in the places where law meets institutions, markets, and public policy.

My academic training is in law, but my professional development has deliberately crossed disciplines. Legal practice taught me how rules operate in real files and institutions. Research taught me how to frame problems and work through evidence. Editorial work taught me to make complex ideas readable. International mooting strengthened my advocacy skills and ability to work under pressure. Data analytics added another way to interrogate problems.

I am especially interested in legal research, governance and institutional work, public international law, international trade and economic law, and development-oriented work.

Education

Bachelor of Laws (LL.B)
Addis Ababa University · Great Distinction · 2026

Senior Thesis
Grade A

Languages

Amharic · Native
English · Fluent
Tigrinya · Advanced

Additional training

Complementary skills beyond the law degree.

2025

Data Analytics

ALX Africa · Data collection, cleaning, analysis, visualization, Excel, SQL, and introductory Python.

View certificate ↗

2024

Fundamentals of Capital Markets

Addis Ababa University, School of Commerce · 50-hour programme covering financial markets, investment instruments, regulation, and market structures.

2025

Professional Foundations

ALX Africa · Leadership, communication, teamwork, and structured problem solving.

View certificate ↗ 2024

Virtual Assistant

ALX Africa · Google Workspace, Asana, project coordination, digital productivity, and proactive communication.

View certificate ↗

Contact

Open to serious opportunities and collaborations.

If my background is relevant to your team, programme, research, or legal work, I would be glad to connect.

Email me LinkedIn CV