Ms. Tajra SMAJIC
Research Student
Working toward a PhD in Laws, expected 2026
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Ms. Tajra Smajic is a PhD candidate at Faculty of Law, The Chinese University of Hong Kong. Prior to beginning her doctoral studies, she completed a Masters in International Economic Law at CUHK, where she was a recipient of the “Dean’s List” Award for her excellent academic performance. Before moving to Hong Kong, she studied at European Law School at Maastricht University, where she obtained a comparative legal education in 4 different European jurisdictions (German, French, Dutch and UK) as well as in EU Law. She also successfully completed the Maastricht University Law College, which is an honors program of the Faculty of Law. In that time, she also worked as a part-time law tutor, where she discovered her passion for teaching law. She was one of the representatives of the Maastricht University at the 2020-2021 European Human Rights ELSA Moot Court.
THESIS TOPIC
The Impact of the Common Heritage of Mankind (CHM) Principle on Investment in Deep Seabed Mining (DSM) Projects, co-supervised by Professors Gregory GORDON and Bryan MERCURIO.
RESEARCH INTERESTS AND AIMS
I am especially interested in the International Law of the Sea, in particular the law governing the deep seabed beyond national jurisdiction, and International Investment Law. With my thesis, I hope to research the interface between the unique deep seabed legal regime and investment law, focusing the interplay between different rights, obligations and interests of parties involved and their impact on the global community and marine environment.
Next to legal research, I am passionate about legal teaching and different teaching methodologies which can be employed to maximize effective engagement of students.
WORKING PAPERS AND PUBLICATIONS
- Marieke Janne Hopman & Tajra Smajić (2023) Navigating conflicting normative orders: when violence isn’t violence, Legal Pluralism and Critical Social Analysis, DOI: 10.1080/27706869.2023.2189379.
EDUCATION AND AWARDS
Education
- Master of Laws in International Economic Law, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, 2022.
- Honors Degree, Maastricht University Law College, Maastricht University, Netherlands, 2021.
- Bachelor of Laws, European Law School, Faculty of Law, Maastricht University, Netherlands, 2021.
Awards
- Awardee of the Deans List Award for excellent academic performance, 2022.
- Awardee of the CUHK LAW LLM Academic Excellence Scholarship Award 2021.