Francesca Albanese, the United Nations Special Rapporteur for the occupied Palestinian territories, admitted in a recent interview with Vanity Fair that she has never taken the Italian bar exam, a revelation first reported by Riccardo Puglisi, a professor of economics at the University of Pavia.
Albanese’s statement came in response to accusations that she had been presenting herself as an “avvocato” – the Italian term for lawyer – without having completed the necessary qualifications. According to a transcript of the interview published by Puglisi, when asked about the claims, Albanese stated, “I never lie. I didn’t take the bar exam because I don’t work as a lawyer, and I never wanted to. I studied law, and almost by chance, I was confused, I had just lost my father. Now I greatly appreciate the lawyers in Italy who deal with human rights, but 25, 30 years ago, what I wanted to do didn’t exist here.”
Puglisi, who has been publicly questioning Albanese’s credentials for months, noted the “ardita inversione dei rapporti di causalità” – a bold reversal of cause and effect – in her response, suggesting it would be more accurate to say she does not work as a lawyer because she has not passed the bar exam.
The revelation follows a campaign initiated by Puglisi to verify the claims made on Albanese’s curriculum vitae. In February 2024, Puglisi contacted journalist and fact-checker, Neuer, regarding concerns about Albanese’s résumé, which initially listed “international lawyer” as a primary qualification. Puglisi’s scrutiny as well extended to an earlier investigation into the credentials of geopolitical analyst Dario Fabbri, which revealed Fabbri had not, in fact, earned a claimed degree.
Il Riformista reported that Albanese had previously used the term “avvocato” in describing her professional background, a practice Puglisi characterized as improper. The publication noted that, beyond Albanese’s own admission, the specific details surrounding her qualifications remain unclear, specifically whether she failed to pass the exam or never registered with the Italian bar association.
Concerns regarding Albanese’s qualifications have also been raised internationally, with JNS.org reporting on “serious ethical concerns” stemming from her claim to be a lawyer without having passed the bar. As of February 17, 2026, the United Nations has not issued a statement regarding Albanese’s admission or the questions raised about her professional credentials.
