Human Rights Clinical Advocacy Fellow
Human Rights Program, Harvard Law School
For the third consecutive year, Harvard Law School will offer one or more fellowship positions in clinical advocacy work through the Human Rights Program to law-trained individuals with two or more years of practical experience in international human rights work, beginning, if possible, on August 1, 2006. The fellows will be called clinical advocacy fellows.
The fellowship is part the extensive clinical opportunities in human rights for J.D. and L.L.M. students through the Harvard Law School Human Rights Program (HRP). HRP has a team of clinical staff, including the Clinical Director, Associate Clinical Director and fellows. Student demand for supervised human rights clinical opportunities led to the creation of the clinical advocacy fellowship for 2004-2005. The fellowship will continue for the 2006-2007 year and beyond. Clinical work through HRP is centered in its International Human Rights Clinic. In the past, HRP clinical projects have involved both legal research and writing (leading to amicus curiae briefs and other submissions to national and international fora), as well as non-court centric human rights undertakings. This latter set has included field investigations to over a dozen countries, drafting of human rights reports, preparing model legislation, and developing strategies for treaty drafting conferences. For background on the nature of the work of the International Human Rights Clinic, please visit our site at: http://www.law.harvard.edu/programs/hrp/clinic/index.html
The fellows will aid in developing clinical projects for students enrolled in the human rights clinical seminars and workshops offered in the fall and spring terms. They will work closely with a range of students, including students engaged in human rights advocacy on a volunteer basis through the Harvard Law Student Advocates for Human Rights. Enthusiasm and interest in student development is therefore vital. Fellows will be required to initiate and cultivate existing working relationships with nongovernmental organizations in the field, to assess the quality and potential for student engagement offered by potential projects, and to supervise student work in selected projects. The clinical advocacy fellows will be responsible for ensuring the quality of student work product, under the supervision of the Associate Clinical Director and the Clinical Director.
Clinical advocacy fellows will participate (though not as principal instructors) in some of the clinical course offerings and may lead some small group discussions on advocacy projects. Fellows ordinarily are requested to supervise student research in advocacy field missions during the academic year.
Stipend: $40,000 per year plus excellent employer-paid benefits package. Some flexibility in salary range based on experience.
Fellows must have excellent organizational, communication, analytical and writing skills. Significant experience in human rights abroad is a prerequisite, as are language skills relevant to each fellow’s particular region of expertise. Two or more years of experience in human rights and a J.D. degree or the equivalent required. English fluency required; second language fluency desired.
Additional Qualifications:
Applicants should be prepared to begin work on August 1. Appointment is for one year, renewable for additional one-year periods up to three years by agreement of both parties.
How to Apply:
To apply, please submit a cover letter, resume, law school transcript, writing sample, and a detailed statement of interest as soon as possible, but in any event not later than May 15, 2006. Two letters of recommendation (which may arrive separately or with application materials) are required. Materials should be directed to: Tyler Giannini, Associate Clinical Director, Human Rights Program, 401 Pound Hall, Cambridge, MA 02138, giannini@law.harvard.edu.
Job posted on: April 05, 2006