For the past four years, Harvard Law School has offered fellowship positions in clinical advocacy work through the Human Rights Program (HRP) to law-trained individuals with two or more years of practical experience in international human rights work. For the 2007-20008 Academic year, HRP will again offer a clinical advocacy fellowship which will begin on August 1, 2007. Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis, though no later than May 14, 2007. Interested applicants are strongly encouraged to submit their applications as soon as possible to ensure consideration, as a decision may be made before the application deadline.
The fellowship is offered in response to the growth of clinical opportunities in human rights for J.D. and L.L.M. students through HRP. Clinical work through HRP is centered in its International Human Rights Clinic. The fellow will join a team of four full-time clinical staff and faculty.
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 of activities has included field investigations to more than two 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 website at: http://www.law.harvard.edu/programs/hrp/ihrc.html.
Additional Qualifications:
The fellow will have two primary responsibilities. First, s/he will aid in developing clinical projects for students enrolled in the International Human Rights Clinic in the fall and spring semesters. Second, the fellow will coordinate with students engaged in human rights advocacy on a volunteer basis through the Harvard Law Student Advocates for Human Rights (HLS Advocates). HLS Advocates is an independent student group that engages students directly in concrete advocacy projects, and seeks to build the human rights community at Harvard Law School. The fellow will work closely with HLS Advocates’ directors and interest group coordinators, advise students on international human rights work and the institutions and processes of the human rights movement, supervise human rights projects assigned to HLS Advocates, and attend regular trainings, events and board meetings hosted or sponsored by HLS Advocates.
Enthusiasm and interest in student development is vital. The fellow 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 fellow will be responsible for ensuring the quality of student work product, under the supervision of the Clinical Director.
The clinical advocacy fellow will participate in training sessions in human rights law and practice for HLS Advocates, and may lead some small group discussions on advocacy projects. Clinical staff are requested to supervise student research in advocacy field missions during the academic year, through travel periods in October, January and March. This will require availability to travel for periods between seven and twenty days.
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. Three or more years of experience in human rights and a J.D. degree or the equivalent required. English fluency required; second language fluency desired.
How to Apply:
Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis, though no later than May 14, 2007. Interested applicants are strongly encouraged to submit their applications as soon as possible to ensure consideration, as a decision may be made before the application deadline.
To apply, please submit a cover letter, resume, law school transcript, writing sample, two letters of recommendation (which may arrive separately or with the application package) and a detailed statement of interest. Materials should be directed to: Tyler Giannini, Clinical Director, Human Rights Program, 401 Pound Hall, Cambridge, MA 02138, giannini@law.harvard.edu. Please also copy Michael Jones, Communications Coordinator, Human Rights Program, at mijones@law.harvard.edu. Due to the expected heavy volume of applications, only those applicants selected for interviews will be contacted. Please assume that if you have not been contacted within six weeks after the closing date your application has been unsuccessful.
Applicants should be prepared to begin work on August 1, 2007. Appointment is for one year, renewable for additional periods of one year or longer by agreement of both parties.