Graduate Perspective:

Reena Arora

Recipient of the 2008-2009 Arthur Helton Global Human Rights Fellowship

"At the MAP Foundation I am considered a full-time staff member and have already been offered an opportunity to join the staff after completion of my fellowship, which would allow me to continue my work. I am deeply grateful for the opportunities this fellowship has given me and strongly encourage other law students with a passion for human rights to pursue the fellowship."

The Arthur Helton Global Human Rights Fellowship has been offered at NYU School of Law since fall 2008. This new fellowship supports one graduating student annually who has demonstrated a commitment to pursuing a career in international human rights law, and who has designed a sound proposal for work at a host organization that they have chosen. Applicants are invited to design projects to put their legal education to work on timely issues in countries where their efforts are most needed and where there are insufficient resources for human rights protection. The fellowship provides a modest salary for one year and covers health insurance and travel costs for graduates to work closely with their chosen host organization.

For more information on Reena and the Helton Fellowship, please click here.

Student Opportunities

The Center uses its location at one of the world's leading law schools to help students develop the knowledge and experience needed to play leading roles in governments, international organizations, and civil society in the years to come.

Post-Graduate Global Human Rights Fellowship

NYU School of Law announces with great pleasure the establishment of a new post-graduate fellowship for one year of human rights work. Applicants are invited to design projects to put their legal education to work on timely issues in countries where their efforts are most needed and where there are insufficient resources for human rights protection. The fellowship is designed to support students who have demonstrated a commitment to pursuing careers in international human rights law.

Human Rights Opportunities for LL.M. Students

NYU School of Law offers myriad human rights opportunities for LL.M. students. Since many of these offerings go beyond the formal course listings, please refer to this memorandum which outlines some of the most important opportunities.

International Human Rights Clinic

Through the International Human Rights Clinic, students work with domestic and international NGOs to document abuses, assist in litigation, and conduct legal research and analysis. Among many other accomplishments, students have:

This work has been performed in support of a broad range of NGOs, including the Center for Constitutional Rights, the Center for Reproductive Rights, Human Rights Watch, and the Legal Access Network for South Asians.

From NYU to the World:

Jordan Fletcher

JD 2006

"Working on the Haiti clinic project and going to the IACHR hearing was a highlight of law school for me. I worked about as hard as I'd ever worked and enjoyed myself immensely while doing so. It also probably saved the notion of being a lawyer for me - I wasn't so sure I could be happy do it as a job before that."

Today, Jordan is working with People's Watch in Madurai, Tamil Nadu, India on a fellowship from the American India Foundation.

At NYU Law, as a member of the International Human Rights Clinic, Jordan co-authored a legal brief submitted to the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights regarding the United Nations mission in Haiti.

Jordan spent the summer after his first year of law school working in Uganda on issues relating to community property rights and sustainable forestry. During his second summer, he interned at the New York State Attorney General’s Office and worked at the law firm King & Spalding.

Courses

NYU Law offers a wide range of courses on human rights law. Recent offerings include Case Studies in Transitional Justice, Economic and Social Rights, Human and Constitutional Rights in Europe, International Human Rights Law, Law of War and International Criminal Courts, and Legal Restraints on the War on Terrorism.

Fellowships

Through the International Law and Human Rights Student Fellowship Program, the Center places Student Fellows in internships, a wide variety of prominent organizations, from inter-governmental organizations like the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights, the International Law Commission and the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia to non-governmental organizations like the Legal Resources Centre in South Africa . Student Fellows also engage in related academic research.

Competitions

Jean-Pictet: The Jean-Pictet Competition is hosted by the International Committee of the Red Cross and is a unique opportunity to gain in-depth and hands-on knowledge of international humanitarian law while at the same time meeting students from around the world.

Conference

The Center hosts an annual Emerging Human Rights Scholarship Conference for current students to present original papers and receive feedback from fellow panelists, faculty, and Center staff. Student papers first presented at this conference have gone on to be published in the Canadian Yearbook of International Law, the Journal of International Criminal Justice, and the NYU Journal of International Law and Politics.

Student Organizations

Law Students for Human Rights (LSHR) works to build a community for future practitioners of human rights law, organizing panels, advocacy activities, and career events for the NYU community. LSHR also provides assistance on Center projects, such as our Disappearances work in 2005.