Robert L. Bernstein Institute for Human Rights

Clinical/Research Fellow

NYU School of Law invites applications for a one-year Clinical/Research Fellowship with its Robert L. Bernstein Institute for Human Rights and Global Justice Clinic for academic year 2015-2016. The fellowship will begin as soon as possible, with the exact start date negotiable. The ideal candidate will be an advocate with several years of experience who is eager to work in a combined scholarly-advocacy environment. The incumbent will spend about half of his/her time working on Global Justice Clinic cases and projects and half of his/her time on program development and management for NYU’s new Bernstein Institute for Human Rights. This is not a classroom teaching position.

The Fellow will work closely with Clinic and Institute Director Professor Margaret Satterthwaite, and will enjoy mentorship in human rights lawyering, program management, and applied research. S/he will also work closely with Clinic Professor Nikki Reisch, Institute researchers, an administrator, student research assistants, and interns. The Fellow will have a role representing GJC and the Institute at public events.

Primary duties include:

• With the Faculty Director and Institute constituents:
  • Help develop and manage policy-relevant research projects for the Bernstein Institute, drawing on the rich expertise of NYU’s human rights scholars
  • Help develop and manage the Institute’s annual conference and substantive program events including seminars, panels, and workshops
  • Oversee all matters relating to the day-to-day operations of the Institute and manage, train and evaluate administrative support and supervise research assistants and interns
  • Manage meetings of the Board of Advisors
  • Help design, develop content for, edit, and manage the Institute website
• Under the supervision of the Clinic Professors:
  • Work directly on GJC cases and projects
  • Coordinate with collaborators
  • Review student work product
  • Edit and proofread GJC reports and external communications
• Research development prospects, draft grant proposals, and produce grant reports
• Track grants, budgets, and manage financial reporting relevant to GJC and Institute projects

Qualifications: Applicants should have a minimum of one to three years of relevant experience, and must have a law degree (from any country). Preference will be given to individuals who have experience either as practicing lawyers or human rights advocates in one or more countries or as an applied researcher. Evidence of the following will be especially helpful:

• In-depth knowledge of international human rights law, mechanisms, and debates
• Experience puzzling through difficult strategic, ethical, and/or legal challenges related to human rights, social justice, or inequality
• Ability to conduct multifaceted work with multi-national and/or multi-lingual teams
• Capacity to work in high-pressure, low-resource, time-stressed environments
• Aptitude for developing and implementing research projects
• Experience or ability to effectively oversee and manage work with interns and administrative personnel
• Outstanding research and writing skills
• Exceptional organizational and project management abilities
• Desire to develop a career devoted to human rights or social justice—as a scholar or a practicing lawyer or advocate

To apply: Applicant should submit (1) a cover letter addressing the qualifications described above; (2) a resume or curriculum vitae; (3) a law school transcript; (4) one or two writing samples not edited by anyone other than the applicant; and (5) the names and contact information for three referees. Submit these materials to Professor Satterthwaite’s assistant Diana Limongi at LimongiD@mercury.law.nyu.edu.

Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis until the position is filled; however, applicants are encouraged to apply by October 9, 2015. Applicants chosen for interviews will be contacted.

Competitive salary and benefits.

NYU is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer.

About the Global Justice Clinic

The Global Justice Clinic provides high quality, professional human rights lawyering services to individual clients and non-governmental and inter-governmental organizations, partnering with groups based in the United States and abroad, as well as undertaking its own projects where independence is a strategic benefit. Serving as legal advisers, counsel, or advocacy partners, Clinic students work side-by-side with human rights activists from around the world. Working on cases and projects that involve cross-border human rights violations, the deleterious impacts of extraterritorial activities by state and non-state actors, and emerging problems that require close collaboration between actors at the local and international levels, students engage in human rights advocacy in domestic and international settings.

For more on the Clinic, see https://chrgj.org/clinics/global-justice-clinic/

About the Robert L. Bernstein Institute for Human Rights:

The new Robert L. Bernstein Institute for Human Rights is a research center that promotes cutting-edge scholarship, advocacy, and education on human rights issues in the US and abroad. Honoring and extending the human rights work and vision of Robert L. Bernstein, the Institute seeks to deepen engagement between scholars and those beyond academia—practitioners, law makers, diplomats, nongovernmental organizations, and international institutions—on a wide variety of human rights issues, from Internet freedom and poverty to refugee rights and armed conflict.

Human rights has long been a core focus of the Law School, and with this major initiative NYU Law is further demonstrating its dedication to training the next generation of human rights leaders. The Institute will act as the coordinating hub for existing human rights work at NYU, including the Center for Human Rights & Global Justice, the US-Asia Law Institute, and NYU Stern’s Center for Business and Human Rights. The Institute, with Professor of Clinical Law Margaret Satterthwaite ’99 as faculty director, will also support other human rights initiatives at the Law School and University.

For more on the Institute, see:

http://www.law.nyu.edu/bernstein-institute

Salary and Benefits:

The University offers a competitive salary and an outstanding array of benefits, which include medical, dental and vision. Further information regarding benefits can be found here: https://www.nyu.edu/employees/benefit/full-time/Professional-Research-Staff-Code-103.html.

NYU is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer