For the sixth year, CHRGJ will offer NYU Law students program the opportunity to apply for the Transitional Justice Leadership Program.

The Transitional Justice Leadership Program, developed in consultation with prominent figures in the transitional justice field, provides an opportunity for LLM and JD students to engage with CHRGJ’s Transitional Justice Project through coursework, scholarship, and internships. CHRGJ’s Transitional Justice Project is led by NYU School of Law Senior Fellow Pablo de Greiff, who concurrently serves as the UN Special Rapporteur on the promotion of truth, justice, reparation and guarantees of non-recurrence. The Project brings together teaching, documentation, research, and convenings on topics such as criminal prosecutions, truth commissions, institutional reform, and reparations programs in countries undergoing a transition to democracy in the aftermath of conflict or of authoritarianism.

Each year a small group of incoming LLM and JD students is selected to take part in the program. Transitional Justice Scholars are guaranteed enrollment in Transitional Justice, the course that comprises the classroom component of the program. Scholars are required to enroll in this course, to be taught in Fall 2017 by Professor Philip Alston, CHRGJ Faculty Co-Director and Co-Chair, and Adjunct Professor Michael Reed-Hurtado. The seminar offers insight into the legal, moral, and political questions governments and civil society must confront as they seek to come to terms with a legacy of human rights violations. Reed-Hurtado has previously taught at Yale University and is currently an advisor on the peace process and human rights to the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights in Bogotá, Colombia. UN Special Rapporteur Pablo de Greiff will also bring to bear his extensive experience in the field in several sessions during the semester.

In the Spring semester, Scholars will be expected to attend a series of public seminars organized specifically for the program, featuring several leading voices in the field, including Professor Fionnuala Ní Aoláin, the recently appointed UN Special Rapporteur on counter-terrorism and human rights and a long-time transitional justice expert. The speakers’ schedules permitting, the Center will arrange opportunities for Scholars to meet with the experts in smaller settings to discuss ideas, writings, and career advice.

Because CHRGJ views scholarship as vital to preparing students for careers in transitional justice, Transitional Justice Scholars are expected to develop original works of legal scholarship to submit to the annual International Law and Human Rights Emerging Scholarship Conference, a forum that provides students with the unique opportunity to receive detailed feedback from experts and peers in order to prepare work of publishable quality. CHRGJ faculty and staff will be available to offer guidance with these projects.

Transitional Justice Scholars will also receive guidance in obtaining academic-year internships and research opportunities with human rights organizations, such as the International Center for Transitional Justice and the Center for Human Rights and Global Justice itself, as part of its companion Human Rights Student Scholars program that includes at least one paid Research Assistant position to work directly with Pablo de Greiff on his UN mandate work. As Scholars look to their time after law school, CHRGJ can also offer advice on seeking internships in a variety of transitional justice institutions, such as truth commissions, courts, reparations programs, and local human rights organizations in countries throughout the world. Funding from NYU to pursue these opportunities is available through competitive application to the International Law and Human Rights Student Fellowship Program.

How to Apply to the Transitional Justice Leadership Program

Applications to the Transitional Justice Leadership Program are due by Friday, August 11, 2017. Selected candidates will be notified by Wednesday, August 16, 2017.

To apply, please submit (1) a cover letter detailing your interest in the program, including relevant background or experience if applicable, (2) your CV, and (3) a relevant writing sample to CHRGJ Program Manager Lauren Stackpoole at lauren.stackpoole@nyu.edu, with the subject line “Transitional Justice Leadership Program Application 2017-2018.” Please combine all documents into a single PDF attachment.

Please note that those who apply and are selected for this program are both guaranteed enrollment and required to enroll in the fall semester Transitional Justice course. Students not selected for the program may still register for the course through the normal registration process; however, as with all Law School courses, enrollment is not guaranteed.

The Transitional Justice Leadership Program Orientation Lunch will be held on Thursday, August 31, 2017 from 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm in Wilf Hall 512. Interested applicants are asked to please reserve this date on their calendars in the event they are selected.