The International Justice Resource Center (IJRC) welcomes applications for International Human Rights Law fellowships beginning in the winter of 2015-2016. The IHRL fellows play an integral role in IJRC’s work and benefit from unique opportunities to gain varied and substantive experience in the field of international human rights law and advocacy.

Fellowships may begin between September 2015 and January 2016, and are for a minimum of six months and maximum of two years.

Fellows will work closely with IJRC’s legal staff in developing and implementing projects in IJRC’s three service areas: international human rights legal research and practice tools, litigation and advocacy support to individuals and organizations, and trainings.

Specific duties will depend on current projects and client needs, as well as the fellow’s particular interests, but will generally include:

legal research and writing on a range of human rights and international justice topics for published articles, manuals, and guides;
contributing to practical tools and resources to assist human rights advocates in accessing international justice;
formulating advice and guidance on international human rights litigation or advocacy for individual victims and advocacy organizations;
assisting in the development and implementation of training programs on international human rights law and advocacy; and,
liaising with other human rights organizations to familiarize them with IJRC’s services and explore opportunities for collaboration.

Fellows will also participate in IJRC’s awareness raising and outreach events, and may contribute to conceptualizing and creating unique resources and tools for our online resource hub.

Applicants must be able to work in IJRC’s San Francisco office on a full-time basis for the duration of the fellowship.

Desired Qualification

J.D. or equivalent (by start of fellowship);
fluency in English;
excellent research and writing skills;
coursework in international law;
academic or professional experience in researching or applying international human rights law;
an understanding of the international human rights framework;
a demonstrated commitment to public interest work; and,
a collaborative, creative, and enthusiastic approach.

Where applicable, please also mention:

foreign language skills;
experience living or working abroad;
significant international litigation or advocacy experience; or,
relevant past or current work with human rights or social justice organizations.

IJRC will consider applications from all individuals who meet the minimum requirements.

How to apply

Please note that fellowships are unpaid, but IJRC will assist qualified applicants as necessary in applying for external funding opportunities that the applicant has identified, such as through his or her law school.

To apply, please email a cover letter, resume, and writing sample of no more than 10 pages to ijrc@ijrcenter.org by October 1, 2015.

In your cover letter, please specify the anticipated timing and duration of the fellowship.

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.