Prerequisite: By Permission. Interested students should send their resume and a statement of interest (no more than 500 words) to Sanjana Nayak, snayak@law.harvard.edu.

Exam Type: No Exam

This seminar offers advanced training for students with prior human rights experience—whether through law school clinics, summer internships, or academic and professional experiences before law school—who are interested in careers in human rights or social justice. It is team taught by the clinicians in the International Human Rights Clinic, and therefore exposes students to a variety of perspectives and approaches.

The seminar is designed to help students to understand their potential place in the human rights movement, to evaluate the different practice settings in which they might work, and to improve their impact and effectiveness as advocates. In addition to creating community on campus among students with similar career aspirations, it also offers students the opportunity to build their own professional networks and consider different future paths. 

Through the seminar, students will confront tough questions about careers as attorneys in human rights organizations and institutions with varying professional norms, expectations, resources, and influence. They will also examine questions of ethics and responsibilities in the human rights space, such as those posed by working cross-culturally and on diverse teams. Finally, students will consider and cultivate their teamwork and leadership skills, including by examining issues of identity and power.