International Public Interest Resources at HLS
HLS Programs and Offices
Bernard Koteen Office of Public Interest Advising (OPIA) offers many resources for students interested in international public service work. Several advisors have expertise in international work, including: international public service, including human rights (Ginny Greiman), international development (Ginny Greiman), international fellowships (Judy Murciano), and federal government (Joan Ruttenberg and Catherine Pattanayak). Our Career and Application Guides provide in-depth information, narratives, and resources on specific issue areas. Search for organizations and contacts through the Public Service tab in Helios. Check out our Public Interest Job Search Boards and Databases for websites that can be used to research international fields of practice and organizations within the public interest realm and the Faculty Directory for names, contact info and bios of HLS faculty members who have research interests and expertise that are international in nature.
Human Rights Program (HRP) fosters coursework and student participation in human rights activities through its summer fellowships, clinical work, speaker series, applied research, and scholarship. It also advises students wishing to conduct research projects with human rights organizations and provides counseling on careers in the field.
International Legal Studies offers events and speakers that have an international, foreign, or comparative legal studies focus. Contacts include: Jeanne Tai, Assistant Dean for the Graduate Program & International Legal Studies, or Sara Zucker, Director of International Legal Studies Programs.
Office of Career Services (OCS) offers guidance for students seeking careers in the private sector. Contact Marni Goldstein Caputo, Assistant Director for International Programs & JD Advising.
HLS Student Organizations generally seek to bring together members of the HLS community who share an interest in a particular international issue or region.
Law Reviews/Journals, produced by HLS students, are devoted to specific areas of the law and many journals focus on the issues of the international community.
Harvard University’s international research programs and centers and HLS’ Research Programs and Centers offer a wide range of resources to students interested in pursuing a career in public international law. Check out the Carr Center for Human Rights Policy at the Kennedy School of Government, the Weatherhead Center for International Affairs, the David Rockefeller Center for Latin American Studies, and the Islamic Legal Studies Program, among others.
HLS Faculty members can also serve as helpful resources. Staff at OPIA, ILS, and HRP can assist students in identifying faculty members whose research might align with the student’s interests.
The Office of Career Services can help students identify international private sector opportunities.
Fellowships and Funding
JD Student Financial Services Office is the primary source of information for Summer Public Interest Funding (SPIF). Review the SPIF application steps and current deadlines. Contacts: Natasha Onken and Katy Hutto, spif@law.harvard.edu.
Chayes International Public Service Fellowships provide HLS students with the opportunity engage in international public service. Review the Chayes International Public Service Fellowship timeline.
Human Rights Program Fellowships support a wide variety of international human rights work during the summer and winter terms as well as after graduation. Review the HRP Summer Fellowships application timeline and the available HRP Post-Graduate Fellowships.
For more resources and information on other fellowships, visit OPIA’s Fellowships page and Academic’s Fellowships page.