Columbia Law School invites applications for its new Columbia Human Rights Clinical Teaching Fellowship. The incumbent will hold the title of Postdoctoral Research Scholar.  The incumbent will also have the opportunity to teach the Human Rights Clinic as a Lecturer in Law, which will be a separate appointment, provided they receive faculty approval.  The two-year fellowship will begin in the summer of 2014, with a negotiable start date.

The incumbent will work in the Columbia Human Rights Institute and in the Human Rights Clinic.  The Fellow will work closely with the Human Rights Clinic Director, as well as with Human Rights Institute directors and staff on clinical projects, research projects, syllabus development, teaching, and the general work of the Institute (e.g. research, scholarship, advocacy, events, workshops, conferences).  Fellows will be provided extensive professional, teaching, practice, and scholarship mentoring.  During the fellowship, the Fellow will undertake increasing responsibility for designing and leading clinic projects; clinical teaching; and scholarly output.  Clinic projects address a wide range of civil, political, economic, social, cultural, and environmental issues, and include investigations, public and private advocacy, media work, and the use of judicial and non-judicial mechanisms.

The Columbia Human Rights Clinic exposes students to the practice and constructive critique of human rights.  The Clinic’s intensive critical seminar, which examines the actors, subjects, and tools of the human rights movement, is combined with specially tailored exercises and simulations to teach core lawyering and advocacy skills.  Students work on active human rights cases, and participate in exercises and discussions to foster the development of interviewing techniques, fact-finding skills, project management, legal drafting, oral and written advocacy, collaborative project work, strategy development, and project evaluation.  Working with experienced advocates and institutions engaged in social justice advocacy, both in the United States and abroad, students contribute to effecting positive change locally and globally as they hone their professional skills.

The Human Rights Institute sits at the heart of human rights teaching, practice and scholarship at Columbia Law School. Founded in 1998 by the late Professor Louis Henkin, the Institute draws on the Law School’s deep human rights tradition to support and influence human rights practice in the United States and throughout the world.  HRI’s current work addresses numerous issues, including counterterrorism and human rights, human rights in the United States, and human rights and the global economy. 

Selection Criteria. Preference will be given to candidates who demonstrate the following: (a) a deep commitment to rigorous, pragmatic, creative, and self-reflective social justice and human rights work and pedagogy; (b) interest and ability in challenging existing norms and methods in the human rights field, and an interest in pursuing new interdisciplinary research; (c) experience, initiative, and ability to undertake independent research; (d) substantive legal and practical knowledge across multiple human rights issues; and (e) knowledge of the wide range of tactics and tools employed in the human rights field, and commitment to the strategic use of these to challenge existing injustices and hierarchies, including within the human rights field itself.  

Applicants from any country are encouraged to apply.  Special consideration will be given to those who intend to pursue human rights practice and teaching after the Fellowship.  Applicants must have a law degree (JD, LLB, LLM, BCL, licence en droit, or licenciado en derecho, etc. will be considered), and have 2 to 5 years of relevant experience.  Second language abilities are preferred. The position may require international travel.    

Selection Process.  Applicants should send: (a) a letter of interest, describing the applicant’s qualifications and interest in the position, including indication of the applicant’s primary areas of interest and any projects the applicant would propose to develop in the first year of their fellowship; (b) a curriculum vitae; (c) a law school transcript; (d) two writing samples: one, scholarly, and the second, related to human rights practice (each of no more than ten pages); (e) two letters of recommendation, and the names of no more than three additional references. 

In order to apply for this position, please go to the following website: https://academicjobs.columbia.edu/applicants/Central?quickFind=59040                                                             

Applicants selected for interviews will be contacted. Applications will be considered on a rolling basis until the position is filled, but are strongly encouraged to apply by April 4, 2014

 Competitive salary and benefits.

Columbia University is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer

 

Preference will be given to candidates who demonstrate the following: (a) a deep commitment to rigorous, pragmatic, creative, and self-reflective social justice and human rights work and pedagogy; (b) interest and ability in challenging existing norms and methods in the human rights field, and an interest in pursuing new interdisciplinary research; (c) experience, initiative, and ability to undertake independent research; (d) substantive legal and practical knowledge across multiple human rights issues; and (e) knowledge of the wide range of tactics and tools employed in the human rights field, and commitment to the strategic use of these to challenge existing injustices and hierarchies, including within the human rights field itself.  

 

Apply Here: http://www.Click2Apply.net/mz8n9t2