The Human Rights Clinic at the University of Miami School of Law Seeks Applicants for a Practitioner-in-Residence/Lecturer
The Human Rights Clinic at the University of Miami School of Law seeks applicants for a Practitioner-in-Residence/Lecturer position. The application deadline is June 30, 2011.
Position Title: Practitioner-in-Residence/Lecturer
Start Date: Summer/Early Fall 2011 (flexible)
Duration: 2 years, renewable for 1 additional year
Miami Law invites applicants for the position of Practitioner-in-Residence/Lecturer in its Human Rights Clinic (HRC). The Practitioner-in-Residence/Lecturer will have the opportunity to join the vibrant and supportive clinical community at the School of Law. Together with the HRC’s Director, the Practitioner-in-Residence/Lecturer will help run the HRC, including assisting in the teaching of clinic classes, supervising students, managing cases/projects, and representing clients. The position is designed for a lawyer with at least three years of practice experience who is interested in human rights law and advocacy at the domestic and international levels and has an interest in pursuing a career in law school clinical teaching.
The Human Rights Clinic includes a critical and a skills-based seminar on human rights law and practice. The Clinic is engaged in human rights projects and cases before the United Nations, the Inter-American Commission and Court of Human Rights, and other domestic and international tribunals, as well as other forms of advocacy including human rights documentation/fact-finding, report-writing, legislative initiatives, and community organizing campaigns.
Qualifications: J.D. and/or LL.M. degree from a U.S. law school is required. Applicants must have at least three years of legal practice experience. Applicants should have significant experience in human rights and cross-cultural lawyering; enthusiasm for clinical teaching, student development and training; a demonstrated commitment to social justice and public interest law; the ability to work independently and as part of a team; excellent legal, analytical, organizational, and written and oral communication skills; and ability to travel with and without students. English fluency is required; high proficiency in Spanish and/or Haitian Creole is preferred. Experience in creative and community-driven advocacy, clinical education, project management, supervision of student interns is a strong plus.
Responsibilities: Job responsibilities include:
- Developing, implementing, managing, and supervising all aspects of student work on Clinic cases/projects. The Practitioner-in-Residence/Lecturer will have the opportunity to develop new projects that are connected with the Clinic’s objectives.
- Co-teaching Clinic classes on human rights law, advocacy, and practice.
- Assisting with administrative and operational aspects of the Clinic, including outreach activities to publicize the Clinic’s work; student recruitment and professional counseling; responses to public inquiries regarding the Clinic; participation in strategic planning; liaising with student and community groups; providing content for the Clinic’s website; assisting with the Clinic application process; and providing support for development activities, including grant writing and fundraising.
- Covering cases/projects during the summer and between semesters. Depending on student interest and other needs, the Clinic may run through the summer, in which case the Practitioner-in-Residence/Lecturer would be solely or primarily responsible for teaching and supervising students and cases/projects.
The principal supervisor for the position will be HRC’s Faculty Director, Professor Caroline Bettinger-Lopez. The Practitioner-in-Residence/Lecturer will have the opportunity to develop and work on a scholarly agenda and participate in the academic life of the law school and in relevant academic and advocacy conferences.
Starting annual salary is competitive and depends on experience; position also provides benefits and access to university facilities. Additional compensation may be available for summer teaching.
To apply, please email a resume, cover letter, writing sample, law school transcript, and names, addresses and telephone numbers of three references by June 30, 2011. Applications will be considered on a rolling basis. For questions, please contact Rose Dominguez .