Job Description

The Cardozo Law Institute in Holocaust and Human Rights (CLIHHR) is a leading global center for the study, teaching, and promotion of human rights. CLIHHR strengthens laws, norms, and institutions to prevent mass atrocities, protect affected populations, and rebuild societies in the wake of atrocities. An innovative “think tank,” CLIHHR furthers the theory and scholarship of human rights and atrocity prevention, while its “action arm”—the Benjamin B. Ferencz Human Rights and Atrocity Prevention Clinic—trains law students in human rights and atrocity prevention practice.

The Institute is seeking to hire a Staff Attorney to assist with cases, projects, and events at CLIHHR. Applicants should have at least four years of human rights litigation and/or advocacy experience as well as experience teaching or supervising law students.

The Staff Attorney will engage primarily with Clinic partners and clients toward protecting and promoting human rights while developing and furthering Institutional projects and convenings as part of the goal of preventing mass atrocity crimes. Secondarily, the Staff Attorney will train and supervise law students in the HRAP Clinic and lecture in seminars. The Staff Attorney will work under the direction of the Faculty Director of CLIHHR and the HRAP Clinic.

Position Responsibilities:

• Manage the docket of individual and collective partners seeking accountability and justice for human rights harms, and/or preventing international crimes through international human rights law practice
• Prepare submissions, motions, briefs, training, or other human rights law strategic advocacy and human rights normative development
• Conduct international legal research and writing toward finalizing project-based work for clients and communities
• Build and maintain partnerships with civil society organizations, practitioners, international institutions, and affected communities
• Contribute to policy analysis and institutional reports related to human rights law and practice
• Assist with curricular innovation, including implementing simulations and experiential exercises focused on issue-spotting, international legal frameworks, and accountability mechanisms
• Assist in managing CLIHHR programs and convenings, including organizing and implementing events on urgent human rights challenges and emerging issues in the field
• Work with the Program Coordinator and Faculty Director to secure additional project funding to create sustainability and expand the Clinic and Institute
• Direct human rights legal advocacy teams, including law students, partners/clients, and other experts collaborating with the Clinic
• Supervise law students engaged in live and project-based human rights case work, including fact-finding, legal research, advocacy, and strategic litigation support
• Lecture in Ferencz Human Rights and Atrocity Prevention Clinic and supervise law students on human rights cases and projects

The Staff Attorney position is a two-year position. It is full-time and may require evening and weekend work as needed. Field work and travel in furtherance of project litigation and advocacy are expected.

Experience & Educational Background:

• JD or equivalent law degree
• Interest in legal education and human rights practice
• A demonstrated abiding commitment to social justice and equality
• Ability to travel for project implementation is a plus

Application Instructions:

Resume and cover letter required

Salary Range:

$103,000 - $107,000

About Us:

Equal Employment Opportunity:

Yeshiva University is an equal opportunity employer committed to providing employment opportunities to all employees and candidates without regard to race, color, age, sex, national origin, disability status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws.