Tuttleman Legal Empowerment Fellowship | Bernstein Institute at NYU Law

The Robert L. Bernstein Institute for Human Rights at NYU School of Law is committed to the advancement of legal empowerment through innovative research, education, and advocacy. Legal Empowerment is a growing field of human rights practice dedicated to strengthening the capacity of affected communities to use the law to achieve justice. The Institute is thrilled to announce the Tuttleman Fellowship, a generous gift from the Tuttleman Foundation to deepen and expand our legal empowerment work. The fellowship is for a one year period, with the possibility for extension to two.

About the position

The inaugural Tuttleman Fellow will build upon the Bernstein Institute for Human Rights’ cutting-edge legal empowerment work, playing a central role in developing and consolidating an evidence base to demonstrate the effectiveness of legal empowerment in advancing human rights.

We seek a dynamic individual with exceptional judgment, strong research, writing, and collaboration skills, and a demonstrated passion for grassroots justice.

Primary duties include:

  • Engage in research, writing and analysis to support the Institute’s existing legal empowerment projects, including an innovative project examining how legal empowerment models are being used to support asylum seekers within the U.S. immigration system co-managed with the Global Justice Clinic at NYU Law.
  • Assist in the development of new legal empowerment projects for the Institute, a role that involves strategic thinking, rigorous research, writing and analysis, and an ability to collaborate effectively across a wide range of partners including grassroots organizations, practitioners, and academics.
  • Support the Institute’s role in supporting legal empowerment learning efforts, including the development of a global learning agenda and the Legal Empowerment Leadership Course co-convened with international partners, Namati and Open Society Justice Initiative, among others.
  • Assist in the development of the Institute’s annual conference and program events, including the development of an innovative Legal Empowerment Learning Lab.
  • Assist in design, develop content for, edit and manage the Institute website, communications, and social media channels.
  • Supervise research assistants and interns.

Qualifications

  • Law degree (from any country) or J.D. or LLM
  • 2-3 years’ experience in the practice of human rights, development or a related field
  • Excellent research, verbal and written communication skills
  • Demonstrated management, administrative and organizational skills
  • Deep commitment to human rights and social justice

Evidence of the following will be especially helpful:

  • Knowledge of human rights law

  • Experience working with–and being accountable to–grassroots communities advancing human rights (e.g. through training, documentation, advocacy)

  • Strong initiative coupled with sound judgment

  • Experience puzzling through difficult strategic, ethical, and/or legal challenges related to human rights, access to justice, or inequality

  • Ability to conduct multifaceted work with multi-national and/or multi-lingual teams

  • Capacity to work in high-pressure, low-resource, time-stressed environments

  • Aptitude for developing and implementing research projects

  • Experience or ability to effectively oversee and manage work with interns and administrative personnel

    One or more of the following will be a plus:

  • Quantitative or qualitative research skills and training

  • Ability to work in a language other than English

  • Experience and/or training in mapping, coding, and/or data visualization

  • Experience and/or training in media and communications, especially creation of video, VR, or interactive online platforms

  • Knowledge of immigration and/or criminal justice law

To apply:

Applicant should submit:

  1. a cover letter addressing the qualifications described above;
  2. a resume or curriculum vitae;
  3. two writing samples (at least one a non-legal document), not edited by anyone other than the applicant; and
  4. the names and contact information for three referees.

Submit these materials to: law.bernstein-institute@nyu.edu, with subject “Tuttleman Fellowship” in the subject line of the email.

Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis until July 31, 2019 with a start date for late August 2019. Competitive salary and benefits. NYU is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer.

About the Robert L. Bernstein Institute for Human Rights

The Bernstein Institute for Human Rights at NYU School of Law promotes cutting-edge research, education, and advocacy on human rights issues around the world, with a focus on defending dissent and advancing legal empowerment. The Institute embraces a holistic approach to human rights, deepening engagement with key stakeholders in the pursuit of justice: law students, human rights defenders, scholars, judges, interdisciplinary allies, and affected communities.

Salary and Benefits:

Salary is $60,000 plus excellent NYU benefits, which include medical, dental and vision. Further information regarding benefits can be at: https://www.nyu.edu/employees/benefit/full-time/Professional-Research-Staff-Code-103.html. NYU is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer

EOE/AA/Minorities/Females/Vet/Disabled/Sexual Orientation/Gender Identity

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