For recent graduates of law schools or graduate programs in journalism, international relations, area studies, or other relevant disciplines from universities worldwide.
Unrestricted Fellowships
Alan R. and Barbara D. Finberg Fellowship - Established in memory of Alan R. and Barbara D. Finberg, early supporters of Human Rights Watch (“HRW”), this fellowship is open to recent graduates (at the Master's level) in the fields of law, journalism, international relations, or other relevant studies. Graduates with LL.B. degrees or advanced degrees in other relevant disciplines may also be considered.
Restricted Fellowships
NYU School of Law Fellowship at HRW - This fellowship is open to 2015 J.D. graduates of New York University School of Law and recent J.D. graduates who would begin the fellowship immediately upon completion of a judicial clerkship.
Leonard H. Sandler Fellowship - Established in memory of Judge Leonard H. Sandler, a 1950 Columbia Law graduate with a lifelong commitment to civil rights and liberties, this fellowship is open to recent J.D. graduates of Columbia Law School only.
Aryeh Neier Fellowship - Created to honor the legacy of Aryeh Neier, this two-year fellowship is open to recent J.D. graduates of US law schools or applicants who will have graduated with a J.D. from a US law school by June 2015. Neier fellows spend one year at Human Rights Watch documenting a human rights problem inside the United States, and the second year at the American Civil Liberties Union, seeking reforms through advocacy and litigation.
JOB DESCRIPTION:
Fellows typically work full-time in Human Rights Watch’s New York or Washington, D.C. office or in some instances in another location. The NYU, Sandler, and Finberg Fellows work full-time for one year with Human Rights Watch. The Aryeh Neier Fellow works full-time for one year at Human Rights Watch and one year at the ACLU.
Fellows monitor human rights developments in various countries, conduct on-site investigations, draft reports on human rights conditions, and engage in advocacy and media outreach aimed at publicizing and curtailing human rights violations.
Past fellows have conducted research and advocacy on numerous different issues in countries all over the world. Recent examples include projects on: police corruption and access to justice in Liberia; accessibility for people with disabilities in Russia; youth in solitary confinement in US prisons; hazardous child labor in artisanal gold mining in Tanzania; police abuse of gay men in Kyrgyzstan.
QUALIFICATIONS:
Applicants must demonstrate a strong background in international human rights and be committed to building a career in human rights. Research experience, including experience conducting interviews, ideally in the context of human rights research, is required. Field experience in human rights work is strongly desirable. Applicants must have exceptional analytic skills and excellent oral and written communications skills in English. Proficiency in one language in addition to English is strongly desired as is familiarity with countries or regions where serious human rights violations occur.
Applicants should be highly motivated and well-organized; able to work quickly and well under pressure, both independently and as a member of a team; able to juggle multiple tasks; and able to meet tight deadlines. The fellowship year will require creativity, initiative, perseverance, and flexibility while maintaining HRW's high methodological standards.
Depending on the fellowship for which they wish to apply, prospective fellows must be recent graduates of law, journalism, international relations, or other relevant studies, or must provide evidence of significant, comparable, relevant work experience. (Please see our Frequently Asked Questions section for the specific requirements of the various fellowships.)
Fellowships begin in September 2015.
SALARY AND BENEFITS: The salary for 2015-2016 fellows is US$55,000, plus excellent employer-paid benefits.
APPLICATION DEADLINE: OCTOBER 15, 2014
Applicants are responsible for compiling complete application packets which must include the following:
- cover letter
- resume
- two letters of recommendation
- an unedited, unpublished writing sample (no legal briefs, please)
- an official law or graduate school transcript (applicants currently in one-year graduate programs should supply an undergraduate transcript with a list of their graduate school courses)
Complete applications (including transcripts and recommendations) for 2015-2016 fellowships must be received no later than October 15, 2014. Applications should be sent by e-mail, under single cover (in one email) and preferably as one PDF file (or, at a minimum, as separate PDF files), to fellowship@hrw.org with the name of the fellowship in the subject line.
Applicants must be available for interviews in New York from late November to mid-December 2014. Inquiries may be directed to fellowship@hrw.org. Please see http://www.hrw.org/about/fellowships for more information.
Human Rights Watch is an equal opportunity employer that does not discriminate in its hiring practices and, in order to build the strongest possible workforce, actively seeks a diverse applicant pool.
