Student Opportunities
Summer Job Opportunity
The Specialized Summer Program of the Academy on Human Right is looking to hire someone to assist with the program. The position is from May 5 – June 20 for 35-40 hours a week. If you are interested in applying please send an email stating your qualifications for the position along with a copy of your resume to hracademy@wcl.american.edu with the subject SP Assistant.
Inter-American Moot Court Competition
Help us organize the 13th Inter-American Human Rights Moot Court Competition! As one of the only trilingual (English, Spanish & Portuguese) moot court competitions in the world, WCL’s Competition brings together over 200 students from all over the world for a week of tough competition (and great fun) at WCL from May 18-23, 2008. The Competition is dedicated to the advancement of the Inter-American human rights legal system and involves a large number of prominent attorneys and volunteer judges, experts from the Inter-American Commission and Court of Human Rights and more. During the week, participants attend receptions and other events, participate in training opportunities, and visit international organizations such as the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights. We also throw an awesome Salsa-dancing party!
Volunteers are needed to communicate with participants, recruit judges, research the Bench Memorandum and plan the various events of the Competition. The Competition particularly seeks Spanish and Portuguese speaking volunteers (but not exclusively!). If you are interested in volunteering, please send an email to the Competition at iamoot@wcl.american.edu or call 202-274-4215. For more on the Competition, visit our website at www.wcl.american.edu/hracademy/mcourt.
2009 Specialized Summer Program: Assistant Program Coordinator
The Academy on Human Rights and Humanitarian Law – Specialized Summer Program is looking for an Assistant Program Coordinator to provide critical administrative support in the coordination of the 2009 summer program and Human Rights Month. This position will work closely with the Program Coordinator in all the aspects related to the program. This is a unique opportunity to interact with the faculty that will teach our courses as well as with the participants that come from around the world. Experience with event planning is a plus since during Human Rights Month the Academy hosts over 15 events that include panels, a film festival, and social activities. This position requires excellent organization skills, flexibility, capacity to multi-task, close attention to detail, ability to work as a team, and good customer service. The salary for this position is $14 dollars an hour for 27 hours each week. Applicants must be legally eligible to work in the US and commit to working through the end of July or August of 2009. Please send your letter of interest, brief writing sample and your résumé to hracademy@wcl.american.edu indicating “ SPAssistant Fall 2008”. Application review will begin in mid to late August.
Legal Researcher, Oxford Project
The Academy on Human Rights and Humanitarian Law – Oxford Project seeks a Legal Researcher to take a high level of responsibility to assist the Academy's Co-Directors, Claudia Martin and Diego Pinzon Rodriguez, in various research projects including an exciting collaboration with Oxford University Press and the American University International Law Review. This particular project entails the drafting of summaries of the Inter-American Court and Inter-American Commission on Human Rights decisions, to be done by the International Law Review, which are to be published by Oxford in a new international law online database. The student will oversee the project's execution and act as the liaison between Oxford University Press and the International Law Review. Responsibilities include maintaining delivery schedules, advising on drafts, and assuring the quality and accuracy of the reports. This is a great opportunity for students with excellent writing skills to contribute to wider international recognition of the Inter-American Human Rights System.
The student will also provide support to the Academy's Co-directors for other projects such as researching and editing articles for publication in various scholarly publications, such as the Netherlands Quarterly of Human Rights and other academic journals. Attention to detail, organizational skills, familiarity with Microsoft Office programs, and an interest in international law issues are essential. Knowledge of Spanish is preferred, but not required. A minimum commitment of 27 hours/week is required, but the student may work additional hours if they prefer or if necessary. The salary for this position is $12/hour.
Although the position is typically a year-long commitment beginning in the fall, students may start over the summer. Those students who are interested in obtaining work only for the summer are also encouraged to apply, but preference will be given to those who can commit for the entire year. Position is ideal for evening students who would like to complement their current studies and gain research experience outside the classroom.
To apply: please send a cover letter, resume and short writing sample (max. 10 pages) to hracademy@wcl.american.edu. Please indicate that you are applying for the Academy's “Legal Researcher” position in the subject line and whether you are interested in working during the summer or the full year.
Part-time Assistant, Human RIghts Legal Education Project
The Academy on Human Rights and Humanitarian Law – Human Rights Legal Education Project is looking for one part-time assistant for the Fall 2008 semester, with the potential to continue in the Spring semester. The assistant will be required to work 15-20 hours per week to provide support in the implementation of research and educational projects in the US and Latin America (especially Venezuela, Nicaragua and Bolivia) and conduct research in international human rights law as needed. Excellent writing skills in English and fluency in Spanish are essential. Part-time 1Ls are encouraged to apply. The salary for this position is $12/hour. If you are interested in applying for this position, please send your cover letter, résumé and short (10 pages max.) writing sample, before September 2nd, to Matias Hernandez, matias@wcl.american.edu, indicating “Part-Time Assistant Fall 2008” in the subject line.
Fall 2008: Dean's Fellow, Specialized Summer Program
The Academy on Human Rights and Humanitarian Law - Specialized Summer Program seeks a Dean Fellow to work 20 hours a week primarily in the coordination the 2009 Summer Program as well as other special projects which can include legal research. This position will work closely with the Program Coordinator and the Assistant Program Coordinator. Knowledge of Spanish and familiarity with Microsoft Office Suite is highly desirable.This position is only available to Washington College of Law students. 1Ls are not eligible to apply. Please send your cover letter and resume to hracademy@wcl.american.edu indicating “Dean’s Fellow - SP Fall 2008”. Application review begins in late August.
Fall 2008: Dean's Fellow, Professor Claudia Martin
Academy Co-Director and Professor Claudia Martin seeks a Dean's Fellow for the Fall 2008 semester, who will be required to work 20 hours per week doing legal research in international human rights law. Legal research experience in human rights and international law, as well as working knowledge of Spanish, though not required, are a plus. This position pays $12 an hour. If you are interested in applying for this position, you should send your cover letter and resume to hracademy@wcl.american.edu. Please indicate “Prof. Martin Research Assistant Dean’s Fellow Fall 2008” in the subject line.
Fall 2008: Dean's Fellow, Professor Diego Rodriguez-Pinzon
Academy Co-Director and Professor Diego Rodriguez-Pinzon seeks a Dean's Fellow for the Fall 2008 semester, who will be required to work 20 hours per week doing legal research in international human rights law. Legal research experience in human rights and international law, as well as working knowledge of Spanish, though not required, are a plus. This position pays $12 an hour. If you are interested in applying for this position, you should send your cover letter and resume to hracademy@wcl.american.edu. Please indicate “Prof. Rodriguez-Pinzon Research Assistant Dean’s Fellow Fall 2008” in the subject line.
Call for Volunteers for Oxford University Press Project
The Academy is looking for self-motivated WCL students, interested in joining them in an exciting project with Oxford University Press. The project entails drafting summaries in English of the Inter-American Court and Inter-American Commission on Human Rights decisions from their Spanish or English original versions. Thus we are seeking two types of volunteers: those who will translate and summarize from Spanish to English and those who will summarize from English to English. This is a great opportunity for students with excellent writing skills to contribute to wider international recognition of the Inter-American Human Rights System. The Academy seeks 1Ls, 2Ls, 3Ls, and LL.M.s who can dedicate between 5-10 hours/week to the project. This project is eligible to fulfill your Pro Bono Honors Pledge. If you are interested in applying, please send your cover letter and résumé to matias@wcl.american.edu indicating “Oxford Volunteer Fall 2008” in the subject line.
