Seton Hall University School of Law, Center for Social Justice - Position Available Practitioner-in-Residence -- International Human Rights/Rule of Law Project - July 2011 to July 2012, with the expectation of renewal for a second year.

Seton Hall University School of Law is seeking applications for a Practitioner-in-Residence for the International Human Rights/Rule of Law Project within its Center for Social Justice from July 2011 to July 2012 with the expectation of renewal of the position for one additional year, dependent on grant funding and performance.  

The Practitioner-in-Residence will work in collaboration with faculty in at least three sections of the Center for Social Justice:  the Civil Rights and Constitutional Litigation Clinic; the Equal Justice Clinic; and the Immigrants’ Rights/International Human Rights Clinic.  The Civil Rights and Constitutional Litigation Clinic docket includes civil actions on behalf of victims of human trafficking, challenges to immigration raids and local enforcement of immigration laws, challenges to various aspects of the “war on terror,” and First Amendment litigation.  The Equal Justice Clinic docket includes a variety of cases involving civil and human rights with a primary focus on the rights of immigrants, women, and other historically vulnerable groups.  The Immigrants’ Rights/International Human Rights Clinic focuses on representation in claims arising under the Refugee and Torture Conventions, the Violence Against Women Act, Trafficking Victim Protection Act, human rights complaints before international tribunals, and field work on human rights and comparative refugee law issues. 

The Practitioner–in-Residence will take a multi-disciplinary approach to protecting the rights of immigrant communities in New Jersey, with a special focus on immigrant women.  Examples of cases/projects undertaken by the Project include drafting amicus briefs before state and federal courts raising novel human rights arguments in cases impacting immigrant communities in New Jersey; drafting a model brief for immigration advocates regarding principles of family reunification and the best interests of the child under human rights law; representing individuals and groups who were arrested in Immigration and Customs Enforcement raids in major civil litigation; drafting and coordinating oral and written submissions with immigrants’ rights groups across the country for the U.S. visit of the United Nations’ Special Rapporteur on the Human Rights of Migrants; representing individual clients in asylum and trafficking cases; and preparing “Know Your Rights” materials.            

Although the Practitioner-in-Residence will not be responsible for teaching an independent clinic section, s/he will supervise second-year students enrolled in Seton Hall Law School’s externship program, as well as students participating in the school’s Pro Bono Program as they work on the Practitioner’s litigation and advocacy projects.  The Practitioner-in-Residence may also co-counsel with clinical faculty and supervise clinical students in conjunction with clinical faculty from time to time. 

All applicants must be members of a state Bar; New Jersey bar membership is strongly preferred but not required.  All applicants should have a strong academic record, an ability to be proactive and work independently, excellent litigation skills, and outstanding written and oral communication skills.  We welcome applications from those with at least 5 years of experience working in one or more of the International Human Rights/Rule of Law Project’s areas of concentration. This is not a tenure-track position and cannot be converted to a tenure-track line.

The salary for the position is $75,000/year plus benefits.  Interested individuals are encouraged to apply at their earliest convenience.  Review of applications will continue until the position is filled.  To apply, please send a letter of interest, curriculum vitae, list of three references, and a writing sample to Patrice Smiley Andrews, Administrative Director, Center for Social Justice, Seton Hall University School of Law, 833 McCarter Highway, Newark, New Jersey 07102 or via e-mail to Patrice.Andrews@shu.edu.  The Center for Social Justice is home to eight clinics, as well as the International Human Rights/Rule of Law Initiative, the Urban Revitalization Initiative, and a large pro bono program.  The clinics focus on the following areas:  constitutional and civil rights, education, equal justice, family law, immigration and human rights, impact litigation, juvenile justice, and predatory lending and foreclosure.  For more information on the clinical programs at the Center for Social Justice, visit the Center’s website at http://law.shu.edu/csj/index.html. Seton Hall University is an affirmative action, equal employment opportunity employer.