This opportunity is facilitated by the Center for Human Rights and Global Justice at NYU Law in collaboration with Human Rights Foundation (HRF). Please note this internship is fully managed by HRF and all application materials and communications should be directed to Venla Stang, venla@hrf.org, by August 20, 2025.
Legal Intern / Extern Role – Human Rights Foundation
Overview
The Human Rights Foundation (HRF) promotes freedom where it’s most at risk: in countries ruled by authoritarian regimes. HRF’s Impact Litigation program provides international legal representation to prisoners of conscience whose cases are emblematic examples of the brutality of dictatorship. HRF’s international attorneys litigate on behalf of these courageous individuals before international courts and semi-judicial bodies, such as the United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention (UNWGAD). We submit individual complaints and urgent appeals to the UNWGAD and other Special Procedures of the Human Rights Council. In addition, we advocate for the individuals through press releases, social media posts, and videos.
We also submit reports to the United Nations Human Rights Council’s Universal Periodic Review (UPR) on the human rights situation and developments in authoritarian countries.
The law student will support the Impact Litigation program and provide other research and writing support on projects relevant to HRF’s mission statement. Specifically, the student will perform legal and policy research, draft submissions to the Human Rights Council’s Special Procedures and UPR, conduct follow-up advocacy, and draft legal and policy briefs and memos on topics related to HRF’s countries of focus. The student will report to HRF’s senior attorneys and other senior members of the Legal & Policy Team.
Responsibilities
- Drafting legal petitions and urgent appeals on behalf of political prisoners, for submission to the UNWGAD or other Working Groups and mechanisms;
- Drafting individual country submissions for the UPR cycles of the UN Human Rights Council;
- Drafting legal memos and policy briefs on topics related to HRF’s countries of focus, and other relevant submissions to various UN Special Rapporteurs;
- Providing general research and analysis under international human rights law;
- Preparing legal arguments regarding international acts of corruption and/or serious human rights abuses, for submission to the U.S. Government, as part of HRF’s anti-kleptocracy work to sanction individuals and their networks.
- Researching human rights cases in relevant authoritarian regimes, and drafting outgoing communications, including policy notes, blog posts, and press releases, as part of HRF’s advocacy campaigns.
The role will run from September-December 2025, according to student’s semester schedule.
To apply, submit CV, cover letter, and writing sample to Venla Stang, venla@hrf.org, by August 20, 2025.