As human rights violations continue to occur around the globe, law schools are establishing human rights clinics to meet the ever increasing demand for human rights lawyers. These United States based institutions are not only working to strengthen their own communities, but also to train students and professors, organizations and professionals, who are working to strengthen these rights outside of the United States.

Even though the Universal Declaration of Human Rights forms the basis of International Human Rights Law, the Declaration itself is not legally binding. However, civil rights clinics are training lawyers to strengthen the enforcement of such rights and increase adherence to the agreements that several nation-states have signed.

While international law is a relatively young field, many distinguished law schools have created outstanding programs for aspiring civil rights lawyers and professors. At Columbia Law School’s Justice Clinic, students and professors focus on the cross cultural implications of international law, and encourage students to immerse themselves in today’s human and civil rights battles. [Read more...]