International Human Rights Advocacy Clinic (IHRAC)

The International Human Rights Advocacy Clinic (IHRAC) offers students hands-on experience representing individual human rights survivors and international non-governmental organizations engaged in human rights advocacy. Participating students gain experience in areas including fact-finding, evidence collection, research, reports, advisory memoranda, viability assessments, litigation, amicus briefs, UN standard setting, and norm development. They also develop a variety of skills including interviewing, persuasive writing, media, collaboration, leadership, professional identity, trauma-informed advocacy, cross-cultural lawyering, and methods to cope with vicarious trauma. In addition, students discuss current events in human rights and the role lawyers play in the human rights movement (values, obligations, opportunities, and constraints). 

Interested in learning about the International Human Rights Advocacy Clinic? Watch this brief video.

How to Apply

Students interested in enrolling in the International Human Rights Advocacy Clinic should complete the PILC application and contact Professor Darby Kerrigan Scott to schedule an interview. There are no prerequisites for this clinic, and CLI status is not required. The clinic is open to all students beginning the summer after 1L year.  

Clinic Work

Southern Africa Litigation Centre Pamphlet: Know Your Rights – a resource for people in Eswatini | July 2024

Human Rights Advocacy Centre Flyer: Know Your Voting Rights | May 2024

Human Rights at Home Blog (A Member of the Law Professor Blogs Network): One Thing the U.S. Must Do to Protect Human Rights in the Immediate Aftermath of the 75th Anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights| December 2023

Southern Africa Litigation Centre Policy Brief: Revitalizing the campaign against sedition and insult offences in Africa | October 2023

Response to Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Call for inputs: Human Rights Council resolution 51/12 on local government and human rights | September 2023

Bravo Trial Monitoring Project | July 2022

Submission to UN Special Rapporteur on Contemporary Forms of Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance in Collaboration with the Farmworker Association of Florida, Inc. | June 2022

Recent News

The International Human Rights Advocacy Clinic’s work was recently cited in a UN report. The clinic partnered with the Farmworker Association of Florida, Inc. in responding to a call for submissions by the UN Special Rapporteur on Contemporary Forms of Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance for its 2022 Report on Climate and Racial Justice to the General Assembly. Read more here.

Student Testimonials

  • "Through the International Human Rights Advocacy Clinic, I collaborated directly with a Ghanaian civil society organization to develop civic engagement materials aimed at young, first-time voters in preparation for their upcoming election. This clinic offered me a foundational law school experience, allowing me to contribute to meaningful causes and engage in thought-provoking discussions that significantly advanced my growth as a human rights advocate. The work I undertook in this clinic strengthened my commitment to pursuing public interest law and continues to shape my approach to all of my professional endeavors."

    - Alexis Fulton

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  • "Being a part of IHRAC allowed me to take part in a clinical project that looked at international standards of housing rights to see how it can be applied on a local level to promote policy change. The clinic teaches you to think analytically about the relevance of international law and seeing limitations of certain domestic human rights laws. It further teaches trauma-informed lawyering techniques that helped me build the skills necessary to be an effective advocate, which can be applied in the human rights field and beyond."

    - Careena Lall

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  • "The International Human Rights Advocacy Clinic provided me with an opportunity that was challenging, practical, and engaging. The clinic allowed me to think about what lawyers could and should do to help those in need. More importantly, the clinic gave me the chance to test those ideas outside of the classroom."

    - Leonard "Turner" McCroan

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  • "Taking the IHRAC was one of the best decisions I made in law school. The clinic allowed me to pursue my passion for helping victims of international human rights violations and their families. In addition to learning about international human rights law and regional human rights systems, my experience with the clinic provided me with valuable practical skills such as trauma-informed lawyering, persuasive legal writing, public interest campaign creation, interviewing clients, legal research, trial preparation and monitoring, and case management."

    - Abigail Chapman

     

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  • "I participated in the IHRAC clinic during the summer semester. It was of the most rewarding experiences I have had in law school. I was able to improve my practical skills as well as meet wonderful individuals that do amazing work across the globe!"  

    - Larry Lynn

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  • "The International Human Rights Advocacy Clinic provides a comprehensive and hands-on overview of what it means to be a lawyer and a human rights advocate, ranging from the foundations of human rights systems around the world to learning how to record billable hours! I especially enjoyed observing a federal human rights case in Miami and drafting trial monitoring reports. It was an amazing opportunity to learn about the federal justice system and about civil proceedings."

    - Aziza Mohamadhossen

     

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  • Baleigh Brown headshot

    "The International Human Rights Advocacy Clinic provided one of the best experiences I've had in law school. The Clinic grants a unique opportunity to students by allowing for a safe space to practice the law as well as teaching how to be a strong advocate. I highly recommend joining the Clinic as you will gain great practical experience and connect with legal professionals in the human rights field, in addition to learning valuable advocacy skills to take with you into your future career."

    - Baleigh Brown

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  • Lexie Morgan headshot

    "Professor Scott's International Human Rights Advocacy Clinic showed me the exact field of law I enjoy the most. While working with NGOs and trying to bring human rights closer to home where we might be lacking, we gained hands-on experience with other tasks crucial to practicing law. From trauma-informed interviewing, learning how to operate CLIO, to seeing the true depth and avenues of international human rights research, this clinic was an experience I highly recommend to anyone interested."

    - Lexie Morgan

     

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  • "The human rights clinic has been the highlight of my law school career. I learned how concepts of international law are applied in the real world through the work with our clinic partners. We discuss various topics that impact us from the local to the international level, learning from our different perspectives how to be an effective cross-cultural advocate. The opportunities this clinic presented, such as submitting a report to the UN and trial monitoring a human rights case, were such unique experiences that have made me a better advocate."

    - Sophia Muina

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  • Lexie Morgan headshot

    "Being a part of the work at the human rights clinic has been a transformative and rewarding experience. In addition to strengthening my professional and practical skills, I gained knowledge in human rights law and how to advocate for human rights from a global to local scale. With the guidance and supervision of Professor Scott, this clinic allowed me to learn and apply my legal research and writing skills, and fostered a balance between independent work and group collaboration. I strongly recommend joining the International Human Rights Clinic."

    - Tamara Jordan

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  • "IHRAC opened many doors in the domestic and international legal world. I researched the subject of sedition in Africa and drafted a policy memo on means to curb its revitalization. I also wrote a student note on decriminalizing defamation in the United States, which was published in FSU Law Review. This summer, I will be interning at the Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia where I will be assisting in the residual mechanisms of the Khmer Rouge tribunal. IHRAC reaffirmed my passion for international law and provided the tools to further my career in the field."

    - Nicholas Lower

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  • Alexis d'Albissin headshot

    "I highly recommend the clinic for anyone seeking to make connections with human rights advocates and to anyone who wants to challenge their notions of what human rights advocacy is all about. Learning from and working with partners this summer was an incredibly rewarding and humbling experience. I have nothing but admiration for the work being done with the help of the IHRAC."

    - Alexis d'Albissin

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