International Human Rights at Stanford Law

Stanford Law School provides students with numerous opportunities to engage in the field of international human rights. Through experiential learning opportunities on and off campus and courses taught by leading experts, students are able to build meaningful careers in human rights or simply explore the field during their time at Stanford Law School.

This resource page provides an overview of international human rights offerings at Stanford Law School.

Experiential Opportunities

The International Human Rights and Conflict Resolution Clinic

The International Human Rights and Conflict Resolution Clinic engages students in innovative and interdisciplinary advocacy to advance human rights and foster just and lasting peace globally. Students engage in both intensive clinical seminar/training sessions and clinical advocacy projects. The projects are designed and implemented in partnership with impacted communities and civil society, and community agency and power are values that underlie all the work of the Clinic.

Practicums

Practicums provide students the opportunity to engage in a range of international human rights issues outside the traditional classroom.

Externships

Externships provide students with the opportunity to work directly with NGOs or government agencies during the academic year to further develop their skills and gain exposure to a range of international human rights issues.

Student Groups and Publications

Student groups serve as a focal point for on campus activity on international human rights issues. Groups often organize on-campus events and provide students the opportunity to connect with other similarly interested students.

Courses

SLS offers a wide range of courses on international human rights and related topics, offered by leading experts in the field. Students interested in taking advantage of experiential learning opportunities, such as the International Human Rights & Conflict Resolution Clinic, are encouraged to take course offerings in international human rights law and related topics. Professors who teach these courses are also excellent resources for career development advice.

S-Term Courses

S-Term courses often offer students the opportunity to deepen their knowledge of international human rights issues and travel abroad, generally in mid-September right before fall quarter.

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2023 S-Term Course Offerings

SLS Programs/Centers

W.A. Franke Global Law Program

While the program focuses on global business and transactional legal work, students interested in regulatory and dispute resolution work can develop a lot of skills and networks through the Global Quarter fellowship and intensive overseas study trips.

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Franke Fellows during the Global Quarter

Policy Labs

Policy Labs provide students the opportunity to participate in hands-on legal work and develop important cross cutting legal skills. Policy Labs often provide opportunities to engage in international human rights issues working with organizations around the world.

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View Publications

Career Pathways in International Human Rights

There are many opportunities for SLS students to work in international human rights, whether for summer internships, externships throughout the year, or after graduation. The Levin Center for Public Service and Public Interest Law has many resources for exploring these career paths.

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Beyond the Law School