2021 Asia Law and Justice Fellow

BACKGROUND
The Leitner Center for International Law and Justice at Fordham Law School (“Leitner Center”)
is seeking a highly motivated and enthusiastic Asia Law and Justice Fellow at its office in New
York City to begin in early 2021. The Leitner Center is open and working remotely until June
2021; after this, the Fellow will be based in the New York City office.
The Leitner Center aims to contribute to the promotion of social justice around the world by
encouraging knowledge of and respect for international law and international human rights
standards in particular. The Center pursues this goal by sponsoring education, scholarship, and
human rights advocacy, and facilitating collaboration among law students, scholars, and human
rights defenders in the United States and abroad. In Asia, the Leitner Center’s work has primarily
been focused on rule of law and justice initiatives in Cambodia, China, Hong Kong, Myanmar,
and Nepal.
RESPONSIBILITIES
The Leitner Center’s work in Asia is administered by the Asia Law and Justice Fellow, who is a
law school graduate. Reporting to the Leitner Center’s Executive Director, the Fellow will:
 Contribute to the development and implementation of the Asia Law and Justice
Program’s overall strategy and plan;
 Manage overall administrative operations for the Program, which will include oversight
of the Program budget, project management, development, grant reporting and
administration, and event organization;
 Oversee the Program’s research, advocacy, and capacity-building programs, and build,
manage, and monitor ongoing grant-funded and other initiatives, including international
Fellows programs and programs for scholars-in-residence;
 Develop, coordinate, and implement educational content and material for classes, seminars,
capacity-building programs, and practice-oriented learning opportunities; subject to the
approval of Fordham Law School’s Academic Dean for a candidate with the right
experience, the Fellow may teach a seminar at the Law School as a member of the adjunct
faculty;
 Represent the Leitner Center internally and externally before a wide variety of audiences;
 Work with and coordinate students, faculty, staff and external partners, including
individuals and organizations abroad;

 Train and supervise research assistants, interns, and students in experiential learning
programs, and mentor students on academic and professional development and
opportunities.
QUALIFICATIONS
Candidates should hold a J.D. or equivalent. The strongest candidate will be an action-orientated
self-starter who will have many of the following qualifications:
 Minimum 2–4 years’ experience in international human rights law research, advocacy, and
capacity-building with strong program management skills;
 Excellent legal research, writing, and analytical skills, with a strong background in law and
legal developments in Asia, and especially China or Hong Kong preferred;
 Knowledge of key organizations and networks active in one or more of the following fields:
international law, human rights, development, rule of law, and access to justice;
 Experience managing grant projects preferred, including experience with program
implementation, financial and narrative reporting, and monitoring and evaluation;
 Experience working closely with and supervising students, interns, or research assistants;
 The ability to prioritize, communicate clearly, and project manage;
 Proficiency or fluency in Mandarin Chinese and/or another regional language preferred;
 Professional judgement and familiarity with principles of confidentiality;
 Humility, capacity for self-reflection, and a sense of humor;
 Passion for social justice and a commitment to the Leitner Center’s core values of
fundamental human rights, accountability, and urgency for change, with cultural awareness
and sensitivity to differences and disadvantages.

ADDITIONAL DETAILS
Salary is comparable with other academic Fellowships, and includes benefits. The position is
subject to a background check with a planned start date in early 2021.