Human Rights Advocacy in Action Practicum

Course Overview

This project-based practicum enlists students in tackling real-world human rights challenges and creates a learning environment that equips students to analyze a problem, assess the legal and policy situation, and propose and execute strategies for change.

Students in this practicum receive intensive instruction from law professors and subject matter experts on both the relevant human rights law as well as effective strategies and tactics for human rights advocacy. Professor Massimino has a distinguished record of human rights advocacy and led Human Rights First, one of the nation’s leading human rights advocacy organizations, as president and CEO before coming to Georgetown Law. Michelle Liu is an adjunct professor and has supported partner NGOs in several countries to promote women’s human rights through litigation and legislative reform. The Dash-Muse Teaching Fellow will also serve as an instructor for the practicum. Together with their professors and fellow classmates, students collaborate on a project that supports the mission and objectives of a chosen NGO partner of the Human Rights Institute (“HRI”). This collaboration gives students a unique opportunity to conduct legal and factual research, craft legal solutions, and develop an advocacy campaign with real-world impact.

We are still accepting applications from J.D. and LL.M. students for the 2025-2026 practicum on a rolling basis until July 14 or all spots are filled.

2025-2026 Practicum

Two years ago, as part of the Convention on the Rights of the Child, the United Nations issued a landmark document that formally recognizes every child’s right to a clean, healthy and sustainable environment. Promulgated as a General Comment by the Committee on the Rights of the Child (a body of independent experts charged with monitoring implementation of the treaty) and prompted by the efforts of children themselves to bring attention to the triple planetary crisis of the climate emergency, the collapse of biodiversity, and pervasive pollution, the document stresses the urgent need to address the adverse effects of environmental degradation on the human rights of children. This groundbreaking document also clarifies the obligations of States parties to the treaty to address environmental harm and climate change and what mitigation and adaptation measures they can take to uphold the universal human rights of children to live in a clean, healthy, and sustainable world.

The Convention on the Rights of the Child is the most widely-ratified human rights treaty in history; only one country in the world has failed to join: the United States. But some organizations in the US have been working for years to advance, through state constitutional litigation, the rights of children to a clean, healthy, and sustainable environment. Late last year, in a landmark climate change lawsuit brought by Our Children’s Trust on behalf of sixteen young people, the Montana Supreme Court ruled children have a constitutional right to “a clean and healthful environment” that includes a stable climate system.

We are thrilled to be partnering for the 2025-26 Human Rights Advocacy in Action Practicum with Our Children’s Trust to support their groundbreaking, creative legal work to secure the rights of children everywhere to a healthy and sustainable future. At a time when governments in many countries—including our own here in the United States—are failing to address the climate emergency and even denying its existence, we are excited to be joining forces with an innovative and fearless organization like Our Children’s Trust to manifest a better future.

We’re still building out our class and are looking to put together the strongest cohort of student advocates to help us with this important work. No prior experience in children’s rights or climate justice litigation is necessary – any rising 2L, 3L, or incoming LL.M. student with a passion for human rights is encouraged to apply through our rolling admissions process.

THIS COURSE REQUIRES HUMAN RIGHTS INSTITUTE PERMISSION TO ENROLL.

Spring 2025 Application Cycle:

Students may apply by submitting a statement of interest, a resume, and a short writing sample to humanrightsinstitute@georgetown.edu. Selection criteria may include: a demonstrated interest in human rights, an ability to work independently and in a group, cross-cultural competence, and strong research, writing, and communication skills.

J.D. students who apply by 12:00 P.M. (noon) on April 10, 2025 will be informed of HRI’s decision on their application by April 21st. These admitted students will be required to accept or decline the offer by 5 P.M. on April 25th. Applications received after April 10th (including from LL.M. students) will be considered on a rolling basis until 12:00 P.M. (noon) on July 14th or until all seats are filled.

Students who accept the offer to join the course will be directly enrolled.

Enrolled students will have one week (7 days) after the date of offer acceptance to drop the course without requesting permission. After that time, a student may drop the course only with permission granted by the practicum professors and the Assistant Dean for Experiential Education. Permission may be granted only if remaining in the course would cause significant hardship to the student.

1. Seminar

The seminar portion of the practicum will cover the substantive law and legal framework as it pertains to a particular human rights issue. Students will also use seminar time to propose and assess what legal remedies and accountability mechanisms may be appropriate and viable to address the human rights violation. Guest speakers with subject matter expertise may be invited to seminars to hold workshops and offer critique of student work. Finally, the seminar will also be the training ground for students to develop their critical thinking, public speaking, and persuasive writing skills through the formulation of a human rights advocacy campaign.

2. Project Work

Students will work in teams to complete a human rights project that furthers the mission of HRI’s partner organization. Depending on the particulars of the project, students may engage in any or all of the following:

conduct fact-based research on a human rights issue,
learn about the international human rights framework pertaining to the issue,
identify the legal gaps and barriers that are impeding justice, accountability, or the realization of human rights,
assess viable remedies and solutions to addressing such legal gap or barrier,
propose changes to legislation or draft a legal brief or policy report, and
develop a multimodal strategic campaign for human rights advocacy.

3. Field Investigation

Students will have the opportunity to conduct project-related field investigation during Week One. The field investigation may involve travel to interview or consult with stakeholders, human rights advocates, community leaders, lawmakers, or other relevant individuals. The field investigation location(s) depends on the needs of the practicum project and may involve domestic or international travel.

Students will be required to complete the Collaborative Institutional Training Initiative (CITI) Program for ethical human subject research before Week One. Students must also have a valid passport with at least six months remaining from the first day of spring semester classes.

As a result of completing this practicum, students will be able to approach a human rights issue from the perspective of a legal advocate who is equipped to effect change.

Students will learn how to conduct fact-based desk research on human rights violations, as well as how to assess violations of human rights using international and regional treaties, international court jurisprudence, and other sources of law. Students will also learn how to conduct first-person interviews in a cross-cultural context.

Students will learn how to identify legal and political barriers that impede justice, accountability, and the realization of human rights. By working together with law professors and subject matter experts to formulate a viable, impactful, and victim-centric advocacy plan, students will develop the critical thinking and communication skills needed to become effective human rights advocates.

This is a seven-credit course. Three credits will be awarded in the fall—two for the seminar and one for the approximately five hours of project work per week, for a minimum of 11 weeks. Four credits will be awarded in the spring—one for Week One, two for the seminar, and one for the approximately five hours of project work per week, for a minimum of 11 weeks.

Prior or concurrent enrollment no later than the fall 2025 semester in International Law I: Introduction to International Law; International Human Rights Law; the first year elective, International Law, National Security, and Human Rights; or the first year elective, Transnational Law and Practice.

Full-time J.D. students must complete the required first-year program prior to enrolling in this course. Part-time or transfer students may enroll prior to completing Property or their first-year elective.

Students may not concurrently enroll in this practicum course and a clinic or another practicum course. Students may not concurrently enroll in another Week One course.

Students may concurrently enroll in this practicum course and an externship, provided there is no scheduling conflict with any of the mandatory components of this practicum.

This course is open to both J.D. and LL.M. students. This course may be suitable for part-time students with flexible work schedules. Interested part-time students should contact the current Dash-Muse Teaching Fellow to discuss their situation.