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.

THIS COURSE REQUIRES HUMAN RIGHTS INSTITUTE PERMISSION TO ENROLL.

2026–2027 Practicum 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 may apply either Early Action by March 12th or Regular Decision from March 13th through July or until all seats are filled. Early Action admissions do not bind students to accepting a spot. 

Students must apply by March 12th at noon for Early Action notification. 

HRI will notify Early Action students of a decision on their application by March 30th.  

Admitted students must accept or decline the offer to join the practicum by April 6th. 

As noted above, J.D. students who apply from March 13th through July or until all seats are filled will receive HRI’s decision on their application on a rolling basis.

HRI will manually enroll students who have accepted the offer to join the practicum. 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.

THIS COURSE REQUIRES HUMAN RIGHTS INSTITUTE PERMISSION TO ENROLL.

2026–2027 Practicum 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.

LL.M. students may apply anytime from March through July or until all seats are filled, and they will receive HRI’s decision on their application on a rolling basis.  

HRI will manually enroll students who have accepted the offer to join the practicum. 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.

The seminar portion of the practicum will cover the substantive law and legal framework as it pertains to a particular human rights issue. 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. Students must be present in-person for all seminar classes.

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.

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 desk research on human rights violations law and protection mechanisms, as well as how to assess promote violations of human rights compliance using with international and regional treaties, international court jurisprudence, and other sources of law.

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.

All students must take or have taken an introductory course in international law or human rights as part of a law degree prior to or concurrently with enrollment in the Practicum (no later than in Fall 2026). Specific courses that meet the pre- or co-requisite include: International Law I: Introduction to International Law; International Human Rights Law; International Law, National Security, and Human Rights; or Transnational Law and Practice. Students who have not taken these specific courses but believe that they have satisfied the pre- or co-requisite should contact the Dash-Muse Teaching Fellow to request review of their prior coursework.

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.