University of Utah : S.J. Quinney College of Law

The International Clinic

2nd and 3rd year students
Course: 2-3 credits, International Practice

Placement: 3 - 12 credits, Fall, Spring or Summer

On-campus clinical or seminar: 2-5 credits (arranged)

The International Clinic focuses on lawyering in the international arena.  There are several tracks within the clinic.  Current tracks include the International Humanitarian Law track, the International Environmental Law track, and the Rule of Law track.  The International Human Rights Law track is being added for Fall 2009; additional tracks may be created by law faculty with expertise in international law in consultation with the clinical program director. The pre-requisites, clinical placement experience and content of the required International Practice course vary depending upon the track the student selects. To enroll in this clinic, students seeking to work on-site with an off-campus placement must be selected by a placement site, and that site must be approved by the involved faculty and clinical program director.  Students seeking to participate in international advocacy through on-campus clinical assignments or seminars must be approved by the involved faculty.

International Clinic Tracks:

NEW CLINIC TRACK: International Human Rights Law: This track places students with non-governmental human rights organizations undertaking investigations or conducting advocacy either domestically or internationally to protect and promote human rights. Student placements provide a practical supplement to the theories explored and issues addressed in the classroom component of the international human rights and humanitarian law courses. Students will examine international human rights treaties, institutions and enforcement mechanisms by exploring the theory, doctrine, and institutions central to the international human rights legal regime in a practice environment. Placements may also consider the influence of international human rights in different regions on contemporary issues such as globalization, development and transitions to democracy, civil conflict and humanitarian intervention, justice and accountability for past atrocities, women’s and children’s rights, minority group rights, and issues concerning refugees and migrants. 

Professor George is making arrangements with Human Rights Watch, Inc. for law students to do clinical work this Fall, 2009 in their NYC or Washington, D.C. office as she will be doing research with the NYC office at the same time. She is also arranging for placements with other NGOs. Students may opt to do clinic projects with these NGOs form Salt Lake for less credit and visit NYC during fall break for an intensive week on site.

Professor George will teach the International Clinic Class (2 or 3 credits) from NYC.  Students located in Washington D.C. or Salt Lake will participate in the class via web-conferencing. Third year students who have completed relevant course work will be given priority, but second year students may participate depending upon background knowledge of international law and willingness to engage in additional preparation. Students who have not completed the Human Rights Class will enroll in a 3-credit International Clinic class for additional coverage. Students who have completed the Human Rights Class will enroll in a 2-credit International Clinic class.

Apply on the Clinical Program Application under the "OTHER" Clinic section.

International Humanitarian Law (IHL): IHL is the field of law that imposes personal accountability for war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide. In recent years, the field is expanding to encompass a broader range of human rights. The goals of the clinical program in IHL are to expose students to the complexities of international humanitarian law and to build a cadre of practitioners prepared to lead the development of this important field of law in the future. Objectives within these broad goals include specialized knowledge and legal skills germane to the particular needs of this field of law. The methods for accomplishing these goals consist of placement in law offices and with courts adjudicating cases in the area. Each placement will be overseen by a field supervisor who will see that the assignments given the student meet the objectives of the program. 

International Environmental Law: This track places students with non-governmental organizations to do advocacy work on environmental issues in the international arena.  Subjects addressed through placements or assigned cases or projects may range from U.S. regulatory constraints on international impacts of projects and development or financial practices of U.S. corporations to assistance in the application of international or foreign regulatory requirements addressing pollution, resource exploitation and protection, resettlement practices, and protection of local or indigenous cultures, identity, and customary livelihoods from environmentally-related damage.  Placements or on-campus projects may be drawn from international  divisions of environmental NGOs such as the Center for International Environmental Law, Natural Resources Defense Council, Environmental Defense, Earthjustice, International Rivers Network and World Wildlife Fund, and the Rainforest Action Network, as well as Regional and foreign national NGOs .

Rule of Law: The Rule of Law track concentrates on justice sector reform to assist emerging and conflict nations in establishing judicial systems that can contribute to stability in a nation’s social and economic structure. The role of judicial independence and stability of law enforcement are critical factors in the ability of a nation to enter the global marketplace in reasonable parity with the developed nations – without those elements, the likelihood of negative effects of globalization escalates rapidly (deterioration of labor conditions, environmental damage, education, health care). This clinic allows students to work with non-governmental organizations (NGO’s) on judicial reform and rule of law projects around the world.

Prerequisites:

NEW CLINIC TRACK: International Human Rights Law – International Law Recommended

International Humanitarian Law – Two from (a) International Human Rights, International Law, Legal Responses to Terrorism, or Comparative Counterterrorism, and one from (b) Evidence or Criminal Procedure

International Environmental Clinic – One from (a) International Law or International Human Rights and one from (b)  Environmental Law, International Environmental Law or Natural Resources

Rule of Law – International Law and either Judicial Process or International Business Transactions

Course(s): International Practice (2 or 3 cr., graded, Fall, Spring or Summer Semester) includes individualized reading plan to prepare for the placement work, periodic reflections upon placement experiences, and individualized research project and seminar-quality paper that relates to and arises out of the placement work. The course will be conducted as an independent tutorial if only 1 student is enrolled in any one of the tracks, or as a web-based or video-linked course if sufficient numbers of students are enrolled in any one track or a combination of related tracks.

Faculty:

NEW CLINIC TRACK: International Human Rights Law – Professor George

International Humanitarian Law – Professors Anghie, George, Guiora, Mallat, McCormack, Prosper, Schwendiman

International Environmental Clinic – Professors Adler, Davies, Keiter, Lockhart, Wildermuth 

Rule of Law – Professors Chodosh, Mallat, McCormack

Placements & Registration: (3-9 credits summer, 3-12 credits Fall or Spring, P/F) Students must apply for placement with a list of approved sites or seek approval for a new placement site. Students are advised to research the placements in which they are interested, as selection at any placement is a competitive process and pre-requisites vary from program to program. Students may seek approval from Professor Linda F. Smith, the Clinical Program Director, and proposed supervising faculty member before or after being selected for any placement not already listed as approved. Then students should register as determined by the Director and supervising faculty member. 

Orientation Materials and Forms: