Distinctive Skills Focus

Our projects and skills agenda are designed to prepare students for a broad range of law reform both in the representation of clients presenting novel issues and through advocacy for legal and policy change with official bodies in collaboration with activist groups, experts and lawyers. We choose our work initially on what will constitute a multi-faceted learning experience for students and, in that context, on the needs of the human rights activists and effective strategies for social change. IWHR students may choose to carry a client caseload or work on one or two larger cases or projects.

In keeping with the law reform orientation of IWHR, all students have substantial opportunity to develop and refine strategic thinking, legal research, creative theory, and clear, persuasive writing skills. Our federal litigation permits students to engage in client counseling and negotiation, draft and defend legal documents, engage in investigation and discovery, and present in court. Our international projects involve working with partners, as well as opportunities for presentation to or lobbying of international bodies or working with NGO colleagues in presentations and collective strategic decision-making.