Leonard H. Sandler Fellowship

Human Rights Watch, Inc.; United States; Hybrid; USD 63,000 - 77,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Employer-paid benefits

Relocation assistance

Remote work flexibility

Job summary

Human Rights Watch offers a one-year fellowship for candidates who will hold a J.D. from Columbia Law School by June 2027, with flexibility for remote work where possible. Fellows work from HRW offices in New York or Washington, D.C., and may be placed at other HRW offices.

The role involves rigorous field investigations, reporting, and advocacy to curb human rights violations. The fellowship begins September 2027, includes training and mentorship, and emphasizes work-life balance and

Qualifications

• Education: J.D. from Columbia Law School by June 2027.
• Experience: Prior research experience, including conducting interviews, ideally in human rights research, is required.

Responsibilities

• Monitor human rights developments in country(ies).
• Conduct on-site/in-office investigations and draft reports or materials.
• Engage in advocacy and media outreach to publicize and push governments to curtail human rights violations.

Skills

International human rights

English communication

multi-tasking

analytical skills

writing skills

interpersonal skills

diversity sensitivity

Education

J.D. from Columbia Law School by June 2027

Job description

JOB DESCRIPTION

Established in memory of Judge Leonard H. Sandler, a 1950 Columbia Law graduate with a lifelong commitment to civil rights and liberties, this fellowship is open to candidates who will hold a J.D. from Columbia Law School by June 2027.

Human Rights Watch is strengthened profoundly by the diversity of our staff and our differences in background, culture, experience, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, and more. We actively seek and welcome applications from people of diverse racial and ethnic backgrounds, women, LGBTI persons, and persons with disabilities.

The successful candidate will be expected to work from an HRW office but may have the option to work remotely at times. We aim to be as flexible and supportive as possible in both recruiting for and onboarding this position.

Fellows typically work full-time for one year in Human Rights Watch’s New York or Washington, D.C. office. In some instances, other locations where HRW has an office may be considered. The fellowship begins in September 2027.

Fellows monitor human rights developments in a given country(ies), conduct on-site/ in-office investigations, draft reports and/or other materials on human rights conditions, and engage in advocacy and media outreach to publicize and push governments to curtail human rights violations.

Past fellows have conducted research and advocacy on numerous different topics in countries all over the world. Examples include international alternatives to immigration detention; migrant workers’ rights in Gulf countries; barriers to secondary education for Syrian refugee children in Jordan; hazardous child labor in artisanal gold mining in Tanzania; threats to local communities from unrehabilitated coal mines in South Africa; and the private takeover of public housing in New York City.

Human Rights Watch will ensure that fellows receive training and mentorship, including regular and timely feedback and guidance on professional growth. Human Rights Watch is committed to ensuring a balanced workload for Fellows and monitoring staff well-being.

QUALIFICATIONS

Education: This fellowship is open to candidates who will hold a J.D. from Columbia Law School by June 2027.

Experience: Prior research experience, including experience conducting interviews, ideally in the context of human rights research, is required.

RELATED SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE

• 1. Demonstrated strong background in international human rights and commitment to building a career in human rights are required.
• 2. Excellent oral and written communications skills in English are required.
• 3. Proficiency in one language in addition to English is strongly desired.
• 4. Self-motivation, ability to multi-task effectively, including having good planning and organizing skills and ability to work under pressure are required.
• 5. Strong initiative and follow-through, exceptional analytical skills, the capacity to think creatively and strategically, excellent writing skills, perseverance and flexibility while maintaining HRW’s high methodological standards are required.
• 6. Strong interpersonal skills to work collaboratively within HRW, as well as with external partners, are required.
• 7. Demonstrated awareness of and sensitivity to the needs and concerns of individuals from diverse cultures, backgrounds, and orientations are required.
• 8. Ability to make sound decisions consistent with functions is required.

Salary and Benefits: The gross annualized salary for the 2027-2028 fellow is US $70,000, plus employer-paid benefits. HRW will pay reasonable relocation expenses.HRW’s ability to secure work authorization for this fellowship varies depending on the jurisdiction in which the fellow will be based, and the educational/vocational background of the selected finalist. HRW cannot guarantee the ability to secure work authorization in the US. Citizens of all nationalities are still encouraged to apply.

Successful applicants should be available for an interview from mid-to-late November 2026.

Human Rights Watch is strong because it is diverse. We actively seek a diverse applicant pool and encourage candidates of all backgrounds to apply. Human Rights Watch does not discriminate on the basis of disability, age, gender identity and expression, national origin, race and ethnicity, religious beliefs, sexual orientation, or criminal record. We welcome all kinds of diversity. Our employees include people who are parents and nonparents, those who are self-taught and university educated, and from a wide span of socio-economic backgrounds and perspectives on the world. Human Rights Watch is an equal opportunity employer.

Human Rights Watch is an international human rights monitoring and advocacy organization known for its in-depth investigations, its incisive and timely reporting, its innovative and high-profile advocacy campaigns, and its success in changing the human rights-related policies and practices of influential governments and international institutions.

At Human Rights Watch, we believe that a diverse personnel and leadership team are crucial to our effectiveness and enrich our organization and our work. We are committed to treating personnel according to principles of equality, equity, and non-discrimination, to ensuring diversity as we continue to grow and globalize, and to being inclusive of all personnel. To that end, we are constantly striving to improve our hiring practices by identifying and mitigating unconscious bias.

Your privacy is important to us and, therefore, your responses are voluntary. If you choose to respond to these questions, your responses will be used (in aggregate only) to help us identify areas for improvement in our process. Your responses, or your choice to not respond, will not be associated with your specific application and will not be utilized in the hiring decision in any way.

Voluntary Self-Identification

For government reporting purposes, we ask candidates to respond to the below self-identification survey. Completion of the form is entirely voluntary. Whatever your decision, it will not be considered in the hiringprocess or thereafter. Any information that you do provide will be recorded and maintained in aconfidential file.

As set forth in Human Rights Watch’s Equal Employment Opportunity policy,we do not discriminate on the basis of any protected group status under any applicable law.

If you believe you belong to any of the categories of protected veterans listed below, please indicate by making the appropriate selection.As a government contractor subject to the Vietnam Era Veterans Readjustment Assistance Act (VEVRAA), we request this information in order to measurethe effectiveness of the outreach and positive recruitment efforts we undertake pursuant to VEVRAA. Classification of protected categoriesis as follows:

A "disabled veteran" is one of the following: a veteran of the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service who is entitled to compensation (or who but for the receipt of military retired pay would be entitled to compensation) under laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs; or a person who was discharged or released from active duty because of a service-connected disability.

A "recently separated veteran" means any veteran during the three-year period beginning on the date of such veteran's discharge or release from active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval, or air service.

An "active duty wartime or campaign badge veteran" means a veteran who served on active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service during a war, or in