How do I become an international human rights lawyer?
The reality is far from the jetsetting stereotype, but if you want to change people's lives, find a focus - and learn a language
The life of an international human rights lawyer is not all jetsetting glamour Photograph: Robin Utrecht/EPA
Imagine being an international human rights lawyer. Jetsetting round the globe, setting the world's highest courts alight with spectacular oratory performances, radically changing the lives of the most vulnerable. Hell, there's probably a Nobel peace prize in there somewhere too right?
Think again. There are actually very few lawyers who would describe themselves as international human rights lawyers, partly because there are so few opportunities to practise in this competitive area but also because most would not regard it as a practice area in itself.
Human rights play a part in several legal disciplines from public law, family, immigration and housing to actions against the police and even employment and business law. It is often assumed that the European Convention of Human Rights governs all human rights challenges but there are issues that fall under "human rights" in the broader sense.
Fundamentally, being a human rights lawyer means challenging discrimination and defending the rights and freedoms of ordinary people and organisations. On an international level this means safeguarding those rights and freedoms no matter where in the world they are under threat.
If you want to shape and influence policy and change people's lives, rather than make big bucks on corporate transactions in the City, then the first thing you need to do is think about whose lives you want to change and why? What causes are most important to you? What human rights abuses inspire you to take action?
Emma Douglas is now a supervising solicitor at the University of Law but shortly after qualification she gravitated towards international human rights while on a nine month placement at an NGO called Peace Brigade International in Indonesia.
"The difficulty can be deciding what to focus on, there are so many interesting areas", says Douglas. While she was at Peace Brigade she was able to get involved in campaigning and policy work, focusing on women and, in particular, female human rights defenders."It's really important to get lots of varied experience and let it forge your interests, so you can gradually hone them to what most excites you", she explains. In that respect academia is no substitute for hands-on experience, but it is a good idea to tailor your studies towards human rights work as early as possible. Your LPC electives should fit with the kind of work you intend to do in future, so choose immigration, welfare and benefits and crime rather than commercial property or business.
Think again. There are actually very few lawyers who would describe themselves as international human rights lawyers, partly because there are so few opportunities to practise in this competitive area but also because most would not regard it as a practice area in itself.
Human rights play a part in several legal disciplines from public law, family, immigration and housing to actions against the police and even employment and business law. It is often assumed that the European Convention of Human Rights governs all human rights challenges but there are issues that fall under "human rights" in the broader sense.
Fundamentally, being a human rights lawyer means challenging discrimination and defending the rights and freedoms of ordinary people and organisations. On an international level this means safeguarding those rights and freedoms no matter where in the world they are under threat.
If you want to shape and influence policy and change people's lives, rather than make big bucks on corporate transactions in the City, then the first thing you need to do is think about whose lives you want to change and why? What causes are most important to you? What human rights abuses inspire you to take action?
Emma Douglas is now a supervising solicitor at the University of Law but shortly after qualification she gravitated towards international human rights while on a nine month placement at an NGO called Peace Brigade International in Indonesia.
"The difficulty can be deciding what to focus on, there are so many interesting areas", says Douglas. While she was at Peace Brigade she was able to get involved in campaigning and policy work, focusing on women and, in particular, female human rights defenders."It's really important to get lots of varied experience and let it forge your interests, so you can gradually hone them to what most excites you", she explains. In that respect academia is no substitute for hands-on experience, but it is a good idea to tailor your studies towards human rights work as early as possible. Your LPC electives should fit with the kind of work you intend to do in future, so choose immigration, welfare and benefits and crime rather than commercial property or business.
Douglas recommends that students wishing to pursue international human rights work do a minimum of one morning or evening per week at a law centre or citizen's advice bureau. For full-time placements in the holidays it's worth doing your research, there are paid placements or ones that at least cover your expenses. Keep a look out for scholarships schemes like the Centre for Capital Punishment Students and the Human Rights Lawyers Association bursary, which is accepting applications until the 7 May.
Ben Jaffey is a barrister specialising in public and human rights law at Blackstone Chambers. He agrees that hands-on experience is critical but you also have to create your own opportunities.
"The most interesting cases do not just walk through the door", says Jaffey. "People who do a lot of work in this area become quite good at finding the issues that they want to litigate about. Read the papers and think about whether there are legal angles to the story, then approach an appropriate NGO, maybe where you have done work experience and have some contacts, take your ideas to them and look for opportunities to litigate".
Jaffey began by volunteering on public law and human rights cases with the Free Representation Unit (FRU). You receive training and get the chance to work on your own cases. "At bar school I worked on a load of cases for FRU and then appealed some of them. By the time I was a pupil barrister I was appealing some more and then by the time I qualified the same cases where ending up in the court of appeal. I ended up getting a QC to lead me and that started me off on this kind of work."
Jaffey also recommends a stint working for government, as it offers a different perspective of human rights issues. Languages are also important in human rights work, in particular French, Spanish, Arabic and Mandarin. Strong campaigning, fundraising and communications skills, particularly using social media, are also highly sought after by NGOs.
Being willing to work across a number of legal disciplines will also stand you in good stead if you want to be able to fund the more altruistic cases. As well as tiding you over financially, nurturing specialisms and skills helps with the creative aspect of human rights work and will make you better at spotting the big issues.
