Clinical Supervising Attorney & Lecturer in Law, International Human Rights & Conflict Resolution Clinic
Stanford University
Application
Details
Posted: 10-Jan-26
Location: Stanford, California
Type: Full-time
Internal Number: 107994
The Mills Legal Clinic at Stanford Law School invites applicants for a clinical supervising attorney (CSA) and lecturer-in-law position with its International Human Rights and Conflict Resolution Clinic (IHRCRC). The CSA will join the thriving clinical community at Stanford Law School where, together with the clinical faculty and staff, they will represent clients, work alongside project partners, and train law students at one of the country's leading institutions for legal scholarship and education.
The Mills Legal Clinic
IHRCRC is one of eleven clinics comprising the Mills Legal Clinic. The Stanford clinical program is unique in that students participate in a clinic on a full-time basis; the clinic is the only course a student takes during the term of enrollment. Students work in the clinic space each business day, and they focus exclusively and intensively on their clients, cases, and projects. This model allows for highly intentional, reflective, and iterative work and the ability to provide deep supervision and mentoring to students. The Mills Legal Clinic is also committed to ensuring community and belonging in all of its office and practice management, advocacy, and teaching and learning efforts. The Mills Legal Clinic occupies an entire floor in an award-winning, central-campus building opened in summer 2011.
International Human Rights and Conflict Resolution Clinic
IHRCRC engages students in innovative and interdisciplinary advocacy to advance human rights and foster just and lasting peace globally. While in the Clinic, students develop the skills to become thoughtful, critical, adaptive, strategic, and creative lawyers, through engagement in an intensive seminar and project work. The Clinic works on urgent, under-addressed, and emerging human rights issues. The projects are designed and implemented in partnership with impacted communities and civil society groups around the world, and community agency and power are values that underlie all the work of the Clinic.
The Clinic's practice is responsive to the needs of our project partners and currently spans the following areas: equality and non-discrimination, rights across borders, peace and justice, and climate justice. Since the relaunch of the Clinic in 2023, students have worked in partnership with advocates and communities in Uganda, Jamaica, Liberia, India, Kashmir, Pakistan, El Salvador, Panama, Mexico, Colombia, Myanmar, The Gambia, and the United States. Clinic projects adopt a range of methodologies from the human rights and conflict resolution fields including litigation; fact-finding investigations; legislative and policy drafting; advocacy to the United Nations, media, or governments; coalition building across regions and disciplines; conflict analysis; and designing and facilitating dialogues in conflict-affected regions or across identity groups.
The Clinic is also a space for students to examine key critiques of the human rights and conflict resolution fields, reflect on how to mitigate these critiques, and brainstorm how to engage in transformative and rights-based work. Additionally, students reflect on their own identity as advocates and its implications for their work, and how to work collaboratively in teams and with project partners to advance change.
The Clinical Supervising Attorney Position and Candidate Qualifications
The CSA plays an important role in designing and implementing all aspects of the Clinic, including setting up and leading clinic projects, co-creating the syllabus and curriculum with the Director of the Clinic, facilitating seminar and case rounds discussions, fostering a sense of deep and supportive community within the Clinic, and supervising students in all aspects of their work, including during travel and through individualized mentoring. The CSA will also be involved with human rights programming at the law school and university, and will have the opportunity to engage in scholarly research and writing.
Mills Legal Clinic CSAs are part of the intellectual community within the clinical program, the Law School, and university at large. The Mills Legal Clinic provides resources for its CSAs to participate in continuing education and any other professional development/training/mentorship activities that support the CSA's individual learning goals. Finally, the CSA will be a part of the Mills Legal Clinic's efforts to ensure community and belonging in our teaching, practice management, and advocacy work by serving on MLC-wide committees that inform these efforts.
Minimum qualifications
J.D. or equivalent legal degree;
A minimum of five years of human rights experience, which may include supervising and mentoring law students and/or junior colleagues; and
Admission to practice in California or eligibility and willingness to sit for the next California Bar exam.
Preferred qualifications
Demonstrated commitment to rigorous, innovative, strategic, and self-reflective human rights work;
Substantive legal knowledge of human rights issues;
Ability to design and direct complex, innovative, and interdisciplinary projects;
Significant experience implementing a wide range of tactics and tools employed in the human rights field;
Deep commitment and demonstrated ability to work in strong, collaborative, and rights-respecting partnerships, including with clients, impacted communities, and civil society organizations;
An understanding of and engagement with critiques of human rights field, as well as experience with responding to and overcoming those critiques in practice;
Excellent teamwork, collaboration, and interpersonal skills;
Strong organizational / management skills and attention to detail;
Ability to work in a self-directed and entrepreneurial environment; and
Second language abilities.
The expected pay range for this position is $130,000 - $170,000 per annum. Stanford University has provided a good faith estimate of what the university reasonably expects to pay for the position. The pay offered to the selected candidate will be determined based on factors including (but not limited to) the qualifications of the selected candidate, budget availability, and internal equity.
The Application Process
Applicants should submit resumes and other materials through http://jobs.stanford.edu, referencing job number 107994.Applications will be considered on a rolling basis until the position is filled. Applicants are encouraged to submit their materials by February 22, 2026.The CSA will ideally begin work with IHRCRC on June 8, 2026.
The following materials should be submitted:
Cover letter no longer than two pages describing the applicant's interest in clinical teaching and the relevant experience they bring to the position;
One-page statement of the applicant's vision of clinical education, and any clinical project(s) the applicant would propose to develop;
Resume;
List of at least three references;
Law school transcript; and
Writing sample of no longer than 15 pages.
Consistent with its obligations under the law, the University will provide reasonable accommodation to any employee with a disability who requires accommodation to perform the essential functions of the job.
The job duties listed are typical examples of work performed by positions in this job classification and are not designed to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, tasks, and responsibilities. Specific duties and responsibilities may vary depending on department or program needs without changing the general nature and scope of the job or level of responsibility. Employees may also perform other duties as assigned.
Stanford is an equal employment opportunity and affirmative action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.
Stanford seeks to hire the best talent and to promote a safe and secure environment for all members of the university community and its property. To that end, new staff hires must successfully pass a background check prior to starting work at the University.
Why work at Stanford?Stanford University has changed the world, over and over again.We are one of Silicon Valley's largest employers - and also one of the most unique. Our mission is to educate future leaders and promote interdisciplinary, world-class research and teaching. This passion makes Stanford an intensely creative, rewarding, and challenging place to work. At the same time, our traditions of respect and collaboration sustain a humane, supportive environment in which to pursue your life and your career.At Stanford you'll work with bright, diverse, dedicated people. You'll find encouragement to learn and grow. You'll enjoy excellent benefits and an outstanding environment. How will it change you?
