Human Rights and Indigenous Peoples Clinic

This is a year-long clinic offered for 10 credits. Students will receive separate letter grades at the end of the academic year for their clinic work and seminar. The clinic is open to day and evening students in their last two (2) years of law school and, Accelerated JD students in their last year, and LLM students who would be able to enroll for the full academic year. The Clinic advocates before international human rights bodies, such as the United Nations (U.N.) or the Inter-American human rights system, on behalf of tribes, Indigenous communities and Indigenous non-profit organizations. Currently, the Clinic is handling matters before the U.N. Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, U.N. Special Procedures and the Inter-American Court of Human Rights. Students working on these cases will work directly with the client and partner NGOs to develop a legal strategy and research and draft communications to these human rights bodies.

The Clinic also provides legal services to Native American tribal governments and communities located primarily in the New England region. When working with tribal governments, the types of projects on which students may work are drafting laws or tribal court rules. This work includes working closely with Tribal Government leaders, such as Tribal Councilors, Tribal Court Judges and Staff, and Tribal Department heads. Additionally, the Clinic engages in policy and/or lobbying efforts in the Commonwealth on a range of issues important to Massachusetts’ Indigenous Peoples such as the recognition of a government-to-government relationship.

In addition to working on their projects and/or cases, students attend a two-hour weekly seminar focused on lawyering skills, such as interviewing, counseling and drafting, but also:

• Explores the unique aspects of representing tribal governments, governments generally, and non-profit organizations;/li>
• Discusses how to advocate before international and regional human rights mechanisms;
• Covers the fundamental principles of federal Indian law as well some advance topics such as tribal court jurisdiction and practice and the New England Indian settlement acts, and
• Examines international human rights law as it applies to Indigenous Peoples.

Through their experience, students will gain transferable lawyering skills such as interviewing, legal strategizing, drafting, resolving ethical issues that arise, and counseling. For students interested in a career in government, the Clinic provides a unique opportunity to learn and experience what that type of work may entail. Students will be asked to critically reflect on their performance in clinic and seminar as an integral part of the learning experience. Although not a requirement, students who have completed the course on Indigenous Peoples Rights and U.S. Law or a course on human rights will be given preference.  Students must have completed or be currently enrolled in Evidence. Please contact Nicole Friederichs, practitioner-in-residence, with any questions.