Working in the Human Rights Centre Clinic

The module-based projects are open to postgraduate students on the Human Rights Master’s programme (LLM/MA). The ADRU, a multi-year project, is open to all undergraduate and postgraduate students at Essex from any discipline (it is not restricted to law and human rights students).

If you are selected to work on a module-based project then you will be automatically enrolled on the Human Rights Centre Clinic module (course code: HU902). When applying for a multi-year project, you do not need to take HU902, but can opt to do so.

When can I apply?

Applications for 2024-25 will open on 4 October 2024, after the Introduction to the Human Rights Centre Clinic session.

Applications to join all Clinic projects in 2024-25 will open on 4 October 2024. Please submit your application by Monday 7 October at 5pm to humanrightscentreclinic@essex.ac.uk. Please send your application documents in PDF format with the file name [SURNAME]_[First name]_HRCC application.

What to include in your application

The application should include two attachments:

1. your CV (two pages maximum)
2. a 400-word statement explaining why you want to join the Clinic and what you expect to learn from it. The statement should include your preferred three projects in order of preference. We will do our best to accommodate your choices.

If you list the ADRU within your preferred three projects, you should also attach a writing sample of a maximum of 1,000 words. This can be an excerpt from a piece of university work or any other formal writing - it does not need to be written specifically for this project and can concern any topic or discipline. Additionally, it can be in English, French or Spanish.

Interviews

Interviews will take place via Zoom during the week commencing 7 October 2024. You will be allocated a time slot for a short conversation with the HRC Clinic Director and the Deputy Director (and, if applying for the ADRU, the director of the ADRU). We will communicate the decision during the week of 14 October 2024.

Important information

• If you are taking part in any of the five module-based projects, you will also need to enrol in HU902.
• When applying for a multi-year project, you do not need to take HU902, but can opt to do so.
• If successful in you application, you may be offered a space both on a module-based project and the ADRU.  You are free to accept both commitments, but note that, from late October until the end of June, the module-based projects will require approximately 8-10 hours of your time per week, while the ADRU will require 4-6 hours of your time per week, on top of the coursework for all other modules. We recommend you do not overstretch your commitments.

There are a limited number of places available on module-based projects. Accordingly, all students who wish to participate go through a selection process. If you are a postgraduate student and would like to participate in one of our module-based projects, you will be expected to submit your application first. Should you be successful, you will automatically be registered for the optional module HU902.