The University of Minnesota Law School is seeking applicants for a fellowship co-teaching the Immigration and Human Rights Clinic, part of the James H. Binger Center for New Americans. The fellowship will begin in the summer of 2022 and is anticipated to be a threeyear commitment. The fellowship will offer the opportunity to provide high-quality representation to clients seeking asylum and related protections from persecution, and to prepare the fellow for further work in this area, whether in a law school clinical setting, in a non-profit legal services organization, or in private practice.

The James H. Binger Center for New Americans is a comprehensive immigration law center composed of four interrelated clinics— the Immigration and Human Rights Clinic, the Federal Immigration Litigation Clinic, the Detainee Rights Clinic, and the Rural Access Clinic—as well as an education and outreach program. The Binger Center was created and operates as a collaborative partnership with the pro bono programs of Minnesota’s leading law firms and also the state’s principal non-profit immigration legal services providers: The Advocates for Human Rights, the Immigrant Law Center of Minnesota, and Mid-Minnesota Legal Aid. The Immigration & Human Rights Fellow will be mentored and supervised by the
Director of the Immigration & Human Rights Clinic, and will engage in clinical casework and clinical case supervision of law students.

The Law School currently offers twenty-four clinical courses with a broad diversity of subject matters. Eleven in-house clinical faculty members and twenty-two part-time adjunct instructors teach in the program. The Law School is committed to providing national leadership in clinical education and ensuring that students are prepared for the increasing complexities of legal practice in a diverse community.

Appointment: This is a 100% time, renewable, 12-month academic professional appointment. The initial formal appointment will be for one year. The appointment may be renewed annually each year thereafter for up to an additional two years following the successful completion of the first year.

Duties and Responsibilities: Under the mentorship of the Director of Immigration and Human Rights Clinic, the Immigration and Human Rights Fellow will provide direct legal representation to noncitizen clients and assist in the supervision of law students providing such representation. The Fellow will develop and undertake immigration representation projects that advance the Center’s mission to serve noncitizen clients seeking asylum and related protections from persecution and torture, through affirmative applications to the Department of Homeland Security, and through defensive representation in administrative immigration courts and before the Board of Immigration Appeals. Over the course of the fellowship, the Immigration and Human Rights Fellow may also engage with and help supervise clinical law students in policy or advocacy projects that advance the rights of refugees and asylum seekers. The Immigration and Human Rights Fellow will also have opportunities to teach clinical seminar sessions, and, as desired, to pursue related professional and scholarly research and writing projects. The Law School will support professional and/or scholarly development, including through conference travel support. Salary is dependent on qualifications and experience and is within the range of $58,000 to $68,000.

Required Qualifications: J.D. degree from an A.B.A. accredited law school. Applicants must be licensed to practice law in at least one state (whether Minnesota or another state) and be eligible for admission in state and federal court in Minnesota, if not already admitted.

Preferences: The ideal candidate will be a recent law school graduate with 2-5 years of demonstrated experience representing clients in asylum cases and commitment to a career of advocacy for refugees and asylum seekers; others may be considered. Preference will also be given to applicants with fluency or proficiency in Spanish or Somali or other relevant languages in addition to English. Preference will also be given to applicants who have previously supervised students in a law school clinical setting where students represent asylum-seekers. Prior enrollment during law school in clinical courses is preferred. Relevant experience serving refugees and asylum seekers that was gained during or prior to law school will be considered. All applicants should have superior academic records, exceptional writing
ability, and a proven commitment to public service to refugees and asylum seekers. Individuals who have graduated from law school in the past 2-5 years, including those completing other relevant post-graduate opportunities, are encouraged to apply.

To Apply: This position is open until filled. Applications will be accepted through April 5, 2022. Review of applications will begin on March 30, 2022, with the goal of having the individual hired to begin on July 5, 2022. Applications will only be accepted through the University of Minnesota online employment system and only complete applications will be considered. A complete application consists of the required online application, a cover letter, a resume, and a list of three references. To apply, go to: https://humanresources.umn.edu/content/find-job, then click the option “External Candidates” or “U of M Employees,” and then enter the job number 346758 in the “keywords” search field.

Candidates, including people of color and women, who will contribute to the cultural and intellectual diversity of the faculty, are strongly encouraged to apply. The University of Minnesota is an equal opportunity employer. The University of Minnesota is committed to the policy that all persons shall have equal access to its programs, facilities, and employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, national origin, sex, age, marital status, disability, public assistance status, veteran status, or sexual orientation.

For further information, applicants should contact Stephen Meili at 612-625-5515.