The Walter Leitner International Human Rights Clinic of the Leitner Center for International Law and Justice at Fordham Law School in New York City was established in 2007 through a generous donation from Jim Leitner ('82). The Leitner Clinic aims to train a new generation of human rights lawyers and to inspire results-oriented, practical human rights work throughout the world. We work in partnership with non-governmental organizations and foreign law schools on international human rights projects ranging from legal and policy analysis, fact-finding and report writing, human rights training and capacity-building, and public interest litigation.

Through real-world human rights advocacy experiences, the Leitner Clinic equips Fordham Law students with the necessary skills to become effective human rights advocates and public interest-minded lawyers. The Leitner Clinic aims to hone students' skills in legal and factual research, persuasive writing, effective oral advocacy, creative thinking and problem solving, and team work. Fieldwork abroad is also an integral part of the learning experience. Hands-on engagement with practical human rights projects provides law students with a richer and more complete understanding of the real world implications and challenges of human rights advocacy.

Beyond the pedagogical aspects of the Clinic's goals, we aim to contribute to the work of human rights organizations. In order to sustain an institutional impact, the Clinic concentrates its efforts on human rights issues in eight "focus countries," including Cambodia, Ethiopia, India, Lebanon, Liberia, Malawi, Sierra Leone and the United States. In the past two years, the Leitner Clinic has partnered with the Collective for Research and Training on Development-Action (CRTD.A) in Lebanon, the American Civil Liberties Union of South Dakota in the United States, the Carter Center/Justice and Peace Commission in Liberia, Salvation Centre Cambodia (SCC) in Cambodia, Timap for Justice in Sierra Leone, SANGRAM in India, Addis Ababa Law School in Ethiopia, and the Coalition of Women Living with HIV/AIDS in Malawi on diverse human rights projects focusing on women's reproductive health rights, fair trade, land rights, access to justice, prisoners rights, constitutional interpretation, female genital mutilation, HIV/AIDS, child maintenance, and sex workers rights. The Leitner Clinic will also expand its focus to Latin America in the 2009-2010 term.