Who We Are
Human Rights First has spent almost 50 years leveraging law to safeguard human rights and advance justice in the United States and across the globe. Since our founding, we have consistently advanced laws and policies to challenge official impunity and corruption, protect refugees and asylum seekers, hold violators of human rights accountable, and advance a world where every individual can live with dignity, freedom, and equality under the law.
We empower fellows to take meaningful action against oppression, advocate for policies that protect asylum seekers, and challenge systemic abuses that threaten democracy and individual freedoms. Our fellows join a community of legal and human rights professionals committed to dismantling injustice, advocating for the most vulnerable, and addressing the pressing challenges of our time.
Why This Moment Matters
The work of the human rights movement and the role of Human Rights First could not be more necessary – or urgent today. Authoritarianism is on the rise worldwide, intensifying challenges for refugees, marginalized communities, and human rights defenders. Policies born of fear and division have put asylum seekers at greater risk, while leaders acting with impunity undermine global trust in the rule of law. Fellows at Human Rights First engage directly with these intersecting issues, addressing them with innovation, collaboration, and unrelenting commitment.
What Fellows Do
Fellows play a pivotal role in shaping our response to human rights challenges:
Defend the rights of asylum seekers with the Refugee Representation Team by providing direct legal services on complex immigration matters to fundamentally impact the lives of the clients they represent. Fellows gain hands-on experience with asylum law, litigation, and systemic advocacy. The Refugee Protection Team conducts research and works in coalition to combat harmful policies and laws targeting refugees and advocate for systemic change, ensuring that those fleeing persecution can find protection and safety.
- Read a few powerful stories of resilience from indigenous clients who, with the dedicated representation by Equal Justice Works Fellow Andrew Feinberg, secured asylum in the United States.
- Explore a report by Yale Law Public Interest Fellow Becky Gendelman, a culmination of a year-long investigation into the devastating impacts of the Migrant Protection Protocols.
Counter the rise of authoritarianism with the Accountability Team by working with government, civil society organizations, and Human Rights First allies to expose corruption and human rights abuses. Fellows on the Democracy Protection Team work alongside veterans, civil rights defenders, and advocates to confront threats to democracy and safeguard civil liberties for all. Fellows draw on Human Rights First’s expertise in research, policy, and law to defend democratic principles both at home and abroad.
- Celebrate a landmark victory with the release of Russian political activist and Human Rights First’s Senior Advisor Vladimir Kara-Murza through a negotiated deal. Since his wrongful imprisonment in 2022, the Accountability Team tirelessly campaigned for his safety, protection, and freedom.
Deploy technology for the human rights movement with the Innovation Lab by addressing the misuse of technology in human rights abuses and leveraging tech to create solutions for transparency and accountability. Technology developed at the Lab is being used to support human rights defenders and is tested by investigators and advocates around the world.
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- View a demo of SurvAI, a tool created by the Lab that is being used in investigations into the January 6 insurrection, state violence against Black Lives Matter protestors at Lafayette Square, and is being tested by international human rights investigators and journalists.
Why Join Us?
Fellows at Human Rights First don’t just study human rights issues—they make a tangible impact. They work in a collaborative, interdisciplinary environment, gaining unparalleled experience while contributing to critical human rights efforts. Our alumni have gone on to become leaders in law, advocacy, and global human rights organizations.
Voices of Past Fellows
- “As the holder of Human Rights First’s BIRE fellowship… I have the opportunity to do more than the important work of ensuring that my clients have fair and just access to the asylum system, I can challenge deeply rooted anti-Black immigration policies.” – Reema Ghabra, Former Black Immigrant and Refugee Equity Fellow
- “My Immigrant Justice Corps Fellowship at Human Rights First was fundamental in establishing my career as an asylum lawyer. I learned not only how to navigate complex substantive law, but also how to provide trauma-informed representation that uplifts clients in the face of our inhumane immigration system.” – Becca Taylor, Former Immigrant Justice Corps Fellow
How to Apply
Join a network of professionals committed to advancing human rights in an era that demands courage and innovation. To learn more and apply, visit https://humanrightsfirst.org/careers.