Rule of Law Practice Lab

LW. / LW.
Professor Amrit Singh
Open to 3L and 2L students
Maximum of 10 students
Spring semester
4 credits*
No prerequisites or co-requisites.

Introduction

The Rule of Law Practice Lab will engage students in devising and implementing legal strategies involving litigation and legal research, documentation, and/or advocacy in close collaboration with local practitioners to defend democracy and the rule of law around the world.

Course Description

Fieldwork

Students will be assigned to specific cases in which they will conduct interviews and research and produce documents designed to further democracy.

Seminar

The seminar will be adapted to the matters that the students will actively be working on. It  includes a mix of sessions focused on understanding what we mean by authoritarianism and democratic decline, as well as sessions focused on developing practical skills with respect to (i) engaging clients and local partners in different countries; (ii) identifying issues where the Lab could have meaningful impact; (iii) understanding relevant procedures before domestic, regional, and international litigation and advocacy fora; and (iv) workshopping holistic legal strategies that entail litigation, documentation, advocacy, public education and/or communications.


* 4 credits include 2 clinical credits and 2 academic seminar credits.