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The Leitner Center for International Law and Justice at Fordham Law School works to inspire future human rights lawyers, collaborate with innovative activists and groups, and deepen critical legal research in international law.

From its base at Fordham Law School in New York City, the Center develops long-term partnerships with local social justice organizations and other stakeholders in the United States and across the globe. Through its pioneering programs, clinics, and research initiatives, the Leitner Center trains students to become international legal experts and impassioned human rights advocates and contributes to enriching conversations around human rights in the wider legal community.

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Since our founding in 2007

133

Human rights fact-finding projects

201

Grassroots social justice projects

817

Students enrolled
in clinics

142

Research
publications produced

What we do here

With opportunities for students, scholars, practitioners, and advocates, the Leitner Center creates a space for meaningful engagement in human rights work through its programs.

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By GuilDiffractive / On 24th December 2025 / Carousel – what we do here

Inspiring students to be critical legal advocates

The Leitner Center’s hands-on clinical programs include the Crowley Program in International Human Rights, the Walter Leitner International Human Rights Clinic, the Corporate Social Responsibility Clinic, and the International Law and Development in Africa Clinic, each creating unique opportunities for students to engage in the practice of human rights while studying the broader legal framework. The Center’s programs also create roles for students through supporting faculty research, report drafting, and advocacy efforts.

By GuilDiffractive / On 24th December 2025 / Carousel – what we do here

Creating long-term partnerships to advance change

The Leitner Center partners with activists, networks, and civil society groups around the world to share our capacity and build solidarity and support for networks of human rights advocates to advance legal and substantive change. The Center hosts and supports legal trainings and clinics, community dialogue sessions, workshops, and conferences, and learns from and supports partners as they work to craft solutions to diverse legal and other challenges in their communities.

By GuilDiffractive / On 24th December 2025 / Carousel – what we do here

Building critical international legal scholarship

The Center contributes to cutting-edge human rights scholarship with fact-finding reports, analyses, journal articles, books, and opinion pieces. Students contribute to this work through our programs, and faculty develop independent research and publications through the Center..

By GuilDiffractive / On 24th December 2025 / Carousel – what we do here

Supporting global researchers and advocates

The Center hosts Visiting Scholars and other advocates from other institutions and creates opportunities for students at Fordham to learn from and engage with practitioners around the world

OUR CORE STREAMS OF WORK

UN Advocacy

We utilize international mechanisms to advocate for human rights compliance and more inclusive international bodies.

Gender Justice

We investigate systems of injustice and advocate for change with a focus on the rights of marginalized communities including people of color, migrants, refugees, and children.

Criminal Justice Reform

We investigate systems of injustice and advocate for change with a focus on the rights of marginalized communities including people of color, migrants, refugees, and children.

Access to Justice

We push for everyone to have the ability to engage effectively with legal systems including accessing courts and legal representation in both formal and informal justice systems.

Sustainable Development

We push to ensure that human rights, equality, and non-discrimination are at the heart of sustainable development efforts.

SEE OUR ADVOCACY PROGRAMS

Clinics & Experiential Learning

The Clinics hosted at the Leitner Center provide students with hands-on legal skills and experience needed to develop their advocacy and research skills. Under the supervision of our attorneys and professors, students work directly with leading human rights and international law organizations and are immersed in the practice of international law. The Leitner Center offers an array of clinical opportunities that move beyond the standard classroom legal experience.

LEARN ABOUT OUR CLINICS

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Support the Leitner Center

YOUR GIFT HELPS US TO…

Your gift helps us to advance our work promoting human rights scholarship, advocacy, and capacity training globally. Every gift also supports our programs training the next generation of human rights lawyers.

Learn more about why we rely on your support

Ways to give:

01

Make a tax-deductible donation to push for human rights progress.

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