Upstate New York HERC

Post-Graduate Fellow Migration & Human Rights Program - Cornell Law School

Founded in 1887, Cornell Law School is a top-tier law school. We offer a 3-year JD program for about 200 students per class, a one-year LLM program for about 90 students from countries throughout the world, and a doctoral (JSD) program for about 2-3 new students per year. Cornell Law School has 41 tenured and tenure-track faculty, including 20 with chaired faculty positions; and 15 clinical professors in the legal research and writing program and in clinics at the local, national, and international level. Our faculty is consistently ranked among the top in the country for scholarly productivity and influence, and has pre-eminence in many areas, including quantitative and qualitative empirical legal studies, international and comparative law, and robust doctrinal scholarship in core fields. Our school is committed to being recognized as the leader among law schools at combining inspiring theoretical, doctrinal, and experiential teaching with cutting-edge scholarship in a supportive, intellectually rich community, so that our graduates can achieve excellence in all facets of the legal profession.

The Migration & Human Rights Program is an interdisciplinary, non-partisan migration center with a unique approach in the U.S., given its rural, national and global reach, centered in research, practice, and community engagement. A joint venture between the Cornell Law School and the Brooks School of Public Policy, MHRP brings together a diverse team of scholars, policy experts, legal practitioners, and students to reshape the local, state, national and international conversation on migration and human rights. MHRP advances impactful policy recommendations, scalable models of legal service delivery, and dissemination of new research and data, all of which are informed by clinical practice that benefits local communities and shapes jurisprudence. MHRP functions as a policy laboratory where theory and practice inform one another in real-time. Its strength lies in a unique blend of policy experience at the highest level of the federal government under both Republican and Democratic administrations, experience in senior positions advising industry leaders and employers, and grassroots legal clinical work. This makes it a hub where thought leadership and academic innovation intersect with on-the-ground execution in immigration law and policy.

The Migration & Human Rights Program (MHRP) at Cornell Law School seeks a post-graduate fellow to engage in legal and policy research to support its Migrant Rights Initiative, which works to ensure that the human rights of all international migrants are protected, regardless of the impetus for their migration. The fellow may also provide support on advocacy regarding international migration and refugee law matters.

Responsibilities include the following:

• Drafting and preparing research and advocacy publications addressing areas of international migration law and policy.
• Conducting analysis of the Initiative's Migrant Rights Database.
• Providing counseling and other legal support to clients and partners of the MHRP on non-litigation matters.
• Representing Initiative in meetings with partners.
• Assisting with the organization and teaching of public educational programs, focusing on substantive immigration law and the changing litigation and advocacy landscape.
• Helping and supervising interns and Research Assistants.
• Collaborating with the MHRP team on programming, including trainings, to bring news and perspectives on immigration issues to the broader University, national and international communities.
• Engaging in professional development training and learning any area of international migration law they are not already familiar with.
• Continuing to improve knowledge, skills, and abilities needed to keep abreast of regulation/policy changes at the national and international level.
• Supporting the Program Co-Directors to ensure the effective management of the Program and collaborating with the Program Coordinator to support Program grant fundraising and communications efforts.

This full-time, grant-funded position is for a one-year term, and is benefits eligible. Employment through the intended term, as well as potential reappointment, is contingent on successful performance and continued funding. The successful candidate will ideally be based in Ithaca, NY, but a remote work arrangement may be possible. Occasional travel for projects may be required.

The anticipated start date for the position is September 1, 2026.

Qualifications:

Applicants must have a law degree (J.D.) or doctorate (Ph.D. or S.J.D.) in a relevant field. Admission in good standing to a state bar is a plus. The ideal candidate will have the following:

• 2-4 years of experience in migration law representation, research or policy work.
• Experience researching or practicing in one or more areas of international migration or refugee law. Familiarity with regional human rights systems is a plus.
• Experience in humanitarian immigration matters.
• Outstanding lawyering and/or research and/or data analysis skills.
• Experience producing clear and succinct products for a policy audience.
• Exemplary communication skills (both written and oral).
• Demonstrated tenacity and dedication, a successful track record of working effectively with diverse and vulnerable migrant populations, and a demonstrated commitment to the client communities served by the MHRP.
• Strong organizational and time management skills are essential.
• Professionalism, including an ability to manage multiple tasks, work independently, and seek guidance when appropriate.
• Ability to work effectively in a diverse team environment.
• Proficiency in Spanish or another non-English language is strongly preferred.

To Apply:

To ensure maximum consideration, please submit all application materials by July 10, 2026. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis, with priority given to early applicants.

The anticipated starting salary for this position is $70,250.

Pay Range:

Pay Ranges:

The hiring rate of pay for the successful candidate will be determined considering the following criteria:

• Prior relevant work or industry experience.

• Education level to the extent education is relevant to the position.

• Academic Discipline

• Unique applicable skills.

Employment Assistance:

Notice to Applicants:

EEO Statement:

Cornell welcomes students, faculty, and staff with diverse backgrounds from across the globe to pursue world-class education and career opportunities, to further the founding principle of "... any person ... any study." No person shall be denied employment on the basis of any legally protected status or subjected to prohibited discrimination involving, but not limited to, such factors as race, ethnic or national origin, citizenship and immigration status, color, sex, pregnancy or pregnancy-related conditions, age, creed, religion, actual or perceived disability (including persons associated with such a person), arrest and/or conviction record, military or veteran status, sexual orientation, gender expression and/or identity, an individual's genetic information, domestic violence victim status, familial status, marital status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.

Cornell University embraces diversity in its workforce and seeks job candidates who will contribute to a climate that supports students, faculty, and staff of all identities and backgrounds. We hire based on merit, and encourage people from historically underrepresented and/or marginalized identities to apply. Consistent with federal law, Cornell engages in affirmative action in employment for qualified protected veterans as defined in the Vietnam Era Veterans' Readjustment Assistance Act (VEVRAA) and qualified individuals with disabilities under Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act. We also recognize a lawful preference in employment practices for Native Americans living on or near Indian reservations in accordance with applicable law.