UVA School of Law’s International Human Rights Clinic

With a leadership background in venture capital and private equity, David Colin Burke maintains a strong connection with his former universities. A law graduate of the University of Virginia (UVA) who also completed an international relations graduate degree, David Colin Burke sponsors the UVA School of Law’s International Human Rights Clinic.

Organized as a yearlong program, the clinic places law students in projects that provide them with advocacy skills within the human rights realm, both domestically and abroad. Working integrally with law firms, human rights attorneys, and nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), participants travel to Washington, DC, to fulfill project requirements. They also maintain direct contact with clients and with the supervising attorneys associated with client NGOs.

The International Human Rights Clinic also coordinates class discussions at UVA. These explore issues such as professional and ethical dilemmas that often arise in the course of legal work. Other sessions focus on human rights campaigns and movements and how to design effective advocacy strategies. Past project areas have included advocacy before human rights treaty bodies operating under the United Nations and litigation within African and inter-American human rights systems.