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Human Rights First next stop for ACE Rule of Law Fellowship winner Lucia Seyfarth L’14

March 31, 2014

Third-year University of Pennsylvania Law School student Lucia Hall Seyfarth L'14 has been awarded the 2014-15 ACE Rule of Law Fellowship.
Third-year University of Pennsylvania Law School student Lucia Hall Seyfarth L’14 has been awarded the 2014-15 ACE Rule of Law Fellowship.
Third-year University of Pennsylvania Law School student Lucia Hall Seyfarth L’14 has been awarded the 2014-15 ACE Rule of Law Fellowship, given annually to a Penn Law student or recent graduate pursuing an international public-interest law career.

Applications for ACE/Human Rights First Rule of Law Fellowship now being accepted.

Penn Law is committed to supporting its students who seek international and public interest careers. The Law School, in partnership with Human Rights First, has created the ACE Rule of Law Fellowship at Human Rights First. This Fellowship, which is generously supported by the ACE Charitable Foundation and Penn Law alumnus Robert Cusumano, offers a recent Penn Law graduate the opportunity to spend one year in the New York or Washington, DC office of Human Rights First for 12 months beginning in September 2015. Penn Law students may apply for this Fellowship in their last year of law school, or within three years of their law school graduation. The selected fellow will be announced by January 1, 2015.

Please submit your application materials electronically via Symplicity Job Posting/Keyword 13242 by September 30.

Third-year University of Pennsylvania Law School student Lucia Hall Seyfarth L’14 has been awarded the 2014-15 ACE Rule of Law Fellowship, given annually to a Penn Law student or recent graduate pursuing an international public-interest law career.  After graduating in May, Seyfarth will spend one year advancing the work of Human Rights First, a preeminent legal advocacy organization that addresses global human rights-related issues.

Seyfarth, who served as an Executive Editor of the University of Pennsylvania Journal of International Law, focused her law school career on international rule of law and human rights issues.  She spent her summers at the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights in Geneva, and the International Criminal Tribunal for Yugoslavia under the auspice of Penn Law’s International Summer Human Rights Fellows Program. She has held several internships at both the Department of Justice and the Department of State.

“Lucy’s education at Penn and the unique experience she gained through her internships make her a perfect match for this fellowship,” said Human Rights First President and CEO Elisa Massimino. “We are very excited to have her joining our team. Penn Law is educating the next generation of human rights advocates, and this unique partnership enables us to host them as they launch their careers. We are grateful for this opportunity, and we look forward to Lucy’s arrival later this year.”

The ACE Rule of Law Fellowship, funded by the ACE Charitable Foundationand former ACE Limited General Counsel Robert Cusumano L’80, was established in 2012 to create new pathways for students to build careers in international rule of law and human rights.  The innovative post-graduate fellowship was first awarded last year to  Kathleen Norland, L’ 13. This year’s fellowship award is the second in a five-year commitment and supports one year of work 2014-15 with Human Rights First.

“We’re pleased to continue to work with Penn Law on this innovative post-graduate program,” said Joseph Wayland, General Counsel, ACE Limited.  “The globalization of human rights has spawned an entirely new area of international law with a complex and diverse set of human rights treaties and declarations.  This fellowship offers a unique combination of academics and career development related to the rule of law and will further contribute to its international development and legal advocacy.”

“Careers in international rule of law and human rights are incredibly rewarding,” noted Associate Dean for International Affairs Amy Gadsden.  “Penn Law is pleased to be able to partner with the ACE Charitable Foundation, Mr. Cusumano, and Human Rights First to expand opportunities for young lawyers to begin their professional development in the field immediately upon leaving law school.”

Human Rights First is an independent advocacy and action organization that builds bipartisan coalitions and teams up with local activists and lawyers around the globe to tackle human rights issues that demand American leadership. The organization drives change across a range of issues—from protecting refugees and combating torture to defending persecuted minorities and stopping atrocities.

The partnership established by Penn Law and Human Rights First supports, in addition to the fellowship, the development of curricular and extracurricular initiatives to explore current issues shaping the international human rights agenda.

The ACE Charitable Foundation assists less fortunate individuals and communities around the world in achieving and sustaining healthy lives. Through a combination of Foundation grants and employee volunteer initiatives, ACE focuses its support in the areas of education, the environment, and poverty and health. ACE Group is one of the world’s largest multiline property and casualty insurers. With operations in 54 countries, ACE provides commercial and personal property and casualty insurance, personal accident and supplemental health insurance, reinsurance, and life insurance to a diverse group of clients. ACE Limited, the parent company of ACE Group, is listed on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: ACE) and is a component of the S&P 500 index. Additional information can be found at www.acegroup.com.

A historical leader in teaching international and comparative law, the University of Pennsylvania Law School has built upon this foundation over the past several years to create an International Program offering unrivaled opportunities for students to gain firsthand experience with what it means to practice law in an international setting and to pursue careers that make a difference in the world.