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Human Rights First next stop for ACE Rule of Law Fellowship winner Whitney Viets L’15

February 16, 2015

Whitney Viets L'15 is a Toll Public Interest Scholar and has worked on issues of refugee and asylum for people at risk of harm in their h...
Whitney Viets L’15 is a Toll Public Interest Scholar and has worked on issues of refugee and asylum for people at risk of harm in their home countries.
Whitney Viets L’15 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.

Third-year University of Pennsylvania Law School student Whitney Viets L’15 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, Viets will spend one year advancing the work of Human Rights First, a preeminent legal advocacy organization that addresses global human rights-related issues — continuing the work she started as a Toll Public Interest Scholar at Penn Law.

Viets will join the new detained persons unit of Human Rights First’s New York office, where she will assist immigrants and refugees held in Federal custody as they pursue immigration relief. Her duties will include visiting immigration detention centers in New Jersey and Pennsylvania, advising detainees of their legal rights, and conducting intake interviews of individuals with potential claims for asylum or legal status in the United States. As part of a team of attorneys, she will then assist in the representation of these clients in immigration court.

“Whitney has done tremendous work both here in the Law School and at her pro bono placements and summer positions,” said Arlene Rivera Finkelstein, Executive Director of the Toll Public Interest Center and Associate Dean for Public Interest Programs. “With her experience and skills in immigration law and in indigent defense, she will be a tremendous asset to Human Rights First and the newly formed detained persons unit.”

The ACE Rule of Law Fellowship, funded by the ACE Charitable Foundation and 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. This year’s fellowship award is the third in a five-year commitment. This innovative post-graduate fellowship, established in 2012, was awarded last year to Lucia Hall Seyfarth L’14.

“We’re pleased to continue to work with Penn Law to support this innovative post-graduate program,” said Joseph Wayland, General Counsel, ACE Limited. “Human rights have assumed great prominence as globalization has advanced, which has resulted in the need for specialized expertise in the area of international law. This fellowship offers a unique blend of academic curriculum and practical career development opportunities focusing on the rule of law that will further promote upholding human rights.”     

As a law student, Viets spent her summers working at the Capital Area Immigration Rights Coalition and the Tahirih Justice Center, where she gained experience on issues of refugee and asylum for individuals at risk of harm in their home countries because of their religion, political opinion, sexual orientation, or ethnicity. In addition, Whitney has worked during the school year with the Nationalities Service Center and the Defender Association of Philadelphia, learning about the intersection of criminal and immigration law.

Viets has also developed a diverse array of experience in international public law during her legal education. In addition to being one of six Toll Public Interest Scholars from the Class of 2015, she is a Student Legal Representative with the Transnational Legal Clinic, Associate Editor of the University of Pennsylvania Journal of International Law, and a member of the International Human Rights Advocates.

“We are thrilled to welcome Whitney as our new ACE Rule of Law and Human Rights Fellow,” said Human Rights First President and CEO Elisa Massimino. “Whitney’s background at Penn Law and her experience working with refugees make her a perfect fit for us and for this fellowship. Whitney will be part of our team working to ensure that indigent refugees seeking asylum get due process and the protection they deserve. We are deeply grateful for our partnership with Penn Law; together, we are preparing the next generation of human rights advocates.  Human Rights First is proud to host these outstanding young lawyers as they launch their professional careers.”

Through Penn Law’s international programs, students gain the skills and knowledge necessary to address real-world problems in international, foreign, and comparative law. Programs like the Global Research Seminar and the Global Forum on Comparative and International Law connect students and faculty with legal and other institutions around the world to develop cutting-edge scholarship on complex issues while preparing students for global practice.

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 ending human trafficking.

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 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, or follow ACE on Twitter, https://twitter.com/ACEGroupNA.