A n j a l I  M e h t a

NYU SCHOOL OF LAW

Human Rights Scholar

As a human rights scholar, Anjali researched the intersection art and human rights law, how current practitioners work at this intersection, and where there were gaps in the literature.

YALE LAW SCHOOL

A Movement Toolbox For Lawyers: RebLaw

In this workshop, created by Anjali Mehta and Jill Sigman, advocates used  movement to engage with emotional reactions that they have to cases and clients. They explored potential inherent biases related to instinctual reactions such as anger, sadness, fear, and relief, that may relate to the tension between the law’s limits and a client’s interests. The workshop also engaged tools of movement (breath, posture, body language, expression awareness) to help lawyers and law students be better advocates both in court and out of court, for their clients.

CHRGJ

Global Justice Clinic

As a student member of the Global Justice Clinic, Anjali worked on a team that filed an amicus brief arguing that family separation constitutes torture under international law. The team also published a follow-up blog post on Just Security, arguing that the arbitrary detention of asylum seekers perpetuates the torture of family separation. 

INTERNATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS SCHOLAR

ICTJ:

Bogota, Colombia

At the International Center for Transitional Justice, Anjali worked with the Criminal Justice team to propose a procedural framework for the new Special Jurisdiction for Peace, tasked with bringing perpetrators of violence to justice following Colombia's 52 year long armed conflict. The team's proposal focused on creating a hybrid retributive and restorative justice system, focused on allowing the Colombian population to move forward while recognizing the need to try certain perpetrators.

FULBRIGHT

English Teaching & Research

As a Fulbrighter in Brazil, Anjali developed storytelling curricula to teach English at Universidade Federal de Alagoas. She also worked with public school students to use movement to explore emotion, and conducted research at private university Centro de Estudos Superiores de Maceio regarding land rights of Quilombolo communities.

AMERICANS FOR IMMIGRANT JUSTICE

Detention & Asylum

As an intern with the Detention and Asylum team at Americans for Immigrant Justice, Anjali developed and presented Know Your Rights presentations to detained immigrants and conducted intake evaluations for those immigrants who sought asylum. She prepared briefs, conducted research, and prepared clients for their asylum hearings.