Biography
Yoana Kuzmova joins Boston University School of Law’s faculty as a Lecturer and Clinical Instructor in the International Human Rights Clinic at Boston University School of Law. Ms. Kuzmova, an immigration and human rights lawyer, taught the International Human Rights Clinic during the 2021-22 academic year, and she co-taught and supervised students at the Clinic alongside Clinical Professor Susan Akram from September 2016 until May 2020. Ms. Kuzmova has extensive experience with human rights advocacy and teaching. Over the years, she has supervised the clinic’s projects on statelessness and engaged in advocacy for the rights of Tibetans at the United Nations and individual client representation in collaboration with the International Refugee Assistance Project. Ms. Kuzmova joins BU Law from the Center for Migratory Observation and Social Development in the Caribbean (OBMICA) based in Santo Domingo where she was an associate researcher focused on the intersection of insecure citizenship status, statelessness and migration detention. Her direct client work includes past advocacy as a staff attorney at the Boston Area Rape Crisis Center, the Northeast Justice Center, and the Federal Immigration Appeals Project. Yoana is admitted to practice in Massachusetts and New York, and she received her Juris Doctor with honors in International Law at Boston University School of Law and her Master of Arts in International Relations at Boston University’s Pardee School of Global Studies. Her research, writing and advocacy focus on the rights of noncitizens and the right to nationality.
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Courses
International Human Rights Clinic: LAW JD 975
3 credits
THIS CLASS IS RESTRICTED to students who have formally applied to and been accepted to the International Human Rights Clinic. Students in the Clinic work on policy issues on behalf of institutional clients that represent refugees, forced migrants, immigrants, and stateless persons. Students work on long-term human rights projects such as: working with NGOs in advocacy in the UN human rights system or in regional organs (e.g. Inter-American and European human rights bodies); advocating for durable solutions to statelessness and citizenship deprivation in the Middle East; and organizing workshops and presentations to major stakeholders around the world. Students conduct legal and factual research and outreach to partners and project strategy development, and prepare written reports and submissions to international and regional agencies. The clinic fieldwork may include international travel. PRE/CO-REQUISITE: International Human Rights (LAW JD 991). NOTE: The International Human Rights Clinic counts towards the 6 credit Experiential Learning requirement. GRADING NOTICE: This course does not offer the CR/NC/H option.
FALL 2024: LAW JD 975 A1 , Sep 3rd to Dec 5th 2024
SPRG 2025: LAW JD 975 A1 , Jan 13th to Apr 23rd 2025
International Human Rights Clinic: Human Rights Advocacy: LAW JD 843
3 credits
THIS CLASS IS RESTRICTED to students who have formally applied to and been accepted to the International Human Rights Clinic. This is the companion spring classroom component for students in the Clinic. The course focuses on further developing skills in the context of the substantive law and mechanisms of the Inter-American Human Rights system. Classes will cover: interviewing and counseling institutional (non-governmental organizations) clients; designing and implementing human rights field research; ethical pitfalls and professional 'best practices' in human rights collaborations with international networks; advocacy within the Inter-American machinery; and simulations using comparative and foreign human rights problems. The classes will be a combination of readings and discussion; simulations; student presentations; short papers and case rounds to discuss project work; and group and individual feedback on project development. NOTE: This course counts towards the 6 credit Experiential Learning requirement. GRADING NOTICE: This course does not offer the CR/NC/H option.
SPRG 2025: LAW JD 843 A1 , Jan 13th to Apr 23rd 2025
International Human Rights Clinic: Skills 1: LAW JD 840
3 credits
THIS CLASS IS RESTRICTED to students who have formally applied to and been accepted to the International Human Rights Clinic. This course is the companion fall classroom component for students enrolled in the Clinic and provides an introduction to essential lawyering skills, with a focus on those relevant to the practice of human rights law. The goal of the course is to help students develop a wide range of competencies, including written and oral communication and advocacy, legal research, factual investigation, witness interviewing, professional responsibility, and strategic thinking and problem-solving. NOTE: This course counts towards the 6 credit Experiential Learning requirement. GRADING NOTICE: This course does not offer the CR/NC/H option.
FALL 2024: LAW JD 840 A1 , Sep 3rd to Dec 5th 2024
Supervised Research and Writing: LAW JD 841
Var credits
Upper-class students may pursue a special research interest under the guidance of a full time faculty member, and earn one or two semester credits for a Supervised Research and Writing project (also known as an Independent Study). The study must involve a substantial investment of time and effort, and result in significant written work that reflects a high standard of legal scholarship. The student's final grade will be based solely upon written work submitted, and will be included in the student's average. NOTE: Students must register for Supervised Research and Writing directly with the Registrar's Office. You may not register via the Student Link.
FALL 2024: LAW JD 841 A1 , Sep 3rd to Dec 5th 2024
FALL 2024: LAW JD 841 B1 , Sep 3rd to Dec 5th 2024
FALL 2024: LAW JD 841 B2 , Sep 3rd to Dec 5th 2024
FALL 2024: LAW JD 841 C1 , Sep 3rd to Dec 5th 2024
FALL 2024: LAW JD 841 C2 , Sep 3rd to Dec 5th 2024
FALL 2024: LAW JD 841 D1 , Sep 3rd to Dec 5th 2024
FALL 2024: LAW JD 841 E1 , Sep 3rd to Dec 5th 2024
FALL 2024: LAW JD 841 F1 , Sep 3rd to Dec 5th 2024
FALL 2024: LAW JD 841 G1 , Sep 3rd to Dec 5th 2024
FALL 2024: LAW JD 841 H1 , Sep 3rd to Dec 5th 2024
FALL 2024: LAW JD 841 I1 , Sep 3rd to Dec 5th 2024
FALL 2024: LAW JD 841 J1 , Sep 3rd to Dec 5th 2024
FALL 2024: LAW JD 841 K1 , Sep 3rd to Dec 5th 2024
FALL 2024: LAW JD 841 M1 , Sep 3rd to Dec 5th 2024
FALL 2024: LAW JD 841 M2 , Sep 3rd to Dec 5th 2024
FALL 2024: LAW JD 841 N1 , Sep 3rd to Dec 5th 2024
FALL 2024: LAW JD 841 O1 , Sep 3rd to Dec 5th 2024
FALL 2024: LAW JD 841 P1 , Sep 3rd to Dec 5th 2024
FALL 2024: LAW JD 841 R1 , Sep 3rd to Dec 5th 2024
FALL 2024: LAW JD 841 S1 , Sep 3rd to Dec 5th 2024
FALL 2024: LAW JD 841 S2 , Sep 3rd to Dec 5th 2024
FALL 2024: LAW JD 841 T1 , Sep 3rd to Dec 5th 2024
FALL 2024: LAW JD 841 T2 , Sep 3rd to Dec 5th 2024
FALL 2024: LAW JD 841 V1 , Sep 3rd to Dec 5th 2024
FALL 2024: LAW JD 841 W1 , Sep 3rd to Dec 5th 2024
FALL 2024: LAW JD 841 Z1 , Sep 3rd to Dec 5th 2024
FALL 2024: LAW JD 841 Z2 , Sep 3rd to Dec 5th 2024
SPRG 2025: LAW JD 841 A1 , Jan 13th to Apr 23rd 2025
SPRG 2025: LAW JD 841 B1 , Jan 13th to Apr 23rd 2025
SPRG 2025: LAW JD 841 B3 , Jan 13th to Apr 23rd 2025
SPRG 2025: LAW JD 841 C1 , Jan 13th to Apr 23rd 2025
SPRG 2025: LAW JD 841 C2 , Jan 13th to Apr 23rd 2025
SPRG 2025: LAW JD 841 D1 , Jan 13th to Apr 23rd 2025
SPRG 2025: LAW JD 841 D2 , Jan 13th to Apr 23rd 2025
SPRG 2025: LAW JD 841 E1 , Jan 13th to Apr 23rd 2025
SPRG 2025: LAW JD 841 F1 , Jan 13th to Apr 23rd 2025
SPRG 2025: LAW JD 841 F2 , Jan 13th to Apr 23rd 2025
SPRG 2025: LAW JD 841 G1 , Jan 13th to Apr 23rd 2025
SPRG 2025: LAW JD 841 H1 , Jan 13th to Apr 23rd 2025
SPRG 2025: LAW JD 841 I1 , Jan 13th to Apr 23rd 2025
SPRG 2025: LAW JD 841 J1 , Jan 13th to Apr 23rd 2025
SPRG 2025: LAW JD 841 K1 , Jan 13th to Apr 23rd 2025
SPRG 2025: LAW JD 841 L1 , Jan 13th to Apr 23rd 2025
SPRG 2025: LAW JD 841 L2 , Jan 13th to Apr 23rd 2025
SPRG 2025: LAW JD 841 M1 , Jan 13th to Apr 23rd 2025
SPRG 2025: LAW JD 841 N1 , Jan 13th to Apr 23rd 2025
SPRG 2025: LAW JD 841 P1 , Jan 13th to Apr 23rd 2025
SPRG 2025: LAW JD 841 R1 , Jan 13th to Apr 23rd 2025
SPRG 2025: LAW JD 841 S1 , Jan 13th to Apr 23rd 2025
SPRG 2025: LAW JD 841 T1 , Jan 13th to Apr 23rd 2025
SPRG 2025: LAW JD 841 U1 , Jan 13th to Apr 23rd 2025
SPRG 2025: LAW JD 841 V1 , Jan 13th to Apr 23rd 2025
SPRG 2025: LAW JD 841 W1 , Jan 13th to Apr 23rd 2025
SPRG 2025: LAW JD 841 Y1 , Jan 13th to Apr 23rd 2025