- Name: Yee Mon Htun
- Age: 35
- Current location: Cambridge, MA, USA
- Home town: Vancouver, BC
- Education: Bachelor of Arts Degree, Simon Fraser University Juris Doctor, Dalhousie University
- Current position: Director of Myanmar Program for Justice Trust / Clinical legal advocacy fellow
- Organization description: The Myanmar Program for Justice Trust is an international legal non-profit organization which partners with local lawyers and communities to strengthen rule of law efforts.
- Countries I've worked in: Belgium, Canada, DRC, Japan, Kenya, Myanmar (Burma), Spain, Switzerland, Thailand, Turkey, United Kingdom, and United States of America
- Sector / subsectors: Law, human rights law
- Areas of expertise: Law, human rights law, refugee law, women's rights, gender equality
- Country: DR Congo, Japan, Kenya, Myanmar, Spain, Switzerland, Thailand, Turkey, UK, United States
- Region: North America, Africa, Europe, Asia
- Sector: Humanitarian, Law
- Degree subject: Law
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What's a typical day like for you?
Being an international human rights lawyer entails a little bit everything for Yee, both at Harvard Law, and in the field in Myanmar.
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What's your educational background and what are some of the experiences that led you to your work today?
Yee's journey into human rights law is a very personal one. In 1988, she and her family had to flee Myanmar. Her early experiences as a refugee inspired her studies and her current work.
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Can you tell us more about your approach to working with refugee communities?
Refugee communities in different countries often face similar issues - and human rights law provides a universal framework for protection and advocacy.
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What do you most enjoy about your work?
Human rights law has exposed Yee to many different communities and ideas that have challenged her.
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What skills and experiences would help someone be successful in the field of human rights law?
Technical skills can be learned along the way, but Yee says it is other attributes will really help you succeed at grassroots law.
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Is it important to specialize to break into the field?
Education is key to a career in international law, but Yee also has another secret for success...
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Do you see any openings, or areas of demand, in the field of international human rights law?
International human rights law can be a competitive field -- but there are still openings and opportunities for aspiring lawyers.
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What would help people stand out when applying for internships or jobs?
Successful candidates will possess a well balanced skillset—there are experiences, or achievements your future employers will be looking for.
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What's your best advice for someone who wants to enter this field?
Start with gaining a good education - but more importantly, ask yourself the hard questions about your motivations for becoming an international human rights lawyer.
