Dr. Helen Kerwin

Biography

Helen Kerwin is a Clinical Supervising Attorney at the Human Rights Clinic at UC Berkeley Law. She has extensive experience in international human rights law, particularly in strategic litigation within the Inter-American Human Rights System, focusing on the rights of Indigenous communities, migrants, asylum-seekers, and human rights defenders. Prior to joining the clinic, she worked as a staff attorney with the Center for Justice and International Law (CEJIL), where she specialized in cases that addressed human rights issues in the Americas. Kerwin also served as a staff attorney with the Institute for Women in Migration (IMUMI) in Mexico City, where her work involved advocacy, research, and strategic litigation related to U.S.-Mexico border policies. She began her legal career as a fellow at the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR), contributing to the Rapporteurship on Migrant Rights and engaging in human rights monitoring and litigation. Her publications include articles on international and domestic refugee law and strategic litigation in human rights contexts.

Research Interests