Dr. Lara Finkbeiner

Biography

Lara Finkbeiner is a Lecturer in the Program in International Comparative Studies at the University of Michigan’s Donia Human Rights Center. She holds a JD from the University of Michigan Law School, an MSc in Forced Migration from the University of Oxford, and a BA in History from the University of Michigan. Lara has extensive experience in refugee law, having served as the Director of the Pro Bono International Refugee Assistance Project, where she provided training, mentorship, and oversight of numerous cases in collaboration with a wide network of attorneys and students. Additionally, she has served as the Public Interest Director at the Michigan Law School, and as a Visiting Clinical Lecturer at Yale Law School, where she co-taught an experiential seminar on refugee law practice. Her previous work includes conducting refugee status determinations for the UNHCR in the Caribbean and research on the impact of the Mexico Plan of Action as a Fulbright scholar in Ecuador. Lara’s expertise has been featured in various media outlets, including American Life, CNN, and the Associated Press, where she speaks on global humanitarian issues.

Research Interests