Roxanna Altholz

Roxanna Altholz is a Clinical Professor of Law at the UC Berkeley School of Law, serving as Director of the Human Rights Clinic and Co-Director of the Clinical Program. She specializes in human rights law and international legal systems, with a focus on advocacy for victims of violence, migration-related rights, and accountability mechanisms.

Her education includes a B.A. from Brown University (1995) and a J.D. from UC Berkeley School of Law (1999).

Research Interests: Human Rights in transnational contexts, legal strategies for marginalized communities, and the intersection of corporate responsibility and human rights. Notable work includes groundbreaking cases before the Inter-American Court of Human Rights and advocacy regarding unsolved murders in Oakland and U.S.-Mexico border migrants.

Awards:

• 2013 UC Berkeley Law Young Alumni Award
• 2013 Foundation for Change Thomas I. Yamashita Prize

Professional Experience: Legal advisor to the UN Mission in Kosovo (1999-2000), staff attorney at the Center for Justice and International Law (2000-2005), handling cases involving massacres, torture, and discrimination in multiple countries. Her advocacy spans Latin America, the U.S., and international human rights systems.

Labs/Initiatives: Leads the Human Rights Clinic at Berkeley Law, focusing on practical legal training and real-world impact through litigation and policy advocacy.