Work Location

The Hague

Expected duration

Six Months

Duties and Responsibilities

In the Appeals Section, the legal Intern will assist OTP lawyers by conducting legal and factual research to support the section’s residual judicial work. He or she may also be asked to provide assistance by drafting memoranda on issues of international criminal law, humanitarian law, and comparative criminal law and procedure. The legal intern may also be called upon to support the OTP in assisting national jurisdictions through direct case assistance, as required. The legal Intern will assist the section in its capacity building function, by researching and preparing materials for seminars, conferences and/or presentations on general issues of international criminal law and more specific issues, such as the prosecution of conflict-related sexual violence. In the Core Section, interns may work on a range of issues related to the continuing functions of the Mechanism, including review and contempt investigations and proceedings, other post-conviction litigation, fugitive tracking, assistance to national authorities, and capacity-building initiatives. In the Cat. II team, legal interns may also be asked to provide litigation-related support to attorneys providing assistance to national war crimes investigators and prosecutors in the former Yugoslavia. Interns may also perform tasks such as cite checking and compiling and collating legal materials. Being bilingual in English and French or English and Bosnian/Croatian/Serbian is considered an asset.

Qualifications/special skills

Candidates for legal internships in the Office of the Prosecutor must at the time of application meet one of the following requirements: (a) Be enrolled in, or have completed, the final academic year of a first university degree programme (minimum bachelor’s level or equivalent) (b) Be enrolled in, or have completed, a graduate school programme (second university degree (Master Degree) or equivalent, or higher); Applicants must be computer literate in standard software applications. Internships are also offered to students and young professionals from fields other than Law who have advanced Bosnian/Croatian/Serbian language skills and strong analytical skills. Good drafting and oral communication skills as well as experience in dealing with sensitive or confidential information are required. Please provide a sample of your written work preferably in the field relevant to the work of the Mechanism and no more than 10 pages long. Previous legal experience is desirable.

Languages

English and French are the working languages of the Tribunal. Fluency in oral and written English is required. Candidates with knowledge of French are encouraged to apply. Knowledge of other languages, particularly Bosnian/Croatian/Serbian, is desirable. Applicants from fields other than Law who have advanced Bosnian/Croatian/Serbian language skills and strong analytical skills may apply.

Additional Information

Interested applicants are required to send the following documents to: otpinternshipprogram@un.org 1. IRMCT Acceptance and Undertaking form (https://www.irmct.org/en/recruitment/internship/internship-programme/progamme-guidelines); 2. Two (2) letters of recommendation; 3. Copies of university/law studies transcripts (including courses taken and grades received); 4. A scanned copy of the applicant’s valid medical insurance OR a signed statement confirming intent to obtain medical insurance while in The Netherlands; 5. A sample of your written work preferably in a field relevant to the work of the Mechanism and no more than ten (10) pages long. 6. Preference & Availability form. (https://www.irmct.org/en/recruitment/internship/internship-programme/progamme-guidelines) Please note that documents may only be in English or French.

Intern Specific text

Interns are not financially remunerated by the United Nations. Costs and arrangements for travel, visas, accommodation and living expenses are the responsibility of interns or their sponsoring institutions. Interns who are not citizens or permanent residents of the country where the internship is undertaken, may be required to obtain the appropriate visa and work/employment authorization. Successful candidates should discuss their specific visa requirements before accepting the internship offer.

No Fee

THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW MEETING, PROCESSING, OR TRAINING). THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON APPLICANTS’ BANK ACCOUNTS.