The International Justice Program of Human Rights Watch (HRW) is seeking graduate and law students to intern in the New York office. The intern should ideally be available for 35 hours per week beginning in May 2023 until August 2023. The intern will primarily focus on monitoring international law developments in targeted country situations and researching and drafting papers on issues of international justice. The intern will gain knowledge of international courts and international justice mechanisms and will build skills in legal research, writing, and advocacy.
Due to COVID-19, many of our offices remain open at a limited capacity. HRW prioritizes the safety of our interns. In locations that have eased office restrictions and are open at a limited capacity, interns are not expected to report to the office and remote arrangements will remain an option for the foreseeable future. However, interns may have the option of reporting to an office on a voluntary basis in accordance with HRW’s COVID-19 policies.
Responsibilities:
The intern will learn and be exposed to:
Conducting legal research;
Analyzing international law;
Reviewing and documenting media reports on relevant issues;
Monitoring developments at the International Criminal Court;
Conducting policy analysis of ongoing international justice developments;
Identifying and understanding key issues in international justice;
Compiling case research;
Drafting advocacy-style documents that will be used internally and as background for advocacy projects;
Gain familiarity with the Rome Statute;
Developing a greater attention to detail through footnoting and fact-checking;
Presenting information in a compelling manner in internal drafts; and
Close supervision and evaluation sessions to provide feedback and support.
Students will also have opportunities to attend lectures, trainings, professional development workshops, special events relating to human rights, as well as network with other HRW interns, volunteers, and employees. As an HRW intern, students will take skills acquired in school and apply them in a professional setting.
Qualifications:
Background in law (either an LLB, LLM, JD, or other relevant law degree);
Enrollment in an accredited, degree-granting graduate or law program for the duration of the internship term;
Strong interest in international criminal justice and a demonstrated commitment to human rights and/or international issues is highly desirable;
Relevant coursework is highly preferred;
Knowledge of French is a plus;
Computer skills (e.g., Microsoft Office Suite, internet applications) are essential.
