Legal Internship Programme
The role of an intern
Interns will assist the IBA in developing academic papers and research on key legal topics of both local and international relevance. They will be able to draft policy papers on substantive legal issues as well as assisting in preparing background research for grant proposals. Interns will have the opportunity to assist in implementing technical assistance programmes in developing countries and will have a chance to become involved in the work of the following entities/departments/bodies of the Association:
- supporting the IBA's Human Rights Institute (in London)
- supporting eyeWitness to Atrocities (in London)
- supporting the IBA's Legal Policy & Research Unit (in London)
- supporting the IBA's AI Institute (in London)
- supporting the IBA’s Executive Office (in London)
- supporting the IBA’s International Criminal Court & International Criminal Law Programme (in The Hague)
- supporting the IBA’s North America office (in Washington DC)
Intern Newsletters
The IBA Intern Newsletter was created in 2020 and every intern from each programme are invited to submit a short article on a topic of their choice, which is included in the newsletter.
All programmes
IBA International Criminal Court and International Criminal Law Internship Programme
The Hague
Find out more Application formFrequently asked questions
- Internships undertaken in the Legal Policy & Research Unit will be spent working for a team of lawyers on current projects. You will report to the Director or one of the Senior Legal Advisers in the team and will be supported by the Projects Coordinator and the Intern Programme Manager.
- Interns in the Human Rights Institute will work directly with Programme Lawyers on current projects. You will report to the Programme Coordinator and will also be supported by the Intern Programme Manager.
- Interns for the Executive Director will work for Dr Ellis (the current Executive Director) either directly or remotely, as he is often out of the office on business.
- Interns in the AI Institute will be work directly with the director of the institute and project lawyers. You will report to the Programme Coordinator and will also be supported by the Intern Programme Manager.
- Interns in the ICC & ICL Programme (The Hague office) will work directly with the Programme Coordinator and Director of The Hague Office. You will also be supported by the Intern Programme Manager.
- Internships undertaken at the North America office (Washington, DC) will see interns working with and reporting to the Programme Assistant and the Director. You will also be supported by the Intern Programme Manager.
- You will regularly interact with the lawyers in your teams and may also work in collaboration with other interns. Therefore, interns should have strong independent research skills as well as the ability to work in a team.
- The work you will be tasked with on a day to day basis will vary depending on the project you’re working on. We will try and tailor the projects to your interests and expertise wherever possible. There may be an opportunity to work on several projects simultaneously covering different legal issues.
- You may be contributing to research that could ultimately secure funding for a project, assist local bars with undertaking their own training and capacity building, as well as writing speeches and academic papers that form the basis of the work of the IBA. The tasks are ever evolving.
- You will be invited to contribute to the IBA Intern Newsletter as well as participate in the IBA Intern Presentations
- London: The IBA Office address is: 53-64 Chancery House, Chancery Lane, London, WC2A 1QS. the office is located in Zone 1 on the tube network (Zone 1 is Central London and Zone 6 is about 20 miles out of London near Heathrow Airport). Nearby stations include Chancery Lane (Central Line), Blackfriars (District and circle lines) and City Thameslink (National Rail). If you are trying to find somewhere to live, try anything in Zones 2-4.
- The Hague: The IBA Office is at Nassaulaan 19, 2514 JT, The Hague. The office is easy to reach via car or public transport with buses and trams running from the two main train stations in The Hague, Central Station and Holland Spoor.
- Washington, DC: The IBA North America office is located at 1667 k Street NW, Suite 1230, 20006, in the heart of downtown DC, at the corner of K Street and 17th Street. Nearby Metro stations include Farrugut North on the Red line and Farrugut West on the Orange and Blue lines.
- To be eligible to apply, you must be undergraduate law students, postgraduate law students, and newly qualified lawyers at the International Bar Association's offices in London (Human Rights Institute Charitable Trust & eyeWitness for Atrocities), The Hague and Washington DC.
For the Legal Policy & Research Unit and AI Institute in the London Office, voluntary internships are open to individuals whose participation is a formal requirement of their UK university programme, as part of their academic curriculum. Remote internship opportunities are available for candidates undertaking their university courses outside of the UK, where the placement is either compulsory or voluntary and provides valuable work experience. - There is no minimum or maximum age limit. Our interns generally range from 20 to 35 years old.
- Our interns come from all over the world so expect to be in a diverse, international cohort, great for gaining different legal perspectives.
- For applicants in London, the IBA has grant funding (up to a maximum of £4,000 each) to students who would not otherwise be able to take up the position due to financial constraints. For those interns undertaking the internship remotely, funding (up to a maximum of £3,000 each) is available to all candidates. To download the application form, click here.
- Interns in The Hague are also eligible for grants from the IBA HRI Trust. The maximum possible grant is €850 per month. Interns undertaking the programme remotely can also apply for grants. To download the application form, click here.
- There is currently no funding available for interns at the Washington, DC office.
- All interns accepted on to the internship programme based in-person in London are responsible for finding their own accommodation. The best way to find accommodation is to undertake an internet search for cheap accommodation in London (try www.spareroom.co.uk) Also, try the International YMCA, Youth Hostel Association and the Halls of residence for some of the London Universities (especially if you are interning in the summer months) on the internet. You can also ask the Intern Programme Manager to provide an up-to-date housing guide.
- Rent in London is expensive so expect to pay a minimum for approximately £700-800 per month depending on your location. Transport starts at £172 a month for a travel card covering the tube and bus in Zones 1 and 2, but a bus-only travel card is much less expensive (visit the Transport for London website for details). Food is approximately £60 a week depending on where you choose to buy.
- In The Hague, it is best to get in touch with other interns from the international organisations and tribunals. You may also use local rental agencies, but they charge quite a large finder’s fee.
- The dress code is smart casual office attire, suits are not necessary when working in the office. Trousers, blouses, shirts, dresses and skirts are fine. No ripped jeans or scruffy trainers. Those working remotely are welcome to wear neat casual wear, however if they come into the office, they are expected to adhere to the appropriate dress code.
- As interns are considered part of the office staff, we expect you to work the same full-time hours as the wider organisation. We work from 9:30am-5:30pm with a 1-hour lunch break Monday to Friday.
- You are entitled to 2 days of holiday per calendar month that you are with us so for a three-month internship you would be entitled to 6 days holidays.
- Once you receive an offer for an intern position by the IBA, interns must contact their nearest British mission for details on visa requirements. You can obtain a certificate of sponsorship from BUNAC – www.bunac.org. The offer of any internship is conditional upon you being able to satisfy eligibility criteria to work in the UK in accordance with applicable immigration rules.
- Due to the high volume of applications that the IBA receives, offers will remain open for acceptance for 5 working days from the date of the offer. If we do not hear from you within that period we will assume that the offer is rejected and it will be withdrawn and offered to the next successful applicant.
- In view of the fact that all offers are conditional upon ability to satisfy immigration requirements you are strongly advised to establish your immigration status as soon as possible.
The Hague
- Should you have been offered a place in The Hague Office and you are a non-Schengen resident, a long-stay visa might be required. Find out here if you need to apply: https://www.netherlandsandyou.nl/travel-and-residence/visas-for-the-netherlands/long-stay-visa-mvv
- Any requirement to obtain a residence permit prior to joining or to fulfill the full duration of the internship will be at your own cost. If such entry (where applicable) also involves obtaining an MVV (initial Entry Clearance Visa), this procedure must be managed and concluded by yourself at your own cost prior to joining the IBA. If requested, the IBA will provide a letter confirming the conditional offer of an internship in order to facilitate the MVV application.
Washington, DC
- All applicants must ensure that they are legally permitted to work in the United States. Applicants from outside the U.S. must be able to comply with and obtain their own J-1 visas. Please consult the J-1 Visa Exchange Visitor website for a list of Designated Sponsor Organisations.
Financial Assistance
You will need to be able to support yourself whilst interning with the IBA, however there are some financial grants available for interns based in London or The Hague offices.
Lydia Odedeji, IBA Intern (September-December 2024)
Jonathan Carden, IBA Intern (September-November 2024)
"This is the perfect place to broaden our understanding of how lawyers can contribute internationally and beyond the conventional paths. Also great place to be academically and professionally challenged."
Jude Alissa
LPRU Legal Intern, July - September 2025
"My internship with IBAHRI allowed me to put the skills I learned in university into practice within a functioning human rights organisation. Not only was I able to work on areas that I was already interested in , this internship introduced me to new areas of human rights law that I have now become deeply passionate about. I would recommend this internship to anyone who is looking for a career in human rights law."
Niamh O'Hara
IBAHRI Legal Intern, September - March 2025