IBA North America Office Internship Programme (Washington, DC)

• After you have selected the team you wish to apply for, it is important that you thoroughly research the work of that team and convey your passion for that specific internship in your application and interview.
• The application process involves sending a CV/resume, cover letter, application form and writing sample (no longer than five pages long) to Olasimbo.Akinfeleye@int-bar.org before the closing date.
• As a large proportion of the work you will undertake during the internship will involve writing reports, letters, or assisting in the preparation of academic articles, we ask for a writing sample as part of the application process. This is useful for us to see how you structure a piece of written work and how you form and support an argument.
• We aim to inform you if you have been successful and invite you to interview approximately 4-6 weeks after the closing date.

• The Washington Office receives applications throughout the year and applicants often apply 1-3 months before their desired start date.
• Interns must commit to a minimum of 3 months and the intakes are usually for the fall semester (Aug/Sept – Dec), spring semester (Jan-April/May), or summer (May-Aug).

For more information, closing dates and to download the application forms click here

The IBA opened its North America office in Washington DC in August 2013. The mission of this office is threefold:

• Serve and expand its membership in North America, namely international lawyers, but also law schools and law students. 
• Engage in public service, including the implementation of programmes that promote the rule of law and human rights in the developing world and North America. 
• Provide thought leadership on issues critical to the legal profession, the rule of law and human rights throughout the world.   

Typical projects undertaken by interns include:

• Developing concept papers and grant proposals in the field of international development;
• researching & writing remarks for conferences, some of which may be converted into academic papers for publication;
• assisting with logistics, media solicitations, panellist selection and support for conferences and round tables;
• organising and contributing to IBA reports & internal research database and analysing evolving trends in legal profession or international development;
• assisting with expense logging and financial tracking, document creation, meeting preparation, recording of minutes, and outreach.

Skills and experience required:

• Excellent research, writing and analysis skills;
• strong interpersonal oral and written skills;
• self-motivation and emotional intelligence;
• mastery of computer/internet-based research;
• experience organising or contributing to workshops and/or seminars;
• experience abroad is an advantage;
• fluency in a foreign language is a plus.