Principally for law students or law graduates interested in a career in international human rights law, with a particular interest in Latin America. Students or graduates with careers oriented towards human rights work will also be considered.
Requirements
- Solid command of the Spanish language. Knowledge of Portuguese and/or English is also valuable, depending upon the office where the internship is held
- Excellent writing skills
- Previous experience with NGOs is a plus
- La experiencia previa en organizaciones no gubernamentales será considerada un plus.
Job Description
Legal interns are paired with a CEJIL staff attorney and are actively involved in three areas of work: the Legal Defense Program, the Training and Dissemination Program, and the Campaign to Strengthen the Inter-American System. Interns will collaborate with their attorney on cases before the Inter American Commission and Court. This could involve researching case background and precedents, helping to draft and edit briefs, attending hearings, developing legal arguments, and communicating with NGOs.
Interns may research broader issues or specific subjects that would contribute to the development of amicus curiae or publications, as well as promote knowledge within the CEJIL organization.
Interns will be required to participate in the daily affairs of CEJIL, such as: coordinating and participating in meetings and conferences, revising and translating institutional documents, and supporting fundraising tasks.
Legal interns should also be able to perform basic administrative tasks when necessary.
Objective
By the end of their internships, legal interns can expect to possess hands-on experience about cases before the Inter-American Commission and Court, a comprehensive understanding of the inter-American and other global human rights protection systems, an in-depth knowledge of the state of human rights in Latin America, and practical experience in the day-to-day operations of an international NGO.