International Law

Within the Commonwealth Attorney-General's Department. Please see the Government & Public Service page for more.

The UN Young Professionals Programme (YPP) is a recruitment initiative for talented, highly qualified professionals seeking to begin a career as an international civil servant with the UN Secretariat. It combines an entrance examination process with structured professional development for successful candidates, with the examination held annually across different subject areas depending on UN needs. Positions are offered at the P-1 and P-2 entry levels, with P-2 candidates requiring either a bachelor's degree plus two years of experience, or a master's degree. Applicants must be 32 years old or younger and a national of a participating UN Member State. Applications typically open in October each year via the UN's Inspira portal.

Apply here: https://careers.un.org/young-professionals-programme?language=en

The UN Volunteer Programme (UNV) is one of the largest and most respected volunteer initiatives in the world, managed by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and supporting the Sustainable Development Goals. It offers three types of opportunities: international volunteering, national volunteering, and online volunteering. Individuals aged 18 and above are eligible, with assignments typically lasting six to twelve months, renewable up to four years. While volunteers do not receive a salary, they are provided a monthly Volunteer Living Allowance, along with travel reimbursement, health insurance, and a resettlement allowance upon completion. Applications are submitted through the UNV Unified Volunteering Platform.

Apply here: https://www.unv.org/become-volunteer

The International Court of Justice (ICJ) offers internships to students and young professionals in the early stages of their careers, providing an opportunity to apply their knowledge while performing tasks under the supervision of Registry officials. Placements are available across all departments and divisions of the Registry, though only a limited number are offered throughout the year. Internships are unpaid - interns are responsible for their own travel, accommodation, and medical insurance.

Proficiency in English or French is required. Applications are accepted only through the ICJ's eRecruitment System; hardcopy and email applications are not accepted.

Apply here: https://www.icj-cij.org/internships

The ICC Internship Programme offers a distinctive opportunity for individuals with diverse academic, professional, and cultural backgrounds to gain insight into the Court's mandate, objectives, and functions. It is geared toward those at the early stages of their careers - either currently enrolled in their final year of university, or graduates with less than three years of relevant full-time professional experience. Interns work full-time for three to six months at the Court's headquarters in The Hague, Netherlands. The programme is unpaid, and interns are responsible for their own living expenses. English or French proficiency is required.

Apply here: https://www.icc-cpi.int/jobs/internships-and-visiting-professionals

The Visiting Professional Programme is designed to facilitate an exchange of knowledge between established professionals and the Court, offering those with diverse academic and cultural backgrounds the chance to develop an in-depth understanding of international criminal justice. To be eligible, candidates must hold at least a bachelor's degree and have a minimum of three years of relevant full-time professional experience. Placements run for one to six months on a full-time basis and are generally unpaid, though a limited number of funded positions are available each year through the ICC Trust Fund for candidates from developing countries.

Apply here: https://www.icc-cpi.int/jobs/internships-and-visiting-professionals

The PCA offers internships to law students and recent graduates seeking experience at an international arbitration institution, providing a balance of legal and administrative assignments that give insight into both the practical and legal aspects of international arbitration. Internships run for three months and commence at the start of January, April, July, and October, with applications due at least four months in advance.

Candidates are typically final-year law students or recent graduates with strong academic records. As a native English speaker, Australian applicants will automatically satisfy the language requirement. Additional language skills are a strong advantage, especially Arabic, Chinese, Russian, and Spanish.

Internships are self-funded - applicants must have adequate financial resources and health insurance for the duration of their placement, so Australian students should factor in the cost of relocating to Vienna or Mauritius. The internship does not require a visa for many Australian passport holders travelling to Austria for short stays, though students should verify their specific circumstances. If a travel visa is required, the PCA will provide supporting documentation.

Apply here: https://pca-cpa.org/en/about/employment/internship-program/

The UQ Embassy Internship Program aims to strengthen relations between the University of Queensland and participating embassies, offering meaningful networking and work experience for students to gain exposure to the working environment of an embassy. Students have participated in research, prepared reports, and attended events and meetings across a range of international topics. All Embassy internships are unpaid. To be eligible, students must be an Australian citizen or permanent resident, must be returning to full-time study after completion, and must have faculty approval - either for academic credit or as an unpaid extracurricular placement. UQ law and political science students may be eligible to enrol in POLS3801 or POLS7521 to receive academic credit for their placement. The program runs over the summer and winter university breaks, with placements based in Canberra.

Apply here: https://employability.uq.edu.au/uq-embassy-internship-program