Position Overview

IJDH is seeking 1-2 part-time legal interns passionate about justice and human rights. The Spring Legal Internship is an opportunity for highly motivated law students to work in a fast-paced, creative, and exciting environment on issues affecting human rights in Haiti. In partnership with the BAI, IJDH advances groundbreaking legal and advocacy work, including on UN accountability for cholera and for peacekeeper sexual exploitation and abuse. Interns are fully integrated into our legal and advocacy docket that spans accountability, defending rule of law, enabling justice, and legal empowerment for marginalized communities in Haiti.

Responsibilities

Interns will work with and be supervised by IJDH attorneys on the following:

• Domestic and international legal research and writing;
• Legal and public advocacy that contributes to the human rights dialogue on issues that impact justice, accountability, and human rights in Haiti, including audiences that span the UN system, both regional and international institutions, and U.S. and international governments;
• Legal strategy and review meetings;
• Outreach that engages media and broader audiences as part of IJDH’s legal work, including drafting advocacy materials, talking points, liaising with communications, and contributing to social media work;
• General project management support.

Interns must be available for a minimum of 2 to 3 working days per week for the duration of the internship. The internship is intended as a remote start, with the possibility to be in New York thereafter.

Qualifications 

• Current 2L, 3L or LLM students with a demonstrated background in human rights, social justice and/or international law; 
• Excellent written and oral communication skills in English; 
• High level of initiative and self-motivation; 
• Ability to handle sensitive relationships and protect the confidentiality of our work and our communications; and 
• Strong verbal and written skills in French and/or knowledge of Haitian Creole a strong asset

Funding

This is an unpaid internship. Arrangements for academic credit can be explored.

Application Procedure

Law students interested in the position of Spring Legal Intern should submit a cover letter, resume, law school transcript, short unedited writing sample, and contact information for two references as soon as possible. Please send all application materials electronically in one pdf to hiring@ijdh.org and include “Legal Intern Spring 2021” in the subject line. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until places are filled, so applicants are strongly encouraged to submit applications early on.