Job Resources
Top 5 Tips
- Be creative and don’t hesitate to reach out – send them an e-mail saying that you are interested in legal internship opportunities, what year of law school you are in, why you want to work in the organization, and attach a CV/resume. They could tell you about application procedures, what the internship entails, or ask for more information (such as a writing sample and transcript).
- When it comes to law firms, practice varies. Big law often has early application dates, and smaller firms might have no formal application procedures.
- Summer positions at international organizations are usually unpaid. Especially if you will need to relocate, start thinking early about outside funding. BU's Public Interest Project Scholarship might be a good option.
- Internship listings for many international organizations come out late, thus we recommend you keep checking throughout the spring semester. Also, they might not get back to you for a long time. It could turn an application into an externship or an internship for next summer, however, so apply anyway.
- Some law students get their summer internships in international law through networking. BU's CDO can help connect you with BU alumni at the employer you are interested in. You should reach out to alumni from your undergraduate institution, other law students, and other people with whom you may have a connection. Also, you should attend international law events and conferences to meet more professionals and stay in contact with them. And it never hurts to send out a cold email.
BU Job Search Links
All of the BU career guides are including in this link. Below are the 2 career guides that are particularly helpful for international law careers.
- BU's Public International Law Career Guide
- BU's Legal Opportunities in Law Firms & Corporations Abroad Guide
Also, some international law jobs get posted on the BU symplicity.
Databases
American Society of International Law (ASIL) is the main hub of international legal debate, exchange, cooperation etc. They have advisory boards on all kinds of international law issues, including human rights, international criminal law, environmental law, law of armed conflict, and international economic law. They have publications, education resources, and job postings.
PSJD: This is a major job and employer database for public interest positions, including public interest nonprofit and law firms, prosecution and criminal defense, the judiciary, and government positions. You can filter by legal area, strategies (litigation, clinical, policy etc.), experience, salary etc. If you want to find international positions, you can control by location (type in the Hague, Strasbourg, Brussels etc.)
NALP: This is a major legal career database for all kinds of jobs. You can also find corporate positions in international law (just control for international law as practice area). You can also find private law firms that especially focus on international law ahead of OCI and submit applications to those firms.
New York Law School Center for International Law – Career Resources (Perhaps the best list for organizations and links)
Harvard Law School Guide: This links to HLS's "Career and Application Guides," and has subject matter guides (e.g., "Human Trafficking" or "National Security") and also find "Cheap Living Guides" for finding affordable housing in different cities (mainly U.S., but some international).
Find international lawyers and law firms across the globe
State Department List of NGO and International Organizations in Global Criminal Justice
