Partners in Justice International (PJI) is pleased to announce that we are seeking candidates for summer 2024 internships for law students and for one-to-two-year fellowships for recent law school graduates beginning in August/September 2024.
A fellowship at PJI gives an entry-level lawyer the opportunity to work for 1-2 years as a junior staff attorney. Ideal candidates are third-year (or final-year) law students, judicial clerks, LLM students, or recent law graduates with a demonstrated interest in international human rights law or international criminal law.
An internship at PJI gives a second or third year law student the opportunity to support PJIโs work primarily through research and writing. Exceptional first year law students may be considered for the position.
Duties and Responsibilities: In coordination with other members of the PJI legal team, the Legal Fellow conducts factual and legal research relating to situations where PJI works or is considering working and assists with planning and executing trainings and other capacity-building work with local partners. Additional duties may include strategic interventions, community outreach, coalition building, writing and publishing reports, planning and participating in public meetings, legislative research, and social media engagement. The Legal Fellow reports to the Co-Director.
Legal Fellow Specific Responsibilities: The Legal Fellow is primarily responsible for assigned situations and projects.
Research: The Legal Fellow will conduct factual and legal research and writing, including analysing relevant political and legal issues in the situations (usually countries) in which we work or would consider working. By way of example, evaluation of a situation for engagement requires an assessment of both necessary conditions for work (such as whether the justice system abides by human rights norms) and program priorities (such as the likelihood of impact for victims through prosecution or other litigation).
Training and Capacity Building: The Legal Fellow will assist in planning and executing trainings and other capacity-building work with local partners, which may include creating or revising legal tools, reviewing evidence local justice actors have collected, and taking notes during confidential sessions with partners. The Legal Fellow will keep current with the most recent developments in the general field of international criminal law and relevant human rights law. The Legal Fellow will keep adequate files and complete reports at the request of the Co-Director.
Strategic Interventions: The Legal Fellow may work on a variety of initiatives related to PJIโs mission and work, including initiatives intended to advance the rights of victims and survivors of atrocity crimes and those intended to strengthen the international justice network.
Education and Outreach: The Legal Fellow may participate in education and outreach activities. Education and outreach activities may include drafting and reviewing program reports, participating in outreach efforts to advance public and local awareness of PJI and its mission, and attending meetings with major stakeholders such as UN and embassy officials. The Legal Fellow reviews program reports, as well as outreach and website materials regarding assigned situations and projects to ensure accuracy. The Legal Fellow may assist in the selection and supervision of legal interns.
Administrative Responsibilities: All PJI staff are responsible for fulfilling minimal administrative responsibilities such as providing emergency contact information, submitting time sheets, and providing receipts for reimbursement of work-related expenses.