Internship Opportunity for Law Students at Office of the Prosecutor of the International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals, Hague (Netherland). Apply by 2nd December 2025!

About Office of the Prosecutor, International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals, Hague:

The International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals (“Mechanism”) was established by the United Nations Security Council on 22nd December 2010 as a small, temporary, and efficient structure to carry forward essential functions of the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR) and the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY). Beginning operations in Arusha, Tanzania on 1 July 2012 and in The Hague, Netherlands on 1 July 2013, the Mechanism inherited responsibilities from the ICTR and ICTY, ensuring continuity of their mandates. Initially functioning in parallel with the two tribunals, it became a stand-alone institution after their closures in 2015 and 2017, respectively, maintaining their legacies and striving to uphold best practices in international criminal justice.

About Internship Opportunity:

The Internship Programme of the International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals offers professionals, graduate students, and advanced undergraduates a unique opportunity to gain hands‑on experience within one of its two branches in Arusha or The Hague. Interns join a diverse, multicultural environment where colleagues from around the world work together to advance justice and accountability for genocide, crimes against humanity, and war crimes. This programme allows participants to look behind the scenes of a renowned international institution, contribute directly to its historic mandate, and develop skills essential for future careers. Many staff members began as interns, and alumni of the programme now work across international organizations and national institutions, reflecting the Mechanism’s strong legacy of training the next generation of practitioners in international criminal justice.

Work Location:

The Hague, The Netherlands

Expected duration:

Three to six months from 01 February 2026.

Duties and Responsibilities:

The internship offers practical experience in international criminal law, combining advisory, litigation, and institutional support roles.
The Office of the Prosecutor of the Mechanism is divided into three teams: Core, Appeals/Legal Advisory, and Category II.
The Core Team advises on Mechanism functions such as war crimes prosecutions, policy development, enforcement of sentences, early release requests, witness protection, and post-conviction litigation.
The Appeals/Legal Advisory Team provides expertise on international humanitarian and comparative criminal law, assists national jurisdictions, and supports capacity-building initiatives.
The Category II Team focuses on assisting national war crimes investigators and prosecutors in the former Yugoslavia.
Interns may be assigned across all three teams, gaining exposure to diverse areas of international criminal justice.
Typical intern duties include legal research, factual analysis, drafting assistance, cite-checking, and compiling case materials.
Interns contribute to both litigation and policy functions, supporting national authorities and the Mechanism’s judicial work.

LINK TO APPLY

Qualifications/ Special skills:

Candidates for legal internships in the Office of the Prosecutor must at the time of application meet one of the following requirements:

(a) be enrolled in, or have completed, the final academic year of a law university-degree programme (minimum bachelor’s level or equivalent)
(b) law students enrolled in, or have completed, a graduate-school programme (second university degree (Master’s Degree) or equivalent, or higher)
Previous legal experience is desirable.
Applicants must be computer literate in standard software applications.
Applicants’ ability to prepare and draft legal documents and conduct legal research is desirable. Good drafting and oral communication skills as well as experience in dealing with sensitive or confidential information are required.

Language Proficiency:

English and French are the working languages of the Mechanism. Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of other languages, particularly French or Bosnian/Croatian/Serbian, is desirable.

Additional Information:

Applicants are strictly required to attach the following documents to their Inspira application:

1. Two (2) letters of recommendation;

2. Copies of university/law studies transcripts (including courses taken and grades received);

3. A sample of your written work preferably in a field relevant to the work of the Mechanism and no more than ten (10) pages long.

4. Preference & Availability form. Please note that documents may only be in English or French. Applications without the required or complete documentation will not be considered.

INTERNSHIP GUIDELINES

Important Note:

Interns are not financially remunerated by the United Nations. Costs and arrangements for travel, visas, accommodation and living expenses are the responsibility of interns or their sponsoring institutions. Interns who are not citizens or permanent residents of the country where the internship is undertaken, may be required to obtain the appropriate visa and work/employment authorization. Successful candidates should discuss their specific visa requirements before accepting the internship offer.

No Fee:

THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW MEETING, PROCESSING, OR TRAINING). THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON APPLICANTS’ BANK ACCOUNTS.

For More Information:

CLICK HERE

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