The American Bar Association (ABA) Center for Human Rights is the ABA’s focal entity for critical human rights concerns in the United States and around the world. The Center mobilizes lawyers to defend threatened advocates, protect vulnerable communities, and hold governments accountable under law.
The Center is seeking experienced legal interns or externs to work closely with our legal advisors, human rights groups, and pro bono attorneys to provide legal assistance to human rights defenders who are the subject of harassment in retaliation for their advocacy efforts. The intern/extern will gain invaluable insight into international human rights law and advocacy.
Depending on the needs of the Center at the time and the interest and experience of the intern/extern, the student may be assigned to any of the following projects and teams. Please indicate your regional and/or project preference in your cover letter.
• Justice Defenders Program: Mobilizing the global legal community to support human rights defenders around the world who face retaliation for their work. Intern/extern would be assigned to one of the following regional teams (Southwest Asia and North Africa, and Sub-Saharan Africa) or to our labor rights portfolio.
• TrialWatch Program: Monitoring criminal trials in cases in which there appears to be a significant risk of fair trial violations, with a focus on trials brought against journalists, political opposition members, human rights defenders, and members of marginalized communities. Intern/extern would support the Legal Advisor of the Program.
This may be a fully remote, virtual internship or a hybrid/in-person opportunity, depending upon ABA policy at the start of the internship regarding in-person work, the intern’s location, and the intern’s comfort level with in-person work. This is an unpaid opportunity. The Center can support externship requirements for applicants seeking school credit.
The intern/extern is expected to begin in January 2024 for a 12 week internship period. Intern/extern is expected to commit a minimum of 10 and a maximum of 20 hours per week to this part-time opportunity.
Eligibility Criteria
- Currently enrolled in a post-secondary academic institution (i.e., undergraduate, graduate) and enrolled in a program/area of study directly related to the purpose of the internship program.
- A recent (i.e., up to one (1) year) graduate of a post-secondary academic institution (i.e., undergraduate, graduate) with a degree in a program/area of study directly related to the purpose of the internship program.
Desired Program/Area of Study
- Currently enrolled in a JD or LLM program at an U.S.-based institution or a recent (less than one year) graduate of a JD or LLM at an U.S.-based institution.
Additional Desired Qualifications:
• Excellent oral and written communication skills in a second language is preferred. Knowledge of Arabic, French, Spanish, or Serbian is a plus.
• Demonstrated commitment to public interest and knowledge of international law.
• Prior experience working on issues of human rights and/or human rights defenders in one or more of our five region and/or thematic programs.
How to apply
Please submit CV and cover letter to https://us232.dayforcehcm.com/CandidatePortal/en-US/aba/Posting/View/4876