Position Title: Legal Intern
Start Date: September 2021
Location: Remote to start (with possibility to be based in New York thereafter)
Reports to: IJDH Senior Staff Attorneys

About Us
The Institute for Justice & Democracy in Haiti (IJDH) is a U.S.-based human rights non-profit organization that has successfully helped enforce recognition and accountability to human rights in Haiti since 2004. In partnership with its Haiti-based sister organization Bureau des Avocats Internationaux (BAI), IJDH advocates, litigates, builds constituencies, and nurtures networks to create systemic pathways to justice for marginalized communities.

Position Overview
IJDH is seeking 1-2 part-time legal interns passionate about justice and human rights. The Fall 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.

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;
  • Strong verbal and written skills in French and/or knowledge of Haitian Creole a strong asset; and
  • Available to work at minimum 20 hours per week (may be negotiable).

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

Application Procedure
Law students interested in the position of Fall Legal Intern should submit a cover letter, resume, law school transcript, short unedited writing sample (preferably from past work experience), 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 Fall 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.