Faculty of Law
University of Calgary
International
The following resources will assist students seeking summer or longer term internships as well as other international opportunities. Selected links will provide legal-related internships and others will be non-law specific but will offer opportunities to those building up their international resume.
So...You Want To Be An International Lawyer?
CANADEM Internship Program
As a part of the Youth Employment Strategy, through the Young Professionals International program, financed by Foreign Affairs Canada and through the International Youth Internship Program, financed by the Canadian International Development Agency, CANADEM sponsors a number of Junior Professional Consultants to work with various agencies of the United Nations and other international organizations, in particular the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe and the International Organization for Migration.
Canadian Crossroads International (CCI)
Canadian Crossroads International (CCI) is an international development organization that is reducing poverty, mitigating the impact of HIV and AIDS and increasing women's rights around the world. Working with local partners in 28 projects, in eight countries and supported by hundreds of volunteers each year, Crossroads leverages expertise and resources, North and South, required to help people overcome poverty and assert their human rights.
CCI is currently working in Bolivia, Ghana, Mali, Niger, Senegal, Swaziland, Togo and Zimbabwe.
Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA)
http://w3.acdi-cida.gc.ca/index.htm
The International Youth Internship Program (IYIP) is an employment program for young Canadians between the ages of 19-30. There are also other avenues to work through CIDA such as working as a volunteer with the United Nations or working as a Junior Professional Officer on contract with the United Nations.
Canadian Lawyers Abroad (CLA-ACE)- Student Summer Internship Program
http://www.cla-ace.ca/internship.html
Every year CLA-ACE offers a number of passionate and talented law students the opportunity to spend their summer working at NGOs overseas and in Canada on important and, in many cases, groundbreaking legal issues.
The University of Calgary Faculty of Law now has its own chapter of Canadian Lawyers Abroad. Those interested in joining should ontact the Career Services Office for the contact information of the current President of this chapter.
CAUSE Canada
http://www.cause.ca/
Founded in 1984, CAUSE Canada is an international Relief and Development Organization which strives to empower communities and individuals in disadvantaged regions to overcome poverty and improve quality of life. International summer positions are offered annually.
Department of Justice Canada
http://www.canada.justice.gc.ca/
The Legal Excellence Program provides articling students and junior lawyers with the opportunity to develop the essential knowledge, skills and experience for practicing law.
Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade (International)
http://www.international.gc.ca/jobs-emplois/index.aspx?menu_id=22&menu=L
The mandate of the Department is to ensure that Canada's foreign policy reflects true Canadian values and advances Canada's national interests, which takes the form of working with a range of partners inside and outside government to achieve increased economic opportunity and enhanced security for Canada and for Canadians at home and abroad. Career-related employment is available. Note that working for DFAIT requires the successful completion of an exam, which is generally written in early October of your graduating year.
Export Development Canada
http://www.edc.ca/english/HRRecruitment_StudentRecruitment.htm?expandable=4
- Student Program Recruitment
Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada
Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada supports Canadians abroad; helps Canadian companies succeed in global markets; promotes Canada's culture and values; and works to build a more peaceful and secure world. The Department works to build a more peaceful and secure world by a range of initiatives, including collective security and defence arrangements, a human security program and conflict prevention, human rights promotion and peacebuilding activities.
The Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada also helps promoting Canada's culture and values by the implementation of many programs respecting Canada's foreign policy. For instance, there is the Global Partnership Against the Spread of Weapons and Materials of Mass Destruction Program. Many programs also promote Canadian values through youth programs, Canadian studies, scholarships and business development.
Greenpeace
http://www.greenpeace.org/international
Greenpeace has offices in 34 countries and is an independent global campaigning organization that acts to change attitudes and behavior, to protect and conserve the environment and to promote peace. Internships are available annually.
International Centre for Transitional Justice
The International Centre for Transitional Justice (ICTJ) assists countries pursuing accountability for past mass atrocity or human rights abuse. The Centre works in societies emerging from repressive rule or armed conflict, as well as in established democracies where historical injustices or systemic abuse remain unresolved. Internships may be available.
International Court of Justice Internships:
International Criminal Court
http://www.icc-cpi.int/Menus/ICC/Recruitment/
The International Criminal Court (ICC), governed by the Rome Statute, is the first permanent, treaty based, international criminal court established to help end impunity for the perpetrators of the most serious crimes of concern to the international community. Internships and career-related employment is available.
Internship Program at the Washington Centre
http://www.ucalgary.ca/uci/abroad/funding and
http://www.twc.edu/internships
Judge Advocate General (JAG)
http://www.cda.forces.gc.ca/cfmlc-cdmfc/index-eng.asp
The Office of the JAG comprises 114 regular force legal officer positions and 64 reserve force legal officer positions. The regular force legal officers are employed throughout the Canadian Forces, in Canada and abroad. As members of the Canadian Forces, their lawyers deploy overseas with Canadian contingents to provide legal advice to commanders on international and domestic law. They deploy across Canada as part of the Canadian Forces domestic operations to provide legal advice. They also provide advice on operational legal issues at every level of headquarter and represent the interests of the Department of National Defense and the Canadian Forces as members of Canadian delegations negotiating international treaties. They provide general legal advice and services to all levels of command at bases and headquarters across Canada and overseas.
Junior Professional Officer Service Centre (UN)
The Junior Professional Officer (JPO) Programme provides young professionals pursuing a career in development with hands-on experience in multi-lateral technical co-operation. Internships are available annually.
PSLawNet
This site has useful International Resources section including:
- Finding and Funding International Public Interest Opportunities
- Finding Employment Opportunities with International Governmental Organizations (IGOs) and Nongovernmental Organizations (NGOs)
- Tips for Students Seeking International Internships
- Postgraduate International Fellowships Guide
- Yale Law School Guide to International Public Interest Careers
UN Jobs
http://www.unjobs.org/
UN Jobs is a website managed by a non-governmental organization based in Geneva to assist professionals in finding jobs within the United Nations system. Ongoing career positions are offered.
University of Calgary Centre for International Students and Study Abroad
http://www.ucalgary.ca/uci/abroad/work
Voluntary Services Overseas (VSO)
VSO Canada is one of the leading independent, international development organizations working through volunteers to fight poverty in developing countries. International internship positions are available.
World University Service of Canada (WUSC)
http://www.wusc.ca/en/volunteer/swb/swb_placements
WUSC offers Canadian post-secondary students and faculty several unique overseas volunteer opportunities. These opportunities include everything from highly expert positions to internship experiences for recent graduates. The range of opportunities has been further enhanced as a result of WUSC's role as an implementing agency in Canada for the United Nations Volunteer Program, which provides students to volunteer in countries such Afghanistan, Solomon Islands, Haiti, Jordan, etc.
Hard Copy Resources Available to Lend to Law Students through the Career Services Office:
- International Law Career Guide, 5th Edition, 2008, McGill University and Universite de Montreal
- University of Toronto, Faculty of Law International Career Guide, Fall 2007
- The Big Guide to Living and Working Overseas, Fourth Edition, Jean-Marc Hachey
Resources
Online Resources
The following resources will assist students seeking summer or longer term internships, as well as other international opportunities.
Student Internship Checklist
Internship Opportunities & Funding Document, University of Calgary, Faculty of Law
Canadian Lawyer Abroad - So...You Want To Be An International Lawyer?
Canadian Lawyer Abroad Presentation Deliverd at the Public Interest Career Forum, October 2010