Org. Setting and Reporting

This position is located in the Office of the Prosecutor (OTP) for the International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals (IRMCT) and under the supervision and direction of legal officers in the Appeals/IO/IRMCT Core Division – The Hague Branch. Interns will be assigned to one of these sections within the OTP, but may also be assigned work from other sections, depending on the needs of the Office.

The United Nations established the Mechanism to carry out essential functions of the UN ad hoc tribunals following their closure: the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) and the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR). These functions include completing pending appeals and a retrial, post-conviction proceedings, enforcement of sentences, assistance to national authorities, and capacity-building activities. The OTP has branches in The Hague, Netherlands and Arusha, Tanzania.

A Mechanism OTP internship is UNPAID and full-time. Core working hours for interns are Monday to Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Overtime may be required to meet deadlines for specific projects. Interns work under the supervision of a staff member in the office to which they are assigned. The duration of a Mechanism OTP internship can range from a minimum of three months to a maximum of six months, according to the needs of the intern's assigned office. Selections will be made on a rolling basis.

Responsibilities

In the Appeals Division, legal interns assist OTP appeals counsel in conducting legal and factual research and drafting memoranda on issues of international humanitarian law and international and comparative criminal law and procedure, finalizing appellate filings, and preparing for hearings before the Appeals Chamber. In the Immediate Office of the Prosecutor, interns will have the opportunity to work closely with OTP management, including the Prosecutor. Interns assist with a broad range of projects, including by: providing support on legal issues for the Trial and Appeals Sections and on case-related matters of cross-cutting significance to the OTP; drafting speeches, reports and other materials for the Prosecutor; developing educational materials; and conducting research for legacy projects. Interns may also perform routine tasks such as cite checking and compiling and collating materials. Being bilingual in English and French is considered an asset.

Competencies

？ Professionalism – Knowledge, experience and/or training in international criminal law, international humanitarian law, human rights law and/or public international law. Shows pride in work and in achievements; demonstrates professional competence and mastery of subject matter; is conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines and achieving results; is motivated by professional rather than personal concerns; shows persistence when faced with difficult problems or challenges; remains calm in stressful situations.

？ Communication – Speaks and writes clearly and effectively; listens to others, correctly interprets message from others and responds appropriately; asks questions to clarify, and exhibits interest in having two way communication; tailors language, tone, style and format to match the audience; demonstrates openness in sharing information and keeping people informed

？ Teamwork – works collaboratively with colleagues to achieve organisational goals; solicits input by genuinely valuing others’ ideas and expertise; is willing to learn from others; places team agenda before personal agenda; supports and acts in accordance with final group decision, even when such decision may not entirely reflect own position; shares credit for team accomplishments and accepts joint responsibility for team shortcomings.

Education

Candidates for legal internships in the OTP are required to be, at a minimum, in their final year of university legal studies. If the candidate has already completed a four-year undergraduate university degree before commencing graduate legal studies, he or she must have completed at least one year of graduate legal studies by the time the internship commences. It is particularly useful for interns to have legal training or experience in international criminal or humanitarian law. Applicants must be computer literate in standard software applications.

Work Experience

Applicants are not required to have professional work experience for participation in the programme. Applicants must be at least 18 years old. Previous legal experience is an asset.

Languages

English and French are the working languages of the Tribunal. Fluency in oral and written English is required. Candidates with knowledge of French are encouraged to apply. Knowledge of other languages, particularly Bosnian/Croatian/Serbian, is an asset.

Assessment

Short-listed candidates may be contacted by the hiring team directly if further information is needed during the review of their application. Due to the high volume of applications received, candidates who have not been short-listed will not be contacted.

Special Notice

A complete online application including ALL of the documents listed below is required. The relevant forms and instructions are found at http://www.irmct.org/en/recruitment/internship-programme. Incomplete applications will not be reviewed.

Applicants must attach ALL of the following documents to each UN Careers portal application submitted via https:careers.un.org:

1. Completed Intern Acceptance and Undertaking

2. Completed Internship preference and availability forms

3. Two (2) letters of recommendation

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

5. A photocopy of valid medical insurance OR a signed statement confirming your intent to obtain medical insurance while you are in the Netherlands.

6. A sample of your written work preferably in a field relevant to the work of the Tribunal and not longer than ten pages.

Please note that documents may only be in English or French.

As Inspira is not customized to accept IRMCT internship applications, the Careers Portal does not refer specifically to the attachments that are required to apply for An IRMCT internship. To attach the required documents listed above, follow the steps in the IRMCT Internship Applicant's Manual.

Interns must keep confidential any and all unpublished information obtained during the course of the internship and not publish any reports or papers based on such information except with the explicit written authorization of the Chief of Human Resources of the Tribunal. Interns are bound by the same duties and obligations as staff members, and the information to which an intern has access in the course of the internship must not be divulged to external parties. Each prospective intern must sign the Acceptance and Undertaking Form to indicate their understanding and acceptance of this stipulation. This form must be included in every application.

There should be no expectation of employment by the United Nations or the IRMCT upon completion of the internship.

IRMCT interns are responsible for all internship-related expenses that they incur. The United Nations accepts no responsibility for costs arising from accidents and/or illness incurred during an internship. Therefore, upon award of an internship, interns are responsible for securing adequate insurance coverage and are required to sign and return a statement confirming their understanding and acceptance of these conditions of service.

Candidates of certain nationalities must obtain a visa authorizing their stay in The Netherlands before they depart for The Hague to begin their internship. While this is the overall responsibility of the selected candidate, the Registry will provide information and supporting documents in this regard.