Legal Intern, Office of the Registrar at United Nations (UN)

The Office of the Registrar ("OR") of the United Nations International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals ("Mechanism") invites applications for legal internships starting 15 February 2025 to 15 August 2025 in Arusha, United Republic of Tanzania. The above job opening will be valid for fifteen days.

The Mechanism was established by the Security Council of the United Nations in 2010 to carry out a number of essential functions of the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda ("ICTR") and the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia ("ICTY"), after the completion of their respective mandates. In carrying out its ad hoc and continuous functions, the Mechanism maintains the legacies of these two pioneering international criminal tribunals and strives to reflect best practices in the field of international criminal justice.

The Registry, operating from both branches of the Mechanism, located in The Hague, The Netherlands, and in Arusha, the United Republic of Tanzania, provides administrative, legal, policy and diplomatic support services. The Registry's main duties include the provision of administrative services to the Mechanism, including court support services for Chambers, the Office of the Prosecutor and the Defence; managing the United Nations Detention Unit in the Hague Branch of the Mechanism; the supervision of the enforcement of sentences; monitoring of cases referred to national courts; preservation of and access to ICTR, ICTY and Mechanism archives; the protection of victims and witnesses; and assistance to national jurisdictions.

Under the supervision of Senior Legal Officer and legal officers in the OR, Arusha branch, interns provide legal and administrative support with respect to a range of functions, including conducting research in the field of international, criminal, and administrative law; assisting with drafting and reviewing legal submissions, official correspondence, memoranda, talking points and decisions; drafting summaries of recent court filings; and routine tasks such as reference checking and compiling materials. Interns may carry out any other duties as required.

Working Hours:

• Monday to Thursday: 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
• Friday: 8:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
• Overtime may be required to meet deadlines for specific projects

Qualifications/Special Skills: Candidates must at the time of application meet one of the following requirements:

• Law students who are enrolled in, or have completed, the final academic year of their first university degree programme (minimum bachelor's level or equivalent)
• Law students enrolled in, or have completed, a graduate school programme (Master Degree) or equivalent, or higher
• No working experience is required to apply for the United Nations Internship Programme
• Computer literate in standard software applications
• Previous legal experience is desirable

Languages: English and French are the working languages of the Mechanism. Fluency in English is required. Working knowledge of French is desirable.

Additional Information: ALL of the documents listed below are required. Incomplete applications will not be reviewed. Due to the number of applications, only short-listed candidates will be contacted. Interested applicants must attach ALL of the following documents to the email [email protected]:

1. A cover letter, including an available start and end date for the internship
2. Two letters of recommendation preferably from academic or professional referees
3. Copies of university/law studies transcripts, or enrolment (including courses taken and grades received)
4. A writing sample preferably in a field relevant to the work of the Mechanism and not longer than ten pages

Please note internships are unpaid. Mechanism interns are responsible for all internship-related expenses that they incur. Interns must therefore be able to cover their costs of travel, insurance, accommodation, as well as living expenses during the internship period. 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.

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 Mechanism. 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.

Intern Specific Text: 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.