PAID FELLOWSHIP
The International Court of Justice (ICJ), the principal judicial organ of the United Nations, has invited Washington University School of Law to nominate candidates for the Court’s 2019-2020 Judicial Fellows Program. The Program seeks to attract outstanding law students and recent graduates who “have demonstrated an outstanding interest and excellence in the field of public international law” to serve nine-month terms as judicial clerks at the Court. Judicial Fellows are selected through a highly competitive process in which participating law schools nominate candidates to the Court, and the Court makes the final selection of clerks from those nominations.
PROGRAM OVERVIEW:
The 2019-2020 Judicial Fellows Programme will run from 1 September 2019 through 30 June 2020. Fellows are assigned to work for one Judge for a duration of ten months and can expect to attend Court’s public hearings, to research and write memoranda to the Judge on legal questions or factual aspects of pending cases, and to have some other involvement in the work of the Court, the particulars of which will depend on the Court’s docket and the working methods of the particular Judge. The work may also involve assisting the Judge with conferences, speeches and other duties. The trainee will work alongside the P-2 Associate Legal Officer, who is the primary legal assistant of each Judge and is employed by the United Nations for a period of two to four years. For more information on the Court and the Program, visit: https://www.icj-cij.org/en/university-traineeship-program.
Washington University School of Law will provide a stipend, not to exceed $25,000 for a ten-month period, to cover living expenses in The Hague, medical insurance, and round trip economy air fare to the candidate selected to participate in the Program. While it is anticipated that the stipend will cover the costs of the program, the successful candidate will be responsible for any associated expenses. Practical arrangements such as travel, visa, accommodations, medical and other insurance are the responsibility of the candidate.
ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA:
Eligible candidates must be third-year JD or LLM students who will complete their degrees in May 2019 or recent graduates of Washington University School of Law. Applicants must have a thorough command of either English or French, as well as a very good working knowledge of the other language. They must have an excellent academic record, with proven strong research and writing skills, as well as a demonstrated interest in public international law. U.S. citizens, non-U.S. citizens, and dual nationals are eligible to apply.
APPLICATION PROCESS:
Interested applicants should submit the following:
- A letter of application/cover letter addressed to the ICJ. The letter should include a statement of interest and highlight the applicant’s relevant experience and credentials for the Program;
- A curriculum vitae that includes the applicant’s age, nationality and level of proficiency in English and French;
- A current law school transcript (unofficial transcript is acceptable, although an official transcript will be required if selected);
- A writing sample (not to exceed 15 pages). Applicants are strongly encouraged to submit writing samples that have been submitted for publication (yet are still exclusively the candidate’s own work) or are of publishable quality, preferably on a topic in public international law; and
- At least two letters of recommendation (preferred) or the names of two individuals who could write letters of reference attesting to the applicant’s credentials in the field of international law.
The candidate selected for nomination, if any, will be notified by mid-January 2019 and will be required to communicate his/her acceptance or rejection within two days of notification. The selected candidate will be required to complete an ICJ University Trainee Application Form, provide an official current law school transcript, and at least two reference letters attesting to the candidate’s credentials in the field of international law. It is anticipated that the Court will announce its final selection decision in March/April 2019.
DEADLINE AND SUBMISSION INFORMATION:
Please direct questions to Madaline George, Harris Institute Fellow at the Whitney R. Harris World Law Institute by email at madalinegeorge@wustl.edu.
Complete electronic applications must be submitted by Friday, 11 January 2019 to Bethel Mandefro at bmandefro@wustl.edu. Please include “ICJ Judicial Fellows Program” in the subject line. Paper applications may also be submitted in person at the Harris Institute office in Seigle Hall, Room 108B.