Legal Intern at the Women's Initiatives for Gender Justice

The Women’s Initiatives for Gender Justice is seeking law or graduate students with a strong background in international law and strong legal research skills, and a good knowledge of the International Criminal Court (ICC), for Spring 2012 legal internships.

The internship requires fluency in written and spoken English; additional French language skills are strongly preferred.

The legal internship is full-time, however, for exceptional candidates based in the Netherlands, part-time internships may also be a possibility.

Legal interns will make an essential contribution to the work of the Legal Team. Tasks may include:

monitoring, summarising, and analysing filings, decisions, and proceedings of the ICC;
research projects on the work of the Court and issues of gender and international criminal law;
contributions to our events and program work;
English/French translations; and
some administrative work.

The legal internship will provide an excellent opportunity to gain in-depth knowledge about the work of the Women’s Initiatives for Gender Justice and the work of the ICC.

This is an unpaid internship based in our Hague office.
To Apply:

In order to apply for the Legal Intern position, please send the following information to info@iccwomen.org, with “application for Spring 2012 Legal Internship” in the subject line:

Curriculum vitae
Dates of availability. The Spring Legal Internship period is from mid-February through mid-May 2012.
Details of self-funding
One A4-page (about 500 words) explaining why you are interested in interning or volunteering with us. Please include in this letter your connection to gender and women’s rights issues as well as a description of your expertise and how that may be of benefit to us. Please include any other information you think might be of relevance to us, e.g., overseas experience, proficiency in languages other than English and French, experience in working for an NGO, etc.
Contact information for two references, including one employer; those selected for interviews will be asked to provide letters of reference.

Before sending your application, please review the information on our website (www.iccwomen.org) carefully.

The deadline for applications for spring internships is 15 January 2012. After 15 January, applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis for later internships.

Only short-listed individuals will be invited for an interview. No phone calls, please.

Chinese Government Scholarship Program

Application of China's government scholarship program for the upcoming 2012-2013 academic year has started.

Sponsored by China's Ministry of Education (MOE), the Government Scholarship Program provides full and partial scholarships to international students and scholars to study in China. Recipients will be studying or doing research in Chinese universities or research institutes in a variety of subjects, including medicine, agriculture, law, management, history, economics, etc.

Undergraduates, Master's and Doctoral candidates as well as scholars are all eligible. US applicants can send application forms to the Education Office of Chinese Embassy in Washington, DC, or Chinese Consulates General in other US cities.

The China Scholarship Council (CSC) under the MOE is responsible for recruiting candidates for the program. Those who are interested in applying can refer to www.csc.edu.cn/laihua to check application procedures. The deadline is April 30.

The program is initiated by MOE in accordance with educational exchange agreements and understanding between Chinese government, foreign governments and international organizations such as UNESCO, ASEAN and EU.

Hofstra Law Announces Program to Cuba

I am delighted to officially announce Hofstra Law's second new spring break abroad program.  The Cuba Field Study: Export Laws and Export Controls will take place from Saturday, March 31 to Saturday, April 7, 2012.  The one credit course will be taught by Professor Juli Campagna.  On the Cuba Field Study, students will learn about the Export Administration Act, the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA), and the amendments to IEEPA pursuant to the International Emergency Economic Powers Enhancement Act.  Students will learn the key licensing provisions and procedures of the Export Administration Regulations.  Another topic of the course is the Trading with the Enemy Act.  While the course cannot focus on this Act in depth over one week, the professor will look at the restrictions on travel to Cuba that come under it.  As many of you know, there are significant restrictions on travel to Cuba.  The U.S. government opened Cuba for educational travel last year, making this the first known student law program to enter the country. Students on the program must travel together down and back to Cuba on a U.S. government approved chartered flight.  Visit the website to learn more about all the things included in the program fee.

The Cuba Field Study program is open to second, third, and fourth year J.D. students as well as all LL.M. students.  No separate tuition will be charged for the program as it's included in the spring semester credit load.  A program fee is assessed to cover student's housing, food, flight to/from Havana, and more in Cuba.  The application deadline is Friday, January 27, 2012.

An information session is scheduled for Wednesday, January 11 at Noon in room 242.  Please plan to attend if you are interested in learning more about both of the spring break opportunities and ask questions of the professors teaching on them.  Visit the program webpages for more information.  A poster on the Cuba program is attached.  Students from all ABA law schools may participate in these programs.

Ecuador Field Study:  http://law.hofstra.edu/Ecuador 

Cuba Field Study:  http://law.hofstra.edu/Cuba 

I look forward to seeing many of you at the information session next week.

Associate at the O'Neill Institute for National and Global Health Law

O’Neill Institute Associate: Global Tobacco Control Initiative

The O’Neill Institute for National and Global Health Law is seeking an exceptionally qualified candidate to serve as an O’Neill Institute Associate. Housed at Georgetown University Law Center in Washington, DC., the O’Neill Institute is a leading research institute for health law. For more details about the Institute and its ongoing work please visitwww.oneillinstitute.org.

Institute Associates are based at the Law Center and report to the O’Neill Institute Director. Institute Associates work on legal research projects and policy-based initiatives. Duties include preparation of white papers, organization of research colloquia, expert meetings, coordination of interdisciplinary research teams, and grant writing. Institute Associate positions will be for one year with possible renewal based on project needs. Institute Associates will receive a competitive salary with outstanding benefits.

Candidates for this opening should have a J.D. degree (or the equivalent), preferably from a Latin American university. A Masters in Law - LL.M. degree - from a common law jurisdiction (e.g. U.S., Canada, Australia, U.K.) is highly recommended, but not required. Candidates should demonstrate exceptional academic credentials, including research interests in health law related areas such as public health law, global health law, domestic health care law, regulatory health law, and/or health and human rights. Although not required, background and interest in human rights law is desired. Additionally, candidates should demonstrate written and spoken fluency in both English and Spanish.

The Global Tobacco Control Initiative provides research on litigation as an approach for reducing tobacco use. The Institute Associate will, for example, draft shadow reports to be brought before the U.N. human rights monitoring bodies which will emphasize the relationship between strong tobacco control laws and fundamental rights, will work with partners and advocates in low-and middle-income countries to develop rights-based and constitutional arguments in support of tobacco control. Although we work in other regions, the Initiative is currently focused on Latin America and the position requires some travel throughout the region.

http://www.law.georgetown.edu/oneillinstitute/about/institute-associate.html, and should include: CV, cover letter, writing sample, professional references, official law school transcript, and other graduate school transcripts (if applicable). The application deadline is January 15, 2012, and the Institute would like whomever is hired to begin work immediately, ideally in early 2012. Any questions about the position should be directed to oneillinstitute@law.georgetown.edu

Internship at the Asian Pacific Refugee Rights Network

The APRRN Secretariat (based in Bangkok) is now looking for interns in 2012 for a period of 3-6 months. Responsibilities of the internship would include:

• Support APRRN Secretariat with external and internal communication: updating website, newsletters, managing social media, Google Groups, press releases and other publications
• Support APRRN Secretariat with writing funding proposals and reports
• Help to organize training and consultations on legal aid, immigration detention, refugee mental health, refugee law etc.
• Help to organize the 4th Asia Pacific Consultation on Refugee Rights in August 2012
• Research on assigned issues

Applicants should ideally have a background in social sciences, development studies, political science or law. Experience and knowledge on refugee issues in the Asia Pacific region will be an advantage. Please note that internships are unpaid.

Interested applicants should forward a motivation letter and CV to refugee.fa@gmail.com and mention "Internship application" in the subject line.

Internship at Sustainable Bolivia

Sustainable Bolivia is a non-profit public benefit umbrella organization with over 27 partners. The following is an internship opportunity available through our partner organization: The Instituto de Estudios Internacionales de Bolivia (IDEI).

Background: IDEI was founded in the 1980s by a group of Law and Social Science professionals at San Simon University who were participating in various socio-political and legal research projects. Their research and passion for international relations, law, and political science led to the development of the organization, which focuses its efforts on institutional issues.

Objectives: IDEI works with issues relating to international relations, law, and political science aiming to not only teach and conduct research, but also to interact, analyze, and provide legal assistance.

Who does IDEI help? IDEI works together with students, researchers, academics and other members of civil society who may be interested in various institutional themes.

Working conditions: The main office of IDEI is centrally located in Cochabamba and has a permanent staff of fifteen, who work closely with the La Paz office.

IDEI Programs: IDEI currently runs five projects, two of which are based in Cochabamba.

The Commission for Political Rights: The Commission for Political Rights works with both private and public institutions investigating politico-legal themes. Various topics include autonomy, legal pluralism, political constitution as well as socio-economic and cultural rights.

Volunteer/ internship opportunities include:

• Working with different municipalities around Cochabamba and assessing their legal positions
• Working on any of the IDEI publications
• Analyzing the new constitution
• Volunteers may have their own project in mind, fitting with the themes of IDEI, for which they will be given institutional support

The Commission for Bolivian Maritime Rights: This project works with both the Bolivian government and non-governmental institutions to address issues related to Bolivian maritime rights. The Commission aims to include articles pertaining to maritime rights in the constitution and it oversees their implementation.

Projects supported by the Commission include a permanent forum on Bolivian maritime issues, constant assessment of the international relations between Bolivia, Chile and Peru, and various research projects.

Volunteer/ internship opportunities include:

• Fundraise for various IDEI publications
• Work with other institutions (currently IDEI work with over 300) to maintain a constant forum/ create a network/ inform on new research
• Work together with CEE-Chile and IDL-Peru
• Interact with members of the forum through workshops
• Government Lobbying
• Volunteers may also develop their own project, to fit within the IDEI guidelines, for which they will be given institutional support

Volunteer/ Internship requirements:

• Intermediate Spanish
• Interest in the area of focus of IDEI
• Motivated, keen to learn, good interpersonal skills
• Two month minimum commitment period

If you are interested in this opportunity, please fill out an application on our website:

http://www.sustainablebolivia.org/volunteer_apply.html

From The Chronicle of Higher Education

January 6, 2012
Despite Dismal Job Market, Many Law Students Forgo Key Opportunities on Campus
By Libby Sander

Today's law graduates face a challenging job market and roiling global economy, but findings from a survey of more than 33,000 J.D. students suggest that they're not doing all they could to burnish their skills.

"Many law students still seem to think of law school as an educational hurdle to surmount rather than as preparation for professional life," Thomas D. Morgan, a professor at George Washington University Law School, wrote in a foreword to a report on the 2011 Law School Survey of Student Engagement, released on Friday by Indiana University at Bloomington's Center for Postsecondary Research. "The data suggest that students may not be taking full advantage of the opportunities law school affords them to prepare for the world they are about to enter."
That world is less eager for new lawyers, he said. And the current legal landscape is shaped by three powerful forces that recent graduates would be wise to heed: a competitive job market that rewards specialists, not generalists; a shift toward collaborative work, with fellow lawyers and other experts; and a global outlook that increasingly demands international contacts and at least some knowledge of foreign law.

Yet more than a quarter of respondents to the survey said they had never sought out a mentor—a professor or a practicing lawyer—who could discuss potential practice concentrations. Fewer than one-third said they worked frequently with other students on class projects, says the report, "Navigating Law School: Paths in Legal Education."

Responses on international contacts were "particularly troubling," Mr. Morgan noted.
As part of the most recent annual survey, researchers focused on a smaller group—7,500 American J.D. students at 22 law schools—to examine their awareness of international students pursuing graduate law degrees on their campuses. The Americans indicated that their interaction with the international students was very limited, in both social and academic settings. Less than 6 percent of the American respondents, for instance, reported interacting frequently with the international students in informal study activities. (The percentage of students reporting social interactions was higher.)

That limited contact is a missed opportunity for both groups, Mr. Morgan said.
The report's authors, meanwhile, recommended that law schools reconsider how they prepare students to work in a global economy. "If law schools want their students to learn in a more internationally diverse environment," the report states, "they must affirmatively structure the law-school experience to encourage interaction."

This year's survey also delved into alternative paths some law students take toward earning their degree: attending part time or transferring to a different school. Approximately 14 percent of respondents were part-time students; roughly 3 percent had begun their legal education at a different institution and transferred.

When it came to the amount of time spent studying and preparing for class, both groups reported experiences very similar to those of full-time law students who had attended only one school. In other areas, there were exceptions: Part-time students, for instance, were less likely than their full-time peers to take advantage of career-counseling services, and participated less frequently in experiential learning.