Internships at the HCCH Permanent Bureau
(Head Office, The Hague)
The application period for legal internships at the Permanent Bureau in The Hague has now closed. The application period for legal internships starting from January 2025 will open in due course.
Application Requirements
Prospective applicants should complete an online application form (the link will be provided in due course) and submit the following supporting documentation:
- a letter of motivation (one page maximum)
- a curriculum vitae (CV)
- a transcript of academic records or statement of academic results
- an academic writing sample (an excerpt of any of your essays or papers, in English, French, or Spanish)
- at least one letter of recommendation
Please note however that, as the application period is now closed, applications currently received will not be considered.
Additional information on application requirements will be circulated when the application period opens.
Important Information about the Internship
Purpose
The Permanent Bureau of the HCCH seeks legal interns to assist HCCH staff members in the discharge of their duties and in their day-to-day work. It is also an excellent opportunity for students who, in the context of their degree studies or their doctoral research, wish to gain practical educational work experience, to deepen their knowledge of private international law, and to understand how the HCCH functions.
Duration of Internships
The duration of an HCCH internship is generally three to six months. Only applications for full-time internships (five days per week) will be considered. Please note that the Permanent Bureau may give priority to longer internships.
Eligibility criteria
The HCCH Internship Programme is open to those currently studying law at the Bachelor, Masters, J.D, and PhD. level and to those who have already been awarded a law degree or Masters.
Language requirements
The intern should be fluent in English, French or Spanish. Knowledge of the other two languages is an asset. Knowledge of any other languages may also be an advantage.
Duties of the intern
Interns are, among other tasks, required to:
- carry out research on particular points of private international law and/or comparative law, relevant to the operation of existing HCCH Conventions or to the future work of the HCCH;
- take part in the preparation of HCCH meetings (e.g., Council on General Affairs and Policy, Working/Experts' Groups, Special Commissions, Diplomatic Sessions);
- contribute to the promotion of the HCCH and its work, assisting with the preparation of presentations and collection of other information according to the needs of the staff of the Permanent Bureau.
In keeping with the role of the Permanent Bureau as the HCCH secretariat, applicants should bear in mind that the nature of the work assigned will generally be a combination of both legal and administrative work.
Remuneration
Internships offered by the Permanent Bureau are not remunerated. Successful applicants are responsible for their travel costs and expenses for the duration of the internship.
Successful applicants are encouraged to consider funding opportunities from their university or from other public and private organisations (e.g., scholarships, grants from research foundations, etc.).
Accommodation
The Permanent Bureau is not able to provide accommodation for interns, but successful applicants will be provided with a document from the Permanent Bureau with useful tips for finding accommodation in The Hague. Please note that successful applicants will be required, upon arrival, to provide an address for the purposes of registration with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Insurance
Interns must be covered by adequate insurance for the duration of the internship and will be asked to provide proof of this upon arrival at the Permanent Bureau. The chosen insurance policy must, at minimum, cover medical and hospital expenses, as well as the cost of repatriation to the country of residence and third party liability.
Internship Policy and Confidentiality
Interns are bound by the HCCH Internship Policy, a copy of which will be made available to them prior to the commencement of the internship. Successful applicants will also be required to sign a confidentiality agreement.
Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific
As part of the application process, applicants may also ask to be considered for an internship at the HCCH Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific (ROAP), based in Hong Kong SAR. Please note, this is facilitated separately from internships in The Hague.
Work at ROAP may include assisting in the preparation of meetings, conferences, and seminars/webinars; assisting in the preparation of presentations; participating in the production of Newsletters; contributing to the promotion of the HCCH in the Asia and Pacific region; and conducting research on the application of private international law in the Asia and Pacific region, specifically in relation to the HCCH Conventions.
Applicants can undertake internships for any period between three weeks and six months, either in-person or online. Applicants must be able to work in English. There is no financial support available at this time and applicants will be responsible for covering all expenses related to the internship.
For additional information about ROAP internships, please contact lga@hcch.net.
FAQ
An FAQ section providing answers to frequently asked questions related to the HCCH Internship Programme is available here.
For additional information about the HCCH internship programme, please contact: internships@hcch.net
For Communications and Outreach Internships click here for more information.