2011 Student Summer Internship Program

This year the CLA-ACE Student Summer Internship Program is again offering exciting opportunities for adventurous law students looking to kick-start their careers in international law. The Program is open to students from law schools with a CLA-ACE Student Chapter (Dalhousie, Queens, UBC, Calgary, Université de Montréal, University of New Brunswick, Ottawa, Victoria, Windsor, Osgoode, University of Alberta and Toronto).

Although internships are unpaid, in certain cases the host organization offers limited financial support to help defray expenses. Student Chapters are also encouraged to fundraise to support the student(s) from their school chosen for an internship. Students are encouraged to find out about and apply for bursaries/scholarships from their school to fund internships and to apply for academic credit from their universities for the internship experience or a related research project.

The deadline for applying for our 2011 Summer Internship Program has passed

Applications will be reviewed and the successful applicants will be contacted in mid-February 2011.

Acceptance Obligations:

• Once a student is offered and accepts an internship, the student is required to submit a non-refundable $200 fee to CLA-ACE to guarantee his/her position. This fee is used to help cover some of the administrative expenses related to the Summer Internship Program.
• Each intern is also encouraged to fundraise in order to help defray the costs associated with the internship and to raise awareness about the internship. This money is directly for the benefit of the intern and not CLA-ACE. (Please see the end of this page for fundraising ideas.)
• Each intern is required to provide proof of medical insurance (including medical evacuation) that will demonstrate coverage for the term of their internship.

Legal Services Board of Nunavut – Rankin Inlet, Nunavut

Position: Internship with the Keewatin Legal Services Centre and the Maliiganik Tukisiiniakvik Legal Services Centre, Legal Services Board (LSB) of Nunavut, Department of Justice.

There are two internship positions with the Legal Services Board of Nunavut.

Background: The Legal Services Board is the territorial organization that delivers legal aid in Nunavut. The LSB provides criminal, family, child welfare, and some civil/poverty legal services to Nunavummiut through three regional clinics.

Location: Rankin Inlet and Iqaluit, Nunavut

Job Descriptions:

Keewatin Legal Services Centre - The intern will be under the direction of the Executive Director, but may be required to assist program development with other staff members as well. The internship will focus largely on legislative review, policy development, some administrative law issues, and public legal education in various areas. The intern will be responsible for a final paper or research project.

Maliiganik Tukisiiniakvik Legal Services Centre – The intern will have the opportunity to assist Criminal Counsel at the Clinic by representing clients on summary matters and bail hearings in the Justice of the Peace Court. The intern may also assist the Family and Civil/Poverty Counsel in conducting research for all areas of service delivery and developing Public Legal Education programming.

Desired Skills:

• Advocacy skills
• Research skills
• Strong organizational skills
• Time management and ability to meet deadlines
• Communication skills
• Self-sufficient and motivated
• Problem solving skills and ability to work with limited resources
• Adaptable and open to change
• Experience working in a cross-cultural setting would be an asset

Period: May – August (with some flexibility on either end).

Please note that the Legal Services Board of Nunavut has confirmed the availability of a stipend to offset living and accommodation expenses incurred by interns throughout the summer.

Law Society of Nunavut – Iqaluit, Nunavut

Position: Internship with the Law Society of Nunavut. Established in 1999, the Law Society of Nunavut is a self-governing Society, which derives its authority from the Legal Profession Act of Nunavut.

Background: The Law Society is responsible for governing the legal profession in the public interest according to Nunavut law and the Law Society’s rules, regulations, guidelines and the Canadian Bar Association’s Code of Professional Conduct. It is the Law Society’s responsibility to ensure that the people of Nunavut are served by lawyers who meet high standards of competence, learning and professional conduct; and, to uphold the independence, integrity and honour of the legal profession. The Law Society believes that the public is well served by a legal profession that is independent, responsible, and responsive to the needs of the public it serves. As a coop-student, you will take part in the development of this governing body.

Location: Iqaluit, Nunavut

Job Description: The intern will be doing both individual research and writing as well as working collaboratively with the CEO of the Law Society. For example, the intern will be expected to conduct comparative research, internal policy drafting, and administrative duties assisting with the Law Society’s daily operations including the development of the Continuing Legal Education program, and improving/updating website content.

Desired Skills:

• Strong time-management and organizational skills
• Independent work ethic
• Excellent research and policy analysis skills
• Capacity to adapt to changing priorities
• Flexibility and a sense of adventure

Period: May – August (with some flexibility on either end).

Centre for Public Interest Law – Accra, Ghana

Position: Internship with CEPIL, a rights based non-governmental not-for-profit organization established in 1999. CEPIL’s mission statement is: to continually strive for justice and fairness especially for the poor and marginalised in society by working to improve democratic governance, rule of law and ensuring accountability of public and private actors through advocacy, litigation, social mobilisation and research.

There are two internship positions with CEPIL.

Background: CEPIL was founded in 1999. CEPIL grew out of discussions between Dr. Dominic Ayine (currently Executive Director of CEPIL) and Mr. Charles Abugre (then Executive Director of the Integrated Social Development Sector or ISODEC) about issues of public and private accountability in Ghana’s mining sector. These discussions led to broader thinking about the need to protect the rights of vulnerable mining communities. With assistance from ISODEC and the Third World Network, Dr. Ayine set about establishing CEPIL and engaging in research relating to human rights promotion and protection through public interest litigation. CEPIL now has a track record of public interest and human rights litigation, including test cases filed in Ghana national courts. CEPIL also researches and publishes information on public interest law issues, and creates various fora for debate on socio-legal issues.

Location: Accra, Ghana

Job Description: Interns will work as part of a team in one of the major project areas of the organization (projects currently active include the mining communities legal support and human rights programme, as well as the housing rights program). The CLA student will be working on housing rights in Ghana, and assist with the development of a handbook on these rights for use. CEPIL also conducts workshops on human rights from time to time, and students may participate in the design and implementation of these workshops.

Essential Skills:

• Extremely self-motivated
• Adaptable cross-culturally
• Professional demeanor (even in frustrating circumstances)
• Excellent oral and written skills
• Communication skills
• Open to new experiences
• Able to work well with others
• Excellent research skills

Desirable Skills:

• Interest and experience in public interest litigation
• Workshop experience

Period: mid-May-August (with flexibility on either end).

Women in Law and Development in Africa (WiLDAF) – Accra Ghana

Position: Internship with WiLDAF, a Pan-African non-governmental, non-profit organisation dedicated to bringing together organisations and individuals using a variety of tools, including law, to promote a culture for the exercise and respect for women’s rights in Africa. The office in Accra specializes in women’s legal rights, children’s rights and women and governance issues in Ghana.

Background: The network was established at a regional conference held in February 1990 in Harare, Zimbabwe whose theme was “Women, Law and Development: Networking for Empowerment in Africa.” WiLDAF was the product of a year-long process of organization and inquiry, involving NGOs and governmental projects devoted to empowering women and improving their status in Africa.

Location: Accra, Ghana

Job Description: Interns will work as part of a team to help fulfill the annual plan for 2011. Currently, WiLDAF is involved with a number of political governance activities, including workshops, public education, and analysis of political events from a gender perspective. The organization also requires help in more practical areas, including media/communications as well Internet and website skills as they are trying to improve their outreach.

Essential Skills:

• Extremely self-motivated
• Adaptable cross-culturally
• Professional demeanor (even in frustrating circumstances)
• Excellent oral, written and research skills
• Communication skills
• Open to new experiences
• Able to work well with others

Desirable Skills

• Communications experience (media work)
• Internet and website skills (uploading information to website, etc.)
• Fundraising skills
• Workshop experience

Period: mid-May-August (with flexibility on either end).

Beyond Borders – Winnipeg, Manitoba

Position: Internship with Beyond Borders, a national, bilingual, volunteer organization advancing the rights of children everywhere to be free from sexual abuse and exploitation. Beyond Borders is the Canadian representative of ECPAT International, a global network of more than 80 groups in 75 countries.

Location: Winnipeg, Manitoba

Background: In 1996, Canadian government delegates, as well as representatives from non-governmental organizations (NGO’s) were invited to participate in the first World Congress Against Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children in Stockholm, Sweden. Canada went into the conference believing that the biggest concern was Canadian offenders committing acts against foreign children. It became clear, however, that there were many Canadian children abroad who were victims of exploitation as well. These children were beyond borders—being abused and neglected by foreigners, family members, and the system that was created to protect them. Following the World Congress Against CSEC, two Canadians, Rosalind Prober and Mark Erik Hecht, created Beyond Borders to bring global justice to children everywhere. In 1999 Beyond Borders was granted affiliate status with ECPAT International.

Job Description: Beyond Borders is planning to launch a “Centre for Children’s Rights in Corporate Social Responsibility” in January 2011. The intern will assist in researching documentation and drafting memorandum and opinion papers on this subject for publication on its website. The intern will be working with the Senior Legal Counsel for Beyond Borders (and possibly another research associate) and will have the opportunity to work independently from any location in Canada. The intern must have regular and reliable access to the Internet and telephone. Further, the expectation is that the intern would be available to meet with their supervisor in Ottawa at minimum of twice (2) during the internship.

Desirable Skills:

• Strong research and writing skills
• Bilingualism is an asset

Period: May-August (with flexibility on either end).

Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA) – Nairobi, Kenya

Position: Internship with Kenya Office of the Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA).

Background: The Federation of Women Lawyers is a non-profit, non-partisan membership organization committed to the creation of a society that is free from all forms of discrimination against women. Membership to FIDA-Kenya is open to Kenyan women lawyers and women law students. The organization was started in 1985 after the third United Nations Conference on Women held in Nairobi. As the oldest women’s rights organization in Eastern Africa, it has carved a niche as a fearless defender of women’s rights at the international, national and local level.

At the local level, FIDA-Kenya is connected to the local woman through its aid clinics and community action groups that have empowered to grass ‘root’ women rights at the municipal levels. At the national level, FIDA-Kenya is connected with like-minded players with whom it shares practices and innovations. These include strategic institutions of government through which FIDA-Kenya exerts policy and practice influence. FIDA-Kenya has a long-term working relationship with parliament and the judiciary and in recognition of its contribution to women rights struggles, FIDA-Kenya sits in a number of strategic committees situated within the government. FIDA-Kenya uses these spaces to influence transformative change for indigent woman at national level. At the international level, FIDA-Kenya is recognized foremost as an African actor in the area of women empowerment. FIDA-Kenya enjoys special consultative status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) and observer status with the African Commission on Human and People’s Rights. FIDA-Kenya uses these international spaces to bring pressure to bear on the Kenya policy makers in favour of marginalized women. More information may be found on their website here.

Location: Nairobi, Kenya

Job Description: Interns will work as part of a team in one of the major programming areas of the organization. The intern will work within the Transformative Justice program, which focuses on constitutional and legislative law reform, engaging the Kenyan Parliament, and civic engagement within communities on women’s rights. The intern may also contribute to research required by the ACWHRP.

Essential Skills:

• Extremely self-motivated
• Adaptable cross-culturally
• Professional demeanor (even in frustrating circumstances)
• Excellent oral, written and research skills
• Communication skills
• Open to new experiences
• Able to work well with others

Desirable Skills:

• Knowledge of Kenyan law
• Workshop experience

Period: May – August (flexibility for a fourteen to sixteen week period, depending on intern availability).

Yukon River Inter-Tribal Watershed Council (YRITWC) – Alaska and Yukon

Position: Internship with the Yukon River Inter-Tribal Watershed Council.

There are two internship positions with YRITWC.

Background: The Yukon River Inter-Tribal Watershed Council (YRITWC) is an international organization with 501(c)(3) non-profit status in the United States and societal status in Canada. As a coalition of sovereign Tribal and First Nation governments, we were founded in 1997 by a group of 56 chiefs and elders who gathered to discuss their concerns about increased cancer rates and other health problems in human communities and game species within the Yukon River watershed. From this gathering and based on these concerns, the Watershed Council was formed to restore the River and to protect it from further contamination. The long-term vision of the organization is to be able to once again drink clean water directly from the Yukon River as our ancestors did for thousands of years before us.

Today, 70 Indigenous governments within the watershed are actively participating in the coalition through the signing and enactment of an Inter-Tribal Accord that governs the YRITWC and gives each signatory government a seat on our Board of Directors. Noting that the indigenous communities are all connected and have a common interest in protecting the watershed, the Accord commits the signatories to cooperate and consult with one another on all actions that could affect the environmental and cultural integrity of the region while respecting the inherent sovereignty of each individual Tribe and First Nation. The YRITWC maintains offices in Fairbanks and Anchorage, Alaska, USA, and Whitehorse, Yukon Territory, Canada, with a staff of fifteen.

Location: Anchorage, Alaska and Whitehorse, Yukon

Job Description: Each particular work plan will be finalized according to the skills and interests of the intern as well as those projects of interest to the YRITWC. Interns will have the opportunity to be engaged in legal research regarding land and water rights of First Nations and Tribes in the Yukon River Watershed. The intern will be asked to assist with relevant preparations leading up to the YRITWC Biennial Summit, which will be held in August 2011 in Ruby, AK. This gathering will bring together leadership from the entire Yukon River Watershed, as well as partnering organizations, governmental agencies, youth, and elders, and will be an excellent opportunity for exposure to international inter-Tribal collaboration and decision-making. During the internship, the possibility of assisting with advocacy efforts may arise and the development of organizational structure and promotional materials will also be welcome. Additionally, the intern may have the chance to work in the field within our Water Quality Monitoring and BackHaul Programs.

Desired Skills:

• Research skills
• Advocacy skills
• Interest and/or experience in environmental/water/sovereignty legal issues
• Interest and/or experience in northern aboriginal issues
• Can work independently as well as in a team
• Good communication skills

Period: May- August (with some flexibility on either end).

Please note that previous interns with the YRITWC have had success in receiving funding through Service Canada and the Yukon Law Foundation. Typically, the deadline for the Service Canada application is the end of February, so be sure to start your application early.

Asia Foundation – Sri Lanka

Position: The Asia Foundation is a non-profit, non-governmental organization committed to the development of a peaceful, prosperous, just, and open Asia-Pacific region. The Foundation supports Asian initiatives to improve governance, law, and civil society; women’s empowerment; economic reform and development; sustainable development and the environment; and international relations.

There are two internship positions with the Asia Foundation.

Location: Sri Lanka

Desired Skills:

• Good communication skills – both written and spoken
• Ability to work as a team member
• Planning, organizing & delivery of work to meet objectives

Period: May-August (with flexibility on either end).

ECPAT International – Bangkok, Thailand

Position: Internship with the Bangkok-based international secretariat of ECPAT, an international child rights organization that works to eliminate the commercial sexual exploitation of children. The ECPAT acronym stands for ‘ End Child Prostitution, Child Pornography and Trafficking of Children for Sexual Purposes’.

Background: ECPAT is a network of organisations and individuals working together to eliminate the commercial sexual exploitation of children. It seeks to encourage the world community to ensure that children everywhere enjoy their fundamental rights free from all forms of commercial sexual exploitation. ECPAT works with a specific focus on international legal instruments and national laws related to the commercial sexual exploitation of children, particularly child prostitution, child pornography, and child trafficking for sexual purposes.

Location: Bangkok, Thailand

Job Description: The focus of the intern’s work will be researching national legislation and procedures relating to ECPAT’s mandate. The intern will also be expected to assist the Programme Officer (Legal Programme) to support ECPAT initiatives. The intern will research and collect legislation defining and prohibiting the creation, possession, use, display, etc. of child pornography, on a country-by-country basis. Depending upon the time available, the intern may then research and collect legislation, on a country-by-country basis, defining and prohibiting child prostitution and related activities, such as the solicitation, legalization and decriminalization of prostitution, etc.

Essential Skills:

• Experience in working with human rights and social development issues specifically as these relate to the rights of children.
• Exposure to children’s rights or other social issues.

Desirable Skills:

• Ability to communicate effectively in major languages used by members of the ECPAT network e.g. Spanish and/or French.
• Experience in working with children.

Period: May – August (could be extended to December).

Please note that ECPAT has confirmed the availability of a stipend to offset living and accommodation expenses incurred by interns throughout the summer.

Canadian Lawyers Abroad – Avocats canadiens à l’étranger (CLA-ACE)

Position: CLA-ACE is a not-for-profit organization that is committed to serving the legal needs of developing countries by harnessing the experience and skills of Canadian lawyers and law students in the areas of good governance, the rule of law and human rights.

Background: CLA-ACE was incorporated as a not-for-profit in 2005 and has grown quickly as a young and vibrant Canadian organization. Our Student Program includes a Student Chapter program and a Summer Internship Program. To date, CLA-ACE has ten Student Chapters nation-wide that participate in a variety of educational activities consistent with the organization’s mandate. The Student Internship program also offers a number of different positions this summer to law students overseas (Thailand, Ghana, Kenya) and in Canada (Yukon and Ottawa/Toronto). CLA-ACE works on projects with its partners in develping countries and in Canada’s north.

Location: Ottawa (although possibility of working remotely)

Job Description: CLA-ACE seeks a summer intern to assist the staff in developing the 2011-2012 Student Chapter program and to do research related to specific projects. This will include developing next year’s theme, engaging in research, drafting materials on the theme, and interacting with the presidents of the Student Chapters. The intern will also help to coordinate the summer internship program, assist with the monitoring of the process and feedback stages. Other tasks may include legal research, grant writing, drafting of communications material, etc.

Desired Skills:

• Knowledge of the mandate and goals of the organization
• Communication skills
• Drafting skills
• Research skills
• Confidence
• Self-starter and creative thinker
• Entrepreneurial

Period: May-August (with flexibility on either end).

United Nations Development Programme (Justice Systems Program) – Timor-Leste

Position: Internship with the Justice Systems Programme (JSP) of the United Nations Development Program (UNDP). The JSP in Timor-Leste specializes in access to justice, legal development and human rights.

Background: UNDP’s work in Timor-Leste falls broadly into four programme areas; Democratic Governance, Poverty Reduction and the Achievement of the Millennium Development Goals, Environment and Sustainable Development and Crisis Prevention and Recovery. In partnership with the Government of Timor-Leste and in consultation with relevant stakeholders and development partners in 2008, UNDP Timor-Leste developed the Country Programme for 2009 – 2013. The Programme is contextualised against a shift in the nation’s priorities towards peace-building and long-term development along with the capacity development which is integral to achieving this. As such, it focuses on social reintegration and solidarity, economic development and good governance as the principal means for achieving lasting peace, stability and security in the country.

Location: Dili, Timor-Leste

Job Description: The intern will be responsible for individual research and writing, but will also be contributing to team-based research projects as well. For example, the intern may be asked to contribute to a large legal/field research project on domestic violence at the community level by analyzing customary practices as well as the role of various formal justice actors in impeding or improving women’s access to justice in such cases. Amongst other tasks, the intern may also be responsible for designing a training module for formal justice actors on the elements and content of traditional & restorative justice, to be administered through a legal training centre in Dili which vets members of the formal justice system.

Required Skills:

• Cultural awareness and openness
• Ability to work with members of other cultures
• Awareness/experience with legal pluralism and restorative justice
• Strong research, writing and speaking skills
• Patience
• Strong desire to gain experience

Desired Skills:

• Willingness to learn
• Good sense of humour
• Basic knowledge of civil legal systems
• Language abilities – Portuguese and/or Bahasa Indonesia

Period: May – August (with some flexibility on either end).

How can I fundraise?

There are a number of ways you can raise fundraise to cover the costs associated with the internship. Here are a few suggestions:

1. Investigate options at your law school (e.g., bursaries/scholarships, Dean’s fund, etc.). Make sure you apply by the deadline (this may require applying before you find out if you have been selected as a CLA-ACE intern).
2. Approach your local Rotary Club or similar organization.
3. Organize a fundraising evening and invite family and friends.
4. Solicit the help of your University CLA-ACE Student Chapter and have them help organize a fundraising event (e.g., a film night, book sale, bake sale, pub night, etc.).
5. Approach local businesses in your community.
6. Approach your local law firms for sponsorship.