Legal Internship – Office of the Registrar

Work Location: Arusha, United Republic of Tanzania
Expected Duration: 3–6 months
Potential Start Dates: Between 23 March and 15 June 2026

Organizational Setting and Reporting

The Office of the Registrar (OR) of the United Nations International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals (the Mechanism) invites applications for multiple full-time legal internships in its Arusha branch.

The Mechanism was established by the United Nations Security Council in 2010 to carry out essential functions of the former:

International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR), and
International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY),

following the completion of their mandates. In doing so, the Mechanism preserves the legacy of these pioneering international criminal tribunals and promotes best practices in international criminal justice.

The internship is based in the Office of the Registrar, Registry – Arusha Branch, under the direct supervision of the Internship Coordinator (Legal Officer). While interns will mainly work within the OR, they may also support other Registry sections and units, including:

Mechanism Archives Section
Judicial Records Unit
Witness Support and Protection Unit

The OR operates from both Arusha, Tanzania, and The Hague, The Netherlands, providing legal, policy, and diplomatic support to the Registrar and legal advisory services to Registry units.

Duties and Responsibilities

Under the supervision of the Internship Coordinator or another Legal Officer, interns will provide legal and administrative support, including but not limited to:

Conducting legal research in international law, criminal law, and administrative law.
Assisting with drafting and reviewing legal submissions, official correspondence, memoranda, talking points, and decisions.
Drafting summaries of recent court filings.
Undertaking routine research support tasks such as reference checking and compiling background materials.
Assisting with the appraisal of inactive records and their transfer to the Mechanism’s archives.
Performing any other duties as required.

Internship Conditions

The internship is full-time and unpaid.
Working hours:
- Monday–Thursday: 8:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.
- Friday: 8:30 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
Interns must indicate their preferred internship period in their cover letter.

Qualifications and Special Skills

At the time of application, candidates must meet one of the following criteria:

Be enrolled in or have completed the final academic year of a Bachelor’s degree in Law (or equivalent); or
Be enrolled in or have completed a graduate law degree (Master’s degree or higher).

Additional Requirements

No prior work experience is required.
Previous legal experience is desirable.
Applicants must be computer literate in standard software applications.
Academic training or skills should be relevant and beneficial to the work of the United Nations.

Languages

English: Fluency required
French: Working knowledge desirable

English and French are the working languages of the Mechanism.

How to Apply

All applications must be submitted online through the United Nations Inspira Portal.
Applications will not be accepted by email.

🌐 Apply via: https://careers.un.org/home?language=e
ℹ Internship programme details: https://www.irmct.org/en/recruitment/internship/internship-programme

Required Application Documents

Applicants must upload all of the following:

Cover letter (including preferred start and end dates)
Two letters of recommendation (academic or professional)
University/law transcripts or proof of enrolment (including courses and grades)
A writing sample (maximum 10 pages, preferably relevant to the Mechanism’s work)

⚠️ Incomplete applications will not be considered.
Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

Additional Information

Interns are responsible for all costs, including travel, visas, insurance, accommodation, and living expenses.
The United Nations assumes no responsibility for costs related to accidents or illness during the internship.
Successful candidates must secure adequate insurance coverage and sign an acceptance and undertaking form.
Interns must maintain strict confidentiality of all unpublished information and are bound by the same obligations as UN staff members.
There is no expectation of employment with the United Nations or the Mechanism upon completion of the internship.

Diversity and Inclusion

The United Nations is committed to diversity and inclusion and encourages applications regardless of gender identity, sexual orientation, race, religion, cultural or ethnic background, or disability. Reasonable accommodation may be provided upon request.

No Fee Statement

🚫 The United Nations does NOT charge any fee at any stage of the recruitment process (application, interview, processing, or training).
🚫 The United Nations does not request information on applicants’ bank accounts.

How to Apply:

To submit your application, please follow the link provided below.

CLICK HERE TO APPLY

To apply for this job please visit careers.un.org.

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