News

Call for applications: 2018 International Clerkships Program

Published: 25 October 2017

McGill’s Centre for Human Rights and Legal Pluralism (CHRLP) is currently accepting applications for:

  • a twelve-month clerkship at the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA);
  • a ten-month clerkship at the International Court of Justice (ICJ);
  • a nine-month clerkship at the Inter-American Court of Human Rights (IACHR)

All three clerkships are due to start in September 2018.

Deadline: January 15, 2018 5:00 PM EST

Clerks at each court are assigned to assist one or more judges or staff of the Courts with tasks such as drafting legal and administrative documents, preparing case files, and researching legal issues.

Eligibility

Current McGill BCL/LLB, LLM or DCL students graduating in June 2018, and recent McGill graduates from Fall 2015 onwards may apply for these positions.

IACHR: Applicants to the Inter-American Court of Human Rights must be able to demonstrate proficiency in Spanish, with a particular emphasis on legal research and writing skills.

Criteria

The Centre, on behalf of the Faculty of Law, will select a shortlist of candidates to submit to each court for final selection.

Candidates will be selected on the basis of:

  • demonstrated writing and research skills;
  • training in and familiarity with international law and relevant courses pertaining to the court they are applying to;
  • an excellent academic record; and
  • proficiency in the Court’s official languages:
    • French and English for the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) and the International Court of Justice (ICJ); and
    • French, English and Spanish for the Inter-American Court of Human Rights (IACHR).

Application Process

Candidates should apply to a specific clerkship. Should they wish to apply for more than one clerkship, they should submit separate cover letter for each candidacy.

Candidates should submit the following documentation online:

  • A cover letter that specifies the particular Court for which they are applying
  • A completed Application Form (for ICJ applications only)
  • A curriculum vitae
  • Copies of transcripts for all post-secondary study
  • Two letters of recommendation*
  • A sample of written work no longer than fifteen (15) double-spaced pages

All application materials (including recommendation letters) must be submitted in a single attachment to an email sent to Clerkships.Law [at] McGill.ca by 17:00 PM EST on January 15, 2018. Short-listed candidates will be asked to provide original, hard copies of their application materials to be forwarded to the Courts for the final selection in February.

All cover letters and recommendations should be addressed (but not sent) to:

  • For the ICJ:
    H.E. Philippe Couvreur, Registrar
    International Court of Justice
    Peace Palace, The Hague, The Netherlands
     
  • For the PCA:
    H.E. Hugo Hans Siblesz, Secretary General
    Permanent Court of Arbitration
    Peace Palace, The Hague, The Netherlands
     
  • For the IACHR:
    H.E. Diego García Sayán, President
    Inter-American Court of Human Rights
    Apartado Postal 6906-1000, San José, Costa Rica 

Note: Partial funding is confirmed for all three clerkships.

* If referees would prefer to submit their references in confidence, they can be sent directly by e-mail to: nandini.ramanujam [at] mcgill.ca

For further information, please contact Clerkships.Law [at] McGill.ca

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