On this page:
Finding an internship
Internships in France (Convention de stage)
Available funding
International Clerkships
Finding an internship
(From the McGill Career Planning Service (CaPS)):
An internship is a pre-professional work term that provides students, recent graduates and those seeking to change career paths, with an opportunity to gain experience in a particular field. It is particularly important to do your research when evaluating potential internship opportunities. 
Consult CaPS' Internship webpage for more on internship opportunities
Internships in France (Convention de stage)
Déclaration relative à la participation d'un étudiant à une activité étudiante
Completing a Convention de Stage is typically required for students to do an internship in France. If you are requesting a Convention de Stage, the only document that may be considered is the Déclaration relative à la participation d’un étudiant à une activité étudiante. The Déclaration relative à la participation d’un étudiant à une activité étudiante is an internship agreement between the intern, McGill, and the host organization. Faculty offices are unable to complete, sign or review any other convention de stage documents. No modifications or additions are permitted to be added to a Déclaration relative à la participation d’un étudiant à une activité étudiante.
Internships must have a clearly defined educational objective, and link to the student’s course of study. The second section of the Convention de stage should identify the skill that the intern will learn during the internship and discuss how the internship fits into the student’s education and professional development.
Students must request a Déclaration relative à la participation d'un étudiant à une activité étudiante from the Faculty of Law, Student Affairs Office with at least two weeks advanced notice in order to review the request.
For the SAO to complete a Déclaration relative à la participation d'un étudiant à une activité étudiante, the student must be registered in the Faculty of Law at the time of the request. If you have graduated, the SAO is unable to issue this document.
Academic credit will not be awarded for the internship. Students cannot ask for a leave of absence or part time studies in order to pursue an internship.
Please complete the Déclaration (
Déclaration (FR) & Déclaration (EN)) and email it to the SAO.
This document is issued by the academic institution in which the student is enrolled at the time of request. No extension or modifications of said document will be granted once completed.
Other required documents
Please submit the following along with the completed Déclaration relative à la participation d'un étudiant à une activité étudiante form above to the SAO:
- Written confirmation of your internship from the host organization, including learning goals and outcomes.
- A copy of your current, unofficial transcript
- Description of the host organization
- Description of the internship position (role, tasks, etc.) and remuneration (payment) if any
- Description of how the internship is directly related to your field of study in the Faculty of Law
- A copy of your Attestation de responsabilité civile coverage (France)
- The Déclaration relative à la participation d'un étudiant à une activité étudiante must be completed in full, with all relevant information and signed by the student and the host organization before it is reviewed by the SAO.
Available internship funding
Elizabeth L. Thomson International Experience Award
Established by Elizabeth L. Thomson, LLB’74, BCL’75, for BCL/JD students to gain practical experience during their studies and broaden their horizons by undertaking an international internship in Hong Kong.
The Katherine Petcher & Brett Carron Internship Award
Established by Katherine E. Petcher, BCL’92, LLB’92, and Brett A. Carron, BCL’95, LLB’95, for BCL/JD students to gain practical experience during their studies and broaden their horizons by undertaking an international internship, with preference being given to internships in Burkina Faso and second preference being given to internships in West Africa.
The Nathan Schipper Internship Award
Established by the Class of Law of 1992, in memory of their classmate, Nathan Schipper, BCL’92, LLB’92, to help BCL/JD students gain firsthand experience related to their fields of study through an internship. Awarded to help defray travel and accommodation expenses related to the internship. Preference will be given to students interning in Israel.
International Clerkships Program
The McGill Centre for Human Rights and Legal Pluralism manages the International Clerkships Program, where recent graduates can apply to clerk at the Permanent Court of Arbitration (The Hague), the International Court of Justice (The Hague), or the Inter-American Court of Human Rights (Costa Rica). These clerkships last 9 to 12 months. Deadline to apply: mid-January each year. Selected clerks are automatically considered for funding. Find out more...