Work Location

The hiring office location is in Geneva, Switzerland. This internship is designed to be conducted in-person, hybrid or remote work. The modality is flexible, to be discussed with the successful candidate.

Expected duration

This internship is expected to be for a period of three months, up to a maximum period of six months. The estimated start date for the vacancy is September 2026, however, the specific start date and duration may be adjusted after discussion with the successful candidate. The IIIM internship is unpaid and full-time (40 hours per week). The regular working hours at are 8: 30-17:30, Monday through Friday.

Duties and Responsibilities

This position is located within the Judicial Support and Cooperation Section (JSCS) of the International, Impartial and Independent Mechanism to assist in the investigation and prosecution of persons responsible for the most serious crimes under International Law committed in the Syrian Arab Republic since March 2011 (IIIM). The legal intern will report to the P2 Associate Legal Officer assigned to the JSCS. The JSCS oversees, inter alia, the support to national, regional and international courts and tribunals through the sharing of information, evidence, analysis and expertise with investigative, prosecuting and judicial authorities. The duties of Legal Interns in JSCS may include, but are not limited to: - Conducting legal research on a diverse range of assigned issues in domestic and international criminal law, human rights and public international law and other area(s) of specialization using multiple research sources and tools; - Assisting Legal Officers in the drafting or review of legal documents, instruments or other materials; - Assisting in the monitoring of judicial proceedings and/or legislative developments relevant to the work of the IIIM, with a particular focus on criminal judicial proceedings regarding violations of international criminal law and on legislative developments in Syria; - Mapping legislative frameworks that are relevant to the work of JSCS; - Assisting JSCS colleagues in facilitating JSCS contributions to the work of other Sections of the IIIM. Assignments will not involve any work directly with evidentiary material in the IIIM's Central Repository of Information and Evidence

Qualifications/special skills

Applicants must meet one of the following requirements: (a) be enrolled in, or have completed, a graduate school programme (second university degree or equivalent, or higher); (b) be enrolled in, or have completed, the final academic year of a first university degree programme (minimum bachelor's degree or equivalent). Applicants to the UN Internship Programme are not required to have professional work experience. However, a field of study that is closely related to the type of internship that you are applying for ( - e.g. law, international relations, human rights, political affairs or a related area) is required. Knowledge regarding criminal accountability in the Syrian context is desirable. Good knowledge of standard software applications, especially MS Word, MS Outlook, and MS Teams is desirable.

Languages

English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. Fluency in spoken and written English is required for the internship. Knowledge of Arabic is desirable. Knowledge of an additional official UN language is an advantage.

Additional Information

ASSESSMENT A complete online application is required. Please include in your application a cover letter in English setting out your motivation and dates of availability. Incomplete applications will not be considered. Short-listed candidates may be contacted by the hiring team directly if further information is needed during the review of their application. During the assessment, you may be required to provide: letters of recommendation in English, copies of university/law studies transcripts (including courses taken and grades received), and/or a sample of the applicant's written work in English preferably in a field relevant to the work of the IIIM. Due to the high volume of applications received, candidates who have not been short-listed will not be contacted. SPECIAL NOTICE Interns must keep confidential any and all unpublished information obtained during the course of the internship and not publish any reports or papers based on such information except with the explicit written authorization of the Head of the IIIM. Interns are bound by the same duties and obligations as staff members, and the information to which an intern has access in the course of the internship must not be divulged to external parties. There should be no expectation of employment by the United Nations or the IIIM upon completion of the internship. IIIM interns are responsible for all internship-related expenses that they incur. The United Nations accepts no responsibility for costs arising from accidents and/or illness incurred during an internship. Therefore, upon award of an internship, interns are responsible for securing adequate insurance coverage and are required to sign and return a statement confirming their understanding and acceptance of these conditions of service. For in-person internships, candidates of certain nationalities must obtain a visa authorizing their stay in Switzerland before they depart for Geneva to begin their internship. While this is the overall responsibility of the selected candidate, the IIIM will provide information and supporting documents in this regard. All internship recruitment decisions are made on the basis of qualifications and organizational needs. The United Nations is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment of mutual respect. The United Nations recruits interns regardless of gender identity, sexual orientation, race, religious, cultural and ethnic backgrounds or disabilities. Reasonable accommodation for applicants with disabilities may be provided to support participation in the recruitment process when requested and indicated in the application. A person who is the child or sibling of a staff member shall not be eligible to apply for an internship at the United Nations. An applicant who bears to a staff member any other family relationship may be engaged as an intern, provided that he or she shall not be assigned to the same work unit of the staff member nor placed under the direct or indirect supervision of the staff member. Fulfilment of the responsibilities of this position may necessitate engagement with material and/or information that may be distressing.

Intern Specific text

Interns are not financially remunerated by the United Nations. Costs and arrangements for travel, visas, accommodation and living expenses are the responsibility of interns or their sponsoring institutions. Interns who are not citizens or permanent residents of the country where the internship is undertaken, may be required to obtain the appropriate visa and work/employment authorization. Successful candidates should discuss their specific visa requirements before accepting the internship offer.

No Fee

THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW MEETING, PROCESSING, OR TRAINING). THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON APPLICANTS’ BANK ACCOUNTS.

Legal Affairs Internship