Work Location

Vienna

Expected duration

6 months

Duties and Responsibilities

The Legal Team in the Office of the Director-General of UNOV/Executive Director of UNODC is hiring an intern at the UNOV and UNODC headquarters in Vienna, Austria, by early September 2026. We are seeking a highly motivated graduate (or as applicable undergraduate in the final year of their studies). Law students who wish to gain professional experience within the legal office of an international organization are invited to apply. This internship will include practical and educational experience and provide an exciting opportunity for the selected candidate to work in a multicultural intergovernmental organization in the general legal affairs context. Under the supervision of the Senior Legal Advisor of UNOV and UNODC, the intern will work on various projects and tasks, which may include assignments that are relevant to the educational background and interests. The intern will have an opportunity to apply and further develop the theoretical and any practical knowledge of how International Public Law and the United Nations legal and administrative framework are applied in the specific operational context of UNOV and UNODC. For more information on UNOV and UNODC, please visit: www.unov.org and www.unodc.org. The internship is UNPAID and full-time. Interns work five days per week (40 hours). The Intern will assist the Senior Legal Advisor and the Associate Legal Officer in, among other tasks:

reviewing and supporting the drafting of legal documents, including, e.g. agreements on general cooperation, agreements on technical cooperation projects, correspondences and memoranda of various kinds;
assisting in the compilation of a register of issues related to UN privileges and immunities and supporting the review and consolidation of host country agreements;
conducting legal research on issues related to international law, the law of international organizations and other areas of specialization using multiple research resources.

Qualifications/special skills

Applicants must meet one of the following requirements: (a) be enrolled in, or have recently completed, a graduate school programme (second university degree or equivalent, or higher); (b) be enrolled in, or have recently completed, the final academic year of a first university degree programme (minimum bachelor’s degree or equivalent). Be computer literate in standard software applications; Have a demonstrated keen interest in the work of the United Nations and have a personal commitment to the ideals of the Charter; and Have a demonstrated ability to successfully interact with individuals of different cultural backgrounds and beliefs, which include willingness to try and understand and be tolerant of differing opinions and views. Applicants to the UN Internship Programme are not required to have professional work experience. However, a field of study in legal affairs, preferably in international law, is required. Applicants must be a student in the final year of the first university degree (bachelor or equivalent), Master’s or Ph.D. Programme or equivalent, or have completed a Bachelor’s, Master’s or PH.D. Programme. Do you meet any of the above criteria? If yes, please indicate which one and attach proof to the application. Please note that you will have to provide an official certificate at a later stage. Applicants should have good drafting skills and demonstrable experience in conducting legal research and producing legal analysis. Excellent communication skills are desirable. Publications in the field of public international law, human rights law and international humanitarian law or the law of international organizations are 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 an additional official UN language is an advantage. Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian and Spanish are the official languages of the United Nations Secretariat.

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 Intern