Legal Research Intern for the Western Balkans

 Days per week: Minimum 3 days a week.

Duration: 3 - 4 Months

Start date:  w/c 21st October 2024

Deadline for applications: 6 October 2024

Interviews will be held in the week commencing :7th October 2024

The Intern will be based within the Western Balkans team, working on rule of law and capacity building projects implemented in the region; in particular, there will be a focus on the capacity building of judiciaries.

The Western Balkans team has, for over a decade and a half, conducted a series of long-term rule of law programmes in partnership with domestic institutions and courts in the region. The aim of these programmes is to promote the national implementation of the European Convention on Human Rights, assist the process of European integration by strengthening the rule of law and the full recognition of human rights, and encourage regional cooperation amongst judges and legal professionals.

For example, the AIRE Centre in collaboration with Civil Rights Defenders organises the annual Regional Rule of Law Forum which brings together representatives of the ECtHR, presidents and representatives of the supreme courts and constitutional courts from the region, presidents of judicial councils, directors of judicial training academies and institutions, government agents before the Strasbourg Court, representatives of NGOs, and prominent legal experts to discuss some of the crucial issues Balkan countries face when it comes to the protection of human rights.

More information about previous Forums, can be found on our website.

The team also drafts publications and guides on an array of human rights and rule of law related issues which are distributed to judges and legal professionals in the region. A copy of our publication on Covid-19 and Human Rights, which was launched at our Seventh Annual Regional Rule of Law Forum in October 2020, and can be found on our website.

We have also, recently, launched a new initiative on gender and the judiciary, including the publication of our most recent guide on ECtHR jurisprudence on gender equality, available here:

On a day to day basis, the Intern can expect to draft summaries of ECtHR cases for our regional European Human Rights Bulletin, Database, and publications, conduct legal research and assist with the drafting and editing of guides and publications such as this guide on Covid-19 and Human Rights linked above.

More generally, the internship will involve (non-exhaustive):

• ·       Legal research: European Court of Human Rights jurisprudence, human rights principles (specifically those of the ECHR), reports by Council of Europe and United Nations bodies, and academic commentary.
• ·       Drafting: Case summaries, narratives of ECHR articles, reports and publications to support the preparation of materials for training seminars, and background briefs/notes.
• ·       Supporting the Western Balkans team/the AIRE Centre at national and international events. International events may involve accompanying the legal team to seminars and conferences.
• ·       Administrative tasks: Keeping effective files and assisting the office/team with any ad-hoc tasks. Interns are required to assist with administrative tasks as they arise.

All your legal work will be checked by your allocated supervisor. There will be opportunity to sit down with your supervisor and review your work and internship. We also like to assist current Interns with their future career plans.

Essential Criteria:

·       A completed LLB / GDL or equivalent.

·       A firm understanding of the European Convention on Human Rights and its case-law

·       Excellent research and drafting skills

·       A high standard of both written and spoken English

·       The ability to work a minimum of 3 days a week for a minimum of three months

Desirable Criteria:

·       A completed LLM or MA in Law/Human Rights

·       Knowledge of the French language

·       A quick learner

·       The ability to work in a fast-paced environment with minimal supervision

·       Excellent verbal and oral communication skills

·       Proficiency with Microsoft Office packages

·       Familiarity with the legal reform process in the Western Balkans

Remuneration:

All of our internships are unpaid. However, we do cover up to £30 of expenses e.g. travel or lunch for the days worked at the office.