Legal Internship at International Criminal Court, The Hague: Apply by December 31!

The International Criminal Court offers a six-month Legal Office internship in The Hague for law graduates with public international law interests.

About International Criminal Court

The International Criminal Court (ICC) investigates and, where warranted, tries individuals charged with genocide, war crimes, crimes against humanity and the crime of aggression. As a court of last resort governed by the Rome Statute, it seeks to complement rather than replace national courts.

About the Opportunity

The Registry Legal Office combines a commitment to legal excellence with a result-oriented and policy-friendly approach in delivering legal services. It supports the legal functions of the Registrar under the Rome Statute, the Rules of Procedure and Evidence, the Regulations of the Court and Registry, and other instruments governing the ICC.

The Legal Office works on matters affecting the judicial functioning of the Court as well as legal issues concerning the ICC as an international organisation. It helps ensure quality, uniformity and consistency in legal positions across the Registry and its Divisions of Judicial Services, External Operations and Management Services.

Duration

The internship is full time for a period of six months. The period is to be agreed upon before commencement.

Location

The duty station is The Hague, Netherlands.

Practice Areas

• Regulatory and compliance
• Litigation
• External affairs
• Judicial affairs

Remuneration

The internship is unfunded. The ICC does not provide remuneration to participants in its Internship and Visiting Professional Programme and does not reimburse expenses incurred before, during or after the placement. Applicants must be able to support themselves for the entire duration of the internship.

Deadline

Applications must be submitted by 31 December 2026 at midnight The Hague time.

Eligibility Criteria

• A university degree in law is required.
• Sound knowledge of public international law, international criminal law, contract law or international administrative law, as relevant to the work of the Registry Legal Office, is required. An advanced university degree is an asset.
• Applicants must have less than three years of relevant full-time professional experience to be considered for an internship.
• Candidates should demonstrate excellent research, analytical and drafting skills, strong teamwork skills, adaptability in multicultural and multilingual environments, and good computer skills including Microsoft Office applications.
• Proficiency in French or English, one of the working languages of the Court, is required. Working knowledge of the other language is desirable, while Arabic, Chinese, Russian or Spanish is an asset.
• Nationals of non-represented and under-represented countries at the ICC are encouraged to apply.

Required Documents

• A completed Duties and Responsibilities Form, as directed on the eRecruitment Profile page.
• A motivation letter of no more than 400 words.
• Two reference letters, including one academic reference.
• Scanned copies of university degrees and diplomas.
• Scanned copies of official academic transcripts stating courses, results and completion dates.
• A short essay on a subject relevant to the work of the Court, limited to 750 words and single spaced.

Roles & Responsibilities

Legal Research and Analysis

The intern will conduct extensive legal research and analysis, prepare summaries and updates on legal and factual issues, and assist with monitoring judicial proceedings and preparing summaries and digests.

Drafting and Legal Advice

The intern will contribute to legal submissions, correspondence, memoranda, opinions and briefs, and assist with providing advice to the Registrar, client sections and senior officials of the Court.

Contracts and Registry Support

The role includes assisting with the negotiation of contracts, agreements and memoranda with parties within the Court, and supporting the operational framework for legal services, including workflows, standard operating procedures, systems and repositories.

Additional Duties

The intern may perform other or additional duties assigned by the Senior Legal Adviser, Legal Adviser or designated staff members of the Registry Legal Office.

Contact

For information about the International Criminal Court and its work, visit the official website below.

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Application Procedure

Interested candidates should apply through the International Criminal Court online recruitment platform using the application link below.

Applicants should have the required documents ready before starting the application. Applications close on 31 December 2026 at midnight The Hague time. Due to the volume of applications received, only successful applicants will be contacted by the Court.