Professional Associate (Internship)

Contact Name: 
John Washburn
Contact Email: 
jwashburn@amicc.org
Department: 
American NGO Coalition for the ICC

The American NGO Coalition for the International Criminal Court (AMICC) is a program of the Columbia University Institute for the Study of Human Rights (ISHR). The internship position assists with AMICC's work, which includes providing information and analysis to AMICC's constituents and the American public. AMICC accepts applications from recent college graduates, graduate students, and law students from Columbia University and other institutions. Preferred candidates will be able to commit to a minimum of three to four months of full-time or part-time work (on average, minimum 20 hours per week). Undergraduate candidates will also be considered. Applicants from countries other than the United States are welcome. They must have fellowships or other sponsorships which will support an H visa to the United States. Internships are unpaid.

A strong background in political science, international affairs, or law is a plus, as is experience working with local or national government representatives or conducting outreach activities.

AMICC uses the term "professional associate (unpaid)" because they are rarely asked to do traditional intern office tasks. Instead, their duties include researching ICC issues in the US, outreach to member organizations and alliances, and some administrative tasks. The experience would be especially valuable for someone with an interest in international criminal law or US foreign policy.

Substantive research and drafting and support to our work are the most rewarding aspects of our volunteer professional associate's service for them and for us. In order to move into this work as early and effectively as possible in their brief time here, volunteer professional associates must arrive with basic knowledge of the Court's fundamental structure, law, governance, jurisdiction and operations. This should include the major organizational elements of the ICC; the bodies that govern it; the titles, functions and responsibilities of its most senior officials; the main categories and characteristics of the crimes the Court will try and the conditions that make a crime eligible for the Court's jurisdiction.

Interviews of selected candidates will include simple, non-technical questions to test this knowledge. To prepare for this, we encourage candidates to read all of the Rome Statute to get a sense of the Court as a whole and to appreciate the breadth and inclusiveness of this extraordinary document. They should then carefully review the Preamble, Part 2, articles 5, 6, 7, 8, 12, 13, 15; Part 4; Part 6, articles 66 and 67; and Parts 11 and 12.

How to Apply

AMICC will begin accepting applications for the spring semesterm (approximately January - May 2019). Please apply only during the application period for the relevant opportunity; applications received outside of the application period or for opportunities at other times of the year will not be considered. Applicants selected in a first vetting will be offered interviews immediately.

As a program of the Columbia University ISHR, AMICC interns serve as ISHR interns. Accordingly, in addition to sending your resume/CV and cover letter jwashburn@amicc.org, please also send the aforementioned documents to ishr@columbia.edu. Please include "Internship Application" in the subject line.

AMICC may ask for additional supporting documents, including transcripts, writing samples or letters of recommendation, prior to selecting an applicant for an interview.

Please e-mail any questions to jwashburn@amicc.org with "Internship Inquiry" in the subject line.