The Open Society Justice Initiative (OSJI) seeks to recruit a full time Intern with demonstrated commitment to the promotion of human rights through the use of strategic litigation. At the Justice Initiative, legal interns do real work with real impact. Under the close supervision of assigned mentors, our legal interns gain first-hand experience in using the law to protect and empower people around the world. Whether they support strategic litigation efforts, grant making for strategic litigation, conduct in-depth research, help provide technical assistance, or contribute to our broad advocacy initiatives, interns receive hands-on training on the various methodologies used by public interest advocacy groups to foster and encourage reform, inclusion, human rights, and the building of legal capacity for open societies.
Who we are
The Open Society Foundations work to build vibrant and inclusive democracies whose governments are accountable and open to the participation of all people. We are active in more than 120 countries, making us the world’s largest private funder of independent groups working for justice, democratic governance, and human rights.
The Open Society Justice Initiative utilizes the tool of strategic litigation as a pathway to advance Open Society Foundations’ goals and priorities, through: i) pathbreaking direct litigation, focusing on cases that provide justice to victims and survivors of transnational and international legal violations; ii) the financing of bold, high-impact litigation that seizes time-sensitive opportunities; and iii) the creation of spaces needed to share litigation approaches, learn from common challenges and spark legal action across borders.
Within the broad spectrum of Open Society Foundations’ work of protecting and promoting rights, equity and justice, the Justice Initiative focuses on three and broad permeable areas of litigation:
- international justice for the commission of grave crimes;
- abuses of power by large economic actors that threaten open society values; and
- inclusive democratic practice, with an eye to ensuring equal access and participation, defending guardrails and protecting independent voices.
The Justice Initiative is comprised of lawyers and human rights practitioners with a wide range of practice experience who integrate in-court interventions with out of court legal advocacy, grant making, and community engagement.
As an intern at Open Society, you will
Draft legal and non-legal reports and memoranda on programmatic or legal issues related to priority areas (this may include political rights, physical integrity, fair trials, national security, corporate accountability, women’s rights, and/or United Nations mechanisms).
- Conduct all-source research via websites, Lexis/Nexis, foreign source materials, academic studies, oral interviews of experts, and legal and political documents.
- Research and analyze international and domestic law jurisprudence as it relates to human rights, and the situations and development of targeted country situations.
- Compile country/region-specific information on human rights and rule of law issues; this may include human rights defenders, civil society activities, legislative developments, and state compliance with international human rights standards.
- Participate in grant making, researching organizations and developing funding opportunities based on OSJI’s grant making approach
- Help to develop and participate in OSJI convenings
- Participate in OSJI scheduled staff calls and other relevant meetings.
- Perform other duties and tasks as assigned.
What we are looking for
- Currently enrolled in a law school or graduate program with legal component or a recent graduate;
- Highly motivated with demonstrated excellence in prior endeavors.
- Demonstrated interest in human rights litigation and commitment to public service, with an understanding of and strong interest in international human rights law;
- Strong legal research and writing skills.
- Advanced proficiency in English-language communication skills (both orally and in writing) required, proficiency in other languages, particularly French or Arabic, an added plus.
- Proven ability to work efficiently in a fast-paced environment, troubleshoot and follow projects through to completion, consistently on schedule, without loss of attention to detail; flexibility and ability to work simultaneously on a wide range of tasks and projects and ability to prioritize tasks, particularly under pressure.
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, good humor always appreciated, with an understanding of cross-cultural issues and ability to build and maintain relationships with a wide range of people from diverse backgrounds.
- Ability to work independently.
If this sounds like the position you have been looking for, please submit your cover letter and CV, alongside a sample of your writing. Please include in your cover letter your availability, including the dates you’d be available and the number of hours you’d be able to dedicate to the internship (40 hours/week), (full-time required during the summer, with the potential for full-time or part-time in the fall); we look forward to learning more about you.
Please note, this position is not eligible for work authorization sponsorship
