Rule of Law Intern (Hybrid)

Job Description

Work Location: Flexible (Hybrid, all remote, or in-person)

Expected duration: 4-6 months.

Desired start date: 4 May 2026, or sooner.

Duties and Responsibilities

The duration of the internship is for a minimum period of four (4) months up to six (6) months. This internship is UNPAID, in person and full-time (35 hours per week), on the United Nations premise working arrangement from New York, USA. This internship is designed to be full-time and in-person but can be adjusted based on the needs of the successful candidate to part-time (20 hours per week) and/or remote.

This position is located in the DPPA-DPO Peacebuilding and Peace Support Office (PBPSO), Justice and Corrections Service (JCS). JCS serves as a centre of expertise on justice, corrections and related rule of law areas within the United Nations Secretariat and supports the work of justice and corrections components in United Nations peace operations and other United Nations entities.

It assists host countries to deliver essential justice and prison services, strengthen criminal justice systems, and facilitate rule of law reforms.

Responsibilities

Within delegated authority, the Intern will support the substantive work of the Justice and Corrections Service, with a focus on supporting justice and corrections within peace operations, including in areas such as criminal accountability, gender parity, prison training, and strategic engagement.

The Intern may have the following duties and functions:

• Assists with the implementation of projects related to justice and corrections including conducting research, analysis and drafting of case studies and background papers and administrative coordination.
• Assists with the coordination of and provides administrative support to meetings with internal and external partners and Member States related to justice and corrections initiatives; this includes planning, developing, producing agendas, briefing papers, summary notes, etc.
• Assists with other policy and guidance development efforts of JCS, including by undertaking research and analysis on legal, judicial and correctional reform issues to inform guidance development.
• Conducts research and prepares analysis on other issues and current developments related to the work of Justice and Corrections Service, both globally or assigned country settings.
• Assist desk officers in supporting specific peace operations, with research and other related tasks.
• Accompany JCS staff to meetings with delegates from Permanent Missions, to meetings with other Secretariat offices and to sessions of the Security Council, General Assembly and other multilateral meetings.
• Assist with routine JCS tasks including note-taking and writing summaries/action points of internal and external meetings.
• Assist with the preparation of public information/social media material, presentations and documents for senior JCS staff members.
• Perform any other functions as requested by the supervisor.

Qualifications/special skills

Applicants must meet one of the following requirements:

• (a) be enrolled in a graduate school programme (second university degree or equivalent, or higher);
• (b) be enrolled in the final academic year of a first university degree programme (minimum Bachelor’s level or equivalent).

Applicants to the UN Internship Programme are not required to have professional work experience. However, a field of study that is closely related to the type of internship that you are applying for 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 knowledge of standard software applications, especially MS Word, MS PowerPoint, and MS Teams.

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.

Additional Information

The United Nations Secretariat is committed to achieving 50/50 gender balance and geographical diversity in its staff. Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply for this position.

Applicants who have previously served six months, in total, as an intern in one or more UN Common Systems cannot be engaged as an intern.

Applicants who are children, siblings, and sons or daughters-in-law (including stepchildren, half-siblings, or stepsiblings) of an active staff member in a UN Common System cannot be engaged as an intern.

In your Motivational Statement, please indicate when you would like to start your internship. Please note that the start and end dates are flexible. A complete online application is required.

The Motivational Statement must also include:

• Title of degree you are currently pursuing.
• Graduation Date (When will you be graduating/have graduated from the programme?)
• Explain why you are the best candidate for this specific internship.
• Explain your interest in the United Nations Internship Programme.

In your online Personal History Profile, be sure to include all past work experiences, IT skills, and three references.

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.

Deadline : Mar 23, 2026