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INTERNATIONAL LAW CAREERS SEMINAR

INTERNATIONAL LAW CAREERS SEMINAR. Wednesday 21st March 2012. Jenny Keaveney Careers and Employability Service The slides from this talk will be available at: www.kent.ac.uk/careers/slides.htm. What this seminar will cover. Opportunities with your degree Employers Internships

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INTERNATIONAL LAW CAREERS SEMINAR

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  1. INTERNATIONAL LAWCAREERS SEMINAR Wednesday 21st March 2012 Jenny Keaveney Careers and Employability Service The slides from this talk will be available at: www.kent.ac.uk/careers/slides.htm

  2. What this seminar will cover • Opportunities with your degree • Employers • Internships • Long-term career opportunities • How to access these opportunities • Information resources • Making applications

  3. What have past graduates in your subject gone on to do? • Intern – Special Court for Sierra Leone • Stagiaire – Council of the EU • Assistant - EMCDDA • Junior Adviser - Deutsche Entwicklungsdienst • Trainee Lawyer – Greek law firm • Legal Adviser – Government Legal Service (UK) • English Language Teacher – Japan • Researcher – Black Londoners’ Forum Plus trainee solicitors, paralegals and postgraduate researchers

  4. What are my opportunities? • What do you want to do? • What interests you? • Where do you want to work? • What do you have to offer? • Do you already have a legal qualification? • Do you have relevant experience? • What else might you need?

  5. A Career as an International Lawyer First, you will need: - to decide what area of law interests you - to gain a professional law qualification - relevant language skills

  6. Public International Law “The rules and principles dealing with the conduct of states and of international organizations and with their relations inter se, as well as with some of their relations with individuals” Careers in this field may be based in government, international organisations or academic institutions.

  7. How to start a career in Public International Law An LLM is a good start! You will also need: • A professional legal qualification • Relevant language skills • Relevant work experience http://bit.ly/g7lcew

  8. Relevant work experience Employers include: • Inter-governmental organisations, especially the UN and European institutions • Non-governmental organisations: a very wide range including organisations involved with development, human rights, justice, conflict prevention, disaster relief, environmental protection etc Experience offeredmay be permanent or temporary (such as internships/stages), paid or unpaid, in a legal role or in a more general area of work.

  9. What is an internship? • A period of short-term work experience – usually ranges from one to six months • Usually full-time although some part-time opportunities may be available • Work may involve research, casework, project work, drafting, translation, lobbying, administrative tasks • Often unpaid! • In the EU institutions, internships are known as stages or as traineeships (and are paid!)

  10. “Stages” • EU organisations which offer stages include: • European Court of Justice • European Commission • Council of Europe • Normally start March or Sept and last 5-6 months • Paid or unpaid • Open to both EU and non-EU nationals • Must be able to offer 2 official EU languages • Apply 7 months before the start date • http://ec.europa.eu/stages/index_en.htm

  11. Other internship opportunities Useful information sources: • International Relations www.kent.ac.uk/careers/IntRelations.htm • Human Rights www.kent.ac.uk/careers/workin/humanrights.htm • International Organisations www.kent.ac.uk/careers/workin/internationalorg.htm • CECIL www.kent.ac.uk/law/cecil/careers.html/index.html • Legally Global http://legallyglobal.blogspot.com/ • American Society of International Law www.asil.org/internships.cfm

  12. Long-term opportunities • An internship/stage will be useful when applying for permanent posts … • … but experience in private law can be helpful too “At least 2 years of progressively responsible professional legal experience is required .. either in an international organisation, or a government, or a law firm, with experience in international, administrative, commercial and/or criminal law matters” (UN advertisement for Associate Legal Officer)

  13. Recruiting now! • The European Personnel Selection Office is currently recruiting administrators in law • No professional qualification or experience required • Work involves advising management on legal matters; legal analysis, research and drafting • Open to nationals of all EU member states • Closes 17 April 2012 • Full details at http://europa.eu/epso/apply/news/news126_en.htm http://www.facebook.com/EU.Careers.EPSO

  14. Other useful vacancy sources • Jobs with the U.N. http://unjobs.org • @UNJobList • EuroBrussels www.eurobrussels.com • @EuroBrussels • EurActiv http://jobs.euractiv.com

  15. Private International Law Concerns the relationship between private individuals, associations and commercial organisations Involves the practice of private law in an international context: trade, finance, intellectual property, shipping, corporate Often involves multinational firms and clients

  16. How to start a career in Private International Law An LLM is not essential but can give you an advantage You will also need: • A professional legal qualification • Relevant work experience Language skills are also helpful Many large law firms sponsor graduates through their professional training

  17. Useful Information Sources • www.kent.ac.uk/careers/siteslaw.htm • The Student’s Guide to Careers in the Law (Chambers & Partners) • The Training Contract & Pupillage Handbook • Target Law • Prospects Law • Lawyer 2B magazine

  18. Application Procedure • International organisations and large law firms will usually require you to complete an application form • NGOs and smaller firms may have an application form but more often accept a CV (curriculum vitae) or resumé • You don’t have to wait for jobs or internships to be advertised – you can send your CV “on spec”

  19. What do international organisations look for in graduates? • Motivation • International mobility • Interpersonal skills • Cultural awareness • Flexibility/adaptability All the above in addition to any specific criteria such as education, nationality, language skills and professional experience

  20. Making your application stand out • Show what you can offer that will help you do the job (knowledge, skills, experience …) • Give evidence of all the required qualities • Be clear and concise • Relate your application to the job - highlight your most relevant skills and experience • Your spelling, grammar and use of language must be perfect!

  21. Help with making applications • Careers Service web pages www.kent.ac.uk/careers/applicn.htm • Advice on your application from a careers adviser. Book an appointment or just drop in www.kent.ac.uk/careers/dutyca.htm • Booklets, DVDs and reference books/files

  22. THE CAREERS & EMPLOYABILITY SERVICE … • Open 9-5, Monday-Friday, in term-time and vacation • Drop in at any time to see the duty careers adviser, or to use the Careers Information Room or networked PCs and IT resources • or email us: • careerhelp@kent.ac.uk • or phone 01227 823480/1 Jenny Keaveney Careers Adviser

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