Fall 2023 Legal Intern

Institute for Justice & Democracy in Haiti 
Fall 2023 Legal Internship 

Position Title: Legal Intern 
Start Date: September 2023
Location: Remote 
Reports to: IJDH Senior Staff Attorney 

 

Position Overview 

The Institute for Justice & Democracy in Haiti (IJDH) is seeking two to three dynamic law student interns to help Haitians reclaim their democracy against internal repression and external interference. The profound challenges Haiti is currently facing - including gang violence, hunger, and closed hospitals and schools - are symptoms of a deeper crisis: decades of problematic foreign policies that have robbed Haiti of its resources alongside a Haitian government that has persistently dismantled the country's democracy with the support of the U.S. government.

About Us 

IJDH is a U.S.-based nonprofit organization that has been promoting human rights in Haiti since 2004. In partnership with its Haiti-based sister organization Bureau des Avocats Internationaux (BAI), IJDH advocates, litigates, and nurtures networks of advocates to advance human rights in Haiti and to create systemic pathways to justice for marginalized communities, including by holding international actors accountable. IJDH and BAI are at the forefront of confronting impunity for grave human rights violations and gender-based violence, strengthening Haiti’s justice sector, and promoting economic justice alongside accountable and rights-based foreign aid. 

IJDH and BAI accomplishments include: 

• Working with victims of the 2010 UN-caused cholera epidemic in Haiti to the UN to accept responsibility and commit to a $400 million victim-centered response; 

• Effectively supporting the prosecution of top military and paramilitary leadership of Haiti's de facto dictatorship in the 2000 Raboteau massacre case, considered one of the most important human rights trials in the Americas, and advocating on behalf of victims in proceedings; 

• Supporting the prosecution of former dictator Jean-Claude Duvalier for crimes against humanity against the Haitian people and achieving a verdict holding that such crimes are not prescribable under Haitian law; 

• Engaging in litigation and local and international advocacy to defend the rights of victims of UN sexual exploitation and abuse, including through obtaining a first-of-its-kind child support judgment in Haitian court on behalf of a child fathered by a former UN peacekeeper, which we are working to enforce; and 

• Establishing models of networked collaboration that combine grassroots advocacy in Haiti with solidarity networks in the United States and other countries in order to effect change.

Intern Responsibilities 

Interns are fully integrated into our legal team and work alongside experienced attorneys in a fast-paced, creative, and exciting environment. They work across the full range of IJDH’s activities, including real-time advocacy in response to Haiti’s current crisis. Interns will work with and be supervised by IJDH attorneys and can expect to be asked to perform some or all of the following: 

• Legal research and analysis on a variety of international human rights law topics, including seeking justice for human rights violations by domestic and international actors such as the UN, international financial institutions, and corporate actors;

• Monitoring and analyzing human rights developments in Haiti, including with respect to justice sector function, women’s empowerment and gender-based violence, democracy and governance challenges, and drivers of insecurity;

• Legal and policy advocacy that contributes to human rights dialogue on issues that impact justice, accountability, and human rights in Haiti, including presentations before human rights bodies within the UN and Inter-American systems, as well as engagement with Congress, U.S. government officials, and other governments;

• Drafting legal and advocacy documents, including submissions to human rights proceedings in domestic and international fora, human rights reports, public advocacy documents, and submissions to corporate accountability mechanisms;

• Developing IJDH’s legal and advocacy strategy, including through engagement with partner organizations and key stakeholders and collaborators; 

• Outreach that engages international media and the public in IJDH’s legal and advocacy work, including drafting advocacy materials, talking points, and press statements, as well as contributing to social media communications;

• General project management support. 

The internship is expected to be remote, with opportunities for in-person meetings in Boston, Washington DC, or the San Francisco Bay Area.

Qualifications 

• Current 2L, 3L, or LLM students and recent law graduates; 

• Demonstrated commitment to human rights and social justice; 

• Excellent written and oral communication skills in English; 

• Academic and/or professional experience with international and human rights law;

• High level of initiative and self-motivation; 

• Ability to handle sensitive relationships and protect the confidentiality of our work and our communications; 

• Strong verbal and written skills in French and/or knowledge of Haitian Creole, as well as Haiti-specific experience, are a strong asset but not required; and

• Available to work at minimum 20 hours per week (may be negotiable); we are committed to flexibility about accommodating academic schedules. 

Funding 

IJDH is unable to offer financial remuneration for this internship. However, IJDH will fully support applicants in seeking academic credit or funding from their law schools or outside programs.

Application Procedure 

Law students interested in the position of Fall Legal Intern should submit a cover letter, resume, law school transcript, short unedited legal writing sample (preferably on a topic relating to human rights), and contact information for two references as soon as possible. Please send all application materials electronically in one PDF to [email protected] and include “Legal Intern Fall 2023” in the subject line. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until places are filled, so applicants are strongly encouraged to submit applications early.

 

IJDH is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer. We value a workforce that includes people of all abilities, diverse backgrounds, and a range of perspectives, particularly those who have historically been marginalized or underrepresented. We encourage applications from all qualified individuals without regard to race, color, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, national origin, marital status, citizenship, disability, veteran status and record of arrest or conviction, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.