Students often ask: Are there really any jobs in international law? What are some examples of international law jobs? This page provides a simple list of the over 500 international law and related jobs held by our alumni. The list is not the usual dozen or so jobs that are trotted out to answer the question of are there really any jobs, nor is it a comprehensive list of every possible job in international law. The list is a collection of real jobs held by real alumni. A brief perusal of the list will answer the question of whether there are in fact any jobs in international law (hint – the answer is yes). A detailed review of the list will hopefully spark ideas as to which types of jobs might meld with your particular interests. You will quickly discover that unlike most other legal specialties, international law jobs are tucked away in a vast and wide array of nooks and crannies. We have included a number of policy related jobs as our international law alumni often cross over into the policy realm, and because there is an increasing hybridization of law/policy jobs.
INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
Council of Europe Office in Bosnia and Herzegovina
EU Regional Bureau in Madrid
Eurojust
European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, U.S. Advocacy Center
European Commission, Elections Delegation to Iraq
European Court of Justice
European Economic and Social Committee
European Parliament Liaison Office with U.S. Congress
European Training Foundation
Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia, Office of the Prosecutor
Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia, Chambers
Inter-American Commission on Human Rights
Inter-American Development Bank
International Commission on Missing Persons
International Criminal Court, Assistant Trial Lawyer for the Prosecution
International Criminal Court, Defense Counsel
International Criminal Court, Fellow to the Honorable Judge Steiner
International Criminal Court, Office of the Prosecutor
International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda, Associate Appeals Counsel
International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda, Defense Counsel
International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda, Office of the Prosecutor
International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda, Trial Chamber III, Legal Chambers
International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia, Associate Legal Officer
International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia, Defense Counsel
International Finance Corporation
International Labor Organization
International Organization for Migration
International Trade Center
INTERPOL, Maritime Piracy Task Force
INTERPOL, Office of Legal Affairs
Organization of American States, Department of Social Development and Employment
Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina
Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, Central Assembly & Political Parties
Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights
Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, Rule of Law Program
Special Court for Sierra Leone, Office of the Prosecutor, Assistant Legal Officer in the Prosecution
Special Court for Sierra Leone, Office of the Prosecutor, Chief of Legal Operations
Special Tribunal for Lebanon, Office of the Defense
UN, Department of Civil Affairs
UN, Department of Political Affairs, Policy and Mediation Division
UN, Office for West Africa
UN, Office of Legal Affairs
UN, Office of the Special Representative for Children and Armed Conflict
UN, Security Council Affairs Division
UN Administrative Tribunal
UN Assistance Mission to Iraq
UN Assistance to the Khmer Rouge Trials, Office of the Co-Prosecutors
UN Committee Against Torture
UN Division for Treaty Affairs, Terrorism Prevention Branch
UN Human Rights Council, Legal Advisor to the Ambassador to the UN Human Rights Council from Montenegro
UN Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo
UN International Law Commission, Office of the Special Rapporteur on Protection of Persons in the Event of Disasters
UN Mission in South Sudan
UN Mission in Timor-Leste
UN Office of Investigation and Suspension
UN Office of Legal Affairs
UN Office on Drugs and Crime, Treaty and Legal Affairs
UN Office on Drugs and Crime, Terrorism Prevention Branch
UN Protection Group
UN Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo
UN Support Mission in Libya
UN Volunteers
UNDP Afghanistan, UN Peace Through Justice Joint Program
UNDP Croatia, Country Coordinator
UNDP Indonesia, Aceh Justice Project
UNDP Libya, Rule of Law Program
UNDP Somalia, Constitutional Support Project
UNDP Somalia, Rule of Law Program
UNDP Sudan, Rule of Law Program
UNDP Tanzania, Deepening Democracy Program
UNDP Turkmenistan
UNDP Uzbekistan
UNDP Vietnam
UNDP, Monitoring and Evaluation
UNDP, Washington Representation Office
UNHCR Office in Cairo
UNHCR Office in Damascus, Protection & Resettlement Units
UNHCR, Caribbean Protection Unit
UNHCR, Human Rights Monitor
UNHCR, Legal Specialist
UNHCR, Protection Fellow
UNHCR, Resettlement Consultant
UNICEF, Child Protection and Education Joint Assessment Coordinator
UNICEF, Legislation Researcher
World Bank Mission in Kosovo
World Bank, Corporate Secretariat
World Bank, International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes
World Bank, Investment Climate Department
World Bank, Office of Legal Affairs
World Bank, Special Litigation Unit
World Health Organization
World Health Organization, Centre for Health Development
World Intellectual Property Organization
NON-PROFITS
ABA-UNDP International Legal Resource Center, Constitution Program
Access Now
Advocacy Training and Resource Center
Africa Action, Consultant on the Democratic Republic of Congo
Aide Medicale Internationale
Aids and Rights Alliance for South Africa
Amazon Watch, Peru Advocacy
American Bar Association Rule of Law Initiative, Africa Division
American Bar Association Rule of Law Initiative, Central and Eastern Europe
American Bar Association Rule of Law Initiative, Middle East & North Africa Division
American Bar Association, Commission on Immigration
American Civil Liberties Union
American Constitution Society
American Federation of Government Employees, Women’s and Fair Practices Department
American Red Cross, International Humanitarian Law Program
American Society of International Law
Amnesty International USA, Asia Advocacy
Amnesty International USA, International Justice and Human Rights
Amnesty International USA, Refugee and Migrant Rights
Amnesty International, UN Mechanisms Advocacy
Amnesty International, European Institutions Office
Ayuda, Staff Attorney
Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
Cairo Institute for Human Rights Studies
Cambodia’s Children Education Fund Inc.
Carnegie Endowment for International Peace
Carter Center for International Peace
Center for a New American Security
Center for American Progress
Center for Court Innovation
Center for Political Accountability
Center for Strategic and International Studies
Center for Human Rights, International Development Law Unit
Center for Human Rights and the Environment
Center for International Environmental Law
Clinton Foundation, Health Access Initiative
Columbia Center on Sustainable Investment
Community Law Center
Council on Foreign Relations
Cuso International, Partnership Development Institute
Democracy International
Diaspora African Women’s Network
Doctors Without Borders
EarthRights International
Egyptian-American Rule of Law Association
Enough Project, Foreign Policy
European Center for Minority Issues
European Council on Foreign Relations
Equality Now
Financial Industry Regulatory Authority
Freedom House
Fund For Peace
Girls Inc.
Global Communities
Global Environment Fund
Global Livingston Institute
Global Reporting Initiative, Governance and Stakeholder Relations
Habitat for Humanity International
Human Rights Advocacy Center
Human Rights First
Human Rights Watch, UN Affairs
Humanity in Action
Interchurch Organization for Development Cooperation, Disaster Management Unit
IDS International
Institute for Governance and Sustainable Development
Institute for International Law & Human Rights, Independent Human Rights Commission Assessment Mission
Institute for International Law & Human Rights, Iraq Program
Institute for the Study and Development of Legal Systems, South African Legal Resources Council
Institute of Human Rights and Development in Africa
International Bar Association, Director of North America Office
International Bar Association, Human Rights Institute
International Bridges to Justice
International Center for Not-for-Profit Law, Middle East & North Africa Legal Office
International Center for Religion & Diplomacy
International Center for Transitional Justice
International Consortium for Law and Development
International Commission for Dalit Rights
International Commission of Jurists
International Commission on Missing Persons
International Committee of the Red Cross, Communication & Law Department
International Committee of the Red Cross, Global Protection Affairs Unit
International Committee of the Red Cross, Law and Policy Online
International Committee of the Red Cross, Victims of Human Trafficking
International Democratic Institute, Civic Education & Democratic Development
International Democratic Institute, Southern and East Africa Team
International Development Exchange, Asia Development Program
International Development Law Organization, International Rule of Law Training Program
International Focus Inc.
International Foundation for Electoral Systems
International Justice Mission
International Justice Mission in Kenya
International Justice Resource Center
International Law Institute
International Partnership for Women & Families, Reproductive Health Policy
International Rescue Committee, Foreign Policy Program
International Rescue Committee, Protection Program
International Research and Exchanges Board, Syria Justice and Accountability Center
Israel Religious Action Center, Development Associate
Justice & Empowerment Initiatives
Kosova Democratic Institute
Legal Resources Center, South Africa
Lex Mundi Pro Bono Foundation
Liberian Judicial Training Institute
Ludwig Boltzmann Institute of Human Rights
Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund, Legislative Initiative
MAZON—A Jewish Response to Hunger, Communications Outreach Associate
Mercy Corps, Research and Communications
Meridian International Center
National Center for State Courts, Uganda Program
National Center for State Courts, USAID Supporting Access to Justice Project
Netherlands Institute of Human Rights
New America Foundation, Middle East Task Force
New Leaders Council
Nexus Fund
No Peace Without Justice
Nobel Women’s Initiative
Open Society Foundations, Open Society Justice Initiative
Peace Brigades International, Advocacy Fellow
Peace Corps, Committee on Gender and Development
Peace Corps, General Counsel’s Office
Polaris, National Human Trafficking Program
Potomac Institute for Policy Studies
Pretrial Rights International
Public Health Institute
Refugee Law Project
Robert F. Kennedy Center for Justice and Human Rights, Western Sahara Program
RTI International, Global Health
RTI International, International Development Group
S. Daniel Abraham Center for Middle East Peace
Save Darfur Coalition
Save the Children International
Search for Common Ground
Social and Economic Rights Action Center
Stimson Center, Future of Peace Operations
The Atlantic Council
The Brookings Institution, International Security Law
The Center for International Environmental Law
The Habibie Center, ASEAN Program
The Hague Institute for Global Justice
The Institute for Inclusive Security
The Foundation for Political Economic and Social Research (SETA)
The Pew Charitable Trusts
The Pew Charitable Trusts, International Oceans & Protecting Ocean Life on the High Seas
The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press
The Representation Project
Timap for Justice, Legal Office
Transparency International
Truman International Security Project
U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants
U.S. Institute of Peace, PeaceTech Lab
U.S. Institute of Peace, Post-Conflict Peace and Stability Operations
United for a Free Syria, Congressional Affairs Coordinator
WaterLex
Women for Women International, Refugee Protection
World Learning, Civil Society Engagement
World Resource Institute
U.S. GOVERNMENT
Air Force Judge Advocate General’s Corps
Army Judge Advocate General’s Corps
Judge Advocate General’s Office in Naples
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Chamber of Commerce, U.S.-India Business Council
Coast Guard, Office of Legal Counsel
Commission on International Religious Freedom
Committee for Refugees and Immigrants, Government and Community Relations
Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces
Court of International Trade
Defense Security Cooperation Agency
Democratic International Committee
Department of Commerce, Office of Import Administration
Department of Commerce, Office of the Chief Counsel for International Commerce
Department of Commerce, Office of the Chief Counsel for Trade Enforcement & Compliance, International Trade Attorney
Department of Defense, Strategic Outreach
Department of Defense, NATO’s International Security Assistance Force, Rule of Law Program
Department of Defense, Office of the Secretary of Defense, Pakistan Affairs
Department of Defense, Office of the Secretary of Defense
Department of Defense, African Affairs
Department of Defense, Office of the Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Strategy & Plans & Forces
Department of Defense, Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Policy
Department of Defense, Strategic Analyst
Department of Homeland Security, Office of International Affairs
Department of Homeland Security, Office of Civil Rights and Civil Liberty
Department of Homeland Security, Office of the General Counsel
Department of Justice, Civil Division, Commercial Litigation Branch, International Courts Section
Department of Justice, Criminal Division, Office of International Affairs
Department of Justice, Executive Office for Immigration Review
Department of Justice, Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section
Department of Justice, International Security Division, Counterterrorism Section
Department of Justice, Office of Immigration Litigation
Department of Justice, Office of International Affairs, Eastern Europe Desk
Department of Justice, Office of Overseas Prosecutorial Development
Department of Labor, Office of Trade and Labor Affairs, International Relations Office
Department of State, Bureau of Conflict and Stabilization Operations, North Africa
Department of State, Bureau of Energy Resources, Deputy Assistant Secretary
Department of State, Bureau of European & Eurasian Affairs, Office of the Legal Counselor
Department of State, Bureau of Intelligence and Research
Department of State, Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement
Department of State, Bureau of International Organization Affairs, Deputy Assistant Secretary
Department of State, Bureau of International Organization Affairs, Sanctions
Department of State, Bureau of Oceans, Environment and Science
Department of State, Dhi Qar Provincial Reconstruction Team, Rule of Law
Department of State, Foreign Service Institute, Afghanistan Training
Department of State, Ghazni Provincial Reconstruction Team, Governance and Rule of Law Advisor
Department of State, Interagency Planning and Implementation Team, Rule of Law
Department of State, International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs, Public Diplomacy
Department of State, International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Bureau, Middle East Division
Department of State, Office of Egypt and Levant Affairs
Department of State, Office of Policy & Regional Affairs
Department of State, Office of the Legal Advisor
Department of State, Office of the Legal Advisor, Political and Military Affairs
Department of State, Office of the Special Envoy for Sudan
Department of State, Office of the Special Envoy for Syria
Department of State, Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons
Department of State, Special Advisor for Religious Minorities
Department of State, U.S. Mission to the UN, Legal Section
Department of the Treasury, Office of the Deputy Secretary
Federal Communications Commission, International Bureau
Federal Trade Commission
Foreign Service Institute, Instructor
Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Enforcement and Removal Operations Law Division
Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Human Rights Law Division
Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Office of Detention Policy & Planning
International Trade Commission
Library of Congress, Foreign and Comparative Law
National Security Council, Multilateral Affairs
National Security Council, Special Advisor to the President
Navy Reserve, Surface Warfare
Office of the Legislative Counsel for the U.S. House of Representatives
Pacific Command, International Affairs
Securities and Exchange Commission, Division of Corporation Finance
Securities and Exchange Commission, Division of Enforcement
Securities and Exchange Commission, Office of International Affairs
Senate, Foreign Relations Committee, Energy Counsel
U.S. Africa Command, Security Cooperation Specialist
U.S. Embassy in Bosnia and Herzegovina
U.S. Embassy in Kenya
U.S. Embassy in Morocco
USAID, Atrocity Prevention
USAID, Center of Excellence on Democracy, Human Rights & Governance & Rule of Law
USAID, Crisis, Stabilization & Governance
USAID, Democracy & Governance
USAID, Foreign Service Attorney
USAID, Global Issues & Initiatives
USAID, Human Rights
USAID, Democracy Promotion
USAID, Office of Conflict Mitigation and Management
USAID, Office of Management Policy, Budget and Performance
USAID, Office of Transition Initiatives
USAID, Office of U.S. Foreign Assistance Resources
USAID, Rule of Law Advisor
USAID Mission to Colombia, Legal Advisor
U.S. Mission to the European Union
Voice of America
White House, Office of Science and Technology Policy
FOREIGN GOVERNMENTS
Albania, Constitutional Court
Armenia, Ministry of Justice, Department of Relations with the European Court of Human Rights
Bosnia and Herzegovina, Agency for Statistics
Brazil, Embassy to the U.S., International Trade Policy
Canada, Canada Department of Foreign Affairs
Canada, Parliament
Czech Republic, Office of Vaclav Havel
Dominica, Ministry of Legal Affairs
Germany, Supreme Court
Ghana, Ministry of Justice
Iraq, Kurdistan Regional Government
Israel, Embassy to the U.S., Public Affairs
Israel, Supreme Court
Kenya, National Commission on Human Rights
Kosovo, Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Kosovo, Ministry of Justice, Rule of Law and Governance
Kosovo, Office of the President, Advisor to the President
Kosovo, The Assembly
Lebanon, Permanent Mission to the U.S.
Liberia, Liberian Government, Security Sector Reform
Mexico, Government of the State of Yucatan, International Affairs Office
Netherlands, Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Netherlands, Ministry of Security and Justice
Pakistan, Human Rights Commission
Peru, Ministry of Health, Office of Transparency and Defense of Human Rights
Rwanda, Permanent Mission to the United Nations
Sierra Leone, Law Reform Commission, Justice Sector Coordination Office
Slovenia, Embassy to Belgium
Slovenia, Government Communication Office
Somaliland, Chamber of Commerce and Industries
Somaliland, Ministry of Energy and Minerals, DIA-PEG/USAID Energy Program
South Korea, Republic of Korea, Permanent Mission of the Republic of Korea to the UN
Spain, Ministry of Education, Culture and Sport
Sri Lanka, Embassy to the Netherlands
Sri Lanka, Supreme Court
St. Kitts and Nevis, Ministry of Health
Thailand, International Assembly of Thailand, Office of Vice Chairman of the Constitution Drafting Assembly
Thailand, Office of the International Anti-Corruption Commission
Thailand, Permanent Mission of Thailand to the UN
Uganda, Ministry of Health, Foundation for Human Rights Initiative
Uganda, Ministry of Justice & Constitutional Affairs, Attorney General’s Chambers
United Kingdom, Department of Health
United Kingdom, House of Commons
United Kingdom, Scottish Parliament
CORPORATIONS
Abt Associates
Al Jazeera International, Regional Director for the Americas
Bloomberg Law, Federal Practice Group
Booz Allen Hamilton
Calvert Social Investment Foundation Inc., Finance and Compliance
Checchi and Company Consulting Inc., USAID Contract Law Enforcement Program
Chemonics International, Civil Society Engagement & Constitutional Development
Chemonics International, Export Compliance and Risk Management
Chemonics International, Global Health Division
Development Alternatives Incorporated (DAI), Africa Program
Development Alternatives Incorporated (DAI), Governance Program
Development Innovations Group, Global Program Management
Diebold, Office of Ethics and Compliance for Asia-Pacific
Engility Corporation
Foundation for International Community Assistance (FINCA International), Legal Department
Gurr Johns International
IMPAQ International
Institutional Shareholder Services
JP Morgan Chase
KPMG Brazil, International Tax
Locus Economica, Trade Policy
Milieu Ltd., Legal Department (based in Belgium)
Newton Global Consulting, International Development (now Aspirant)
Oxford University Press, Editor
Pfizer Pharmaceutical
Praxair Inc., Global Policy & Government Affairs
PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) Brazil, Customs and International Trade
REI Holding Group, Foreign Legal Department
The Balkan Investigative Reporting Network, Legal Office (in Serbia)
The Chertoff Group, Strategic Analysis
LAW FIRMS
Allbright Law Firm
Arnold & Porter
Baker McKenzie
Berwin Leighton Paisner (based in Belgium)
Brown Rudnick
Cadwalader Wickersham & Taft
Chadbourne & Parke (now merged with Norton Rose Fulbright)
Cleary Gottlieb
Clifford Chance
Covington & Burling
Crowell & Moring
Curtis Mallet-Prevost Colt & Mosle
Debevoise & Plimpton
DLA Piper
Eversheds (based in the U.K.)
Fried Frank
Foley Hoag
Freshfields (based in the U.K.)
Greenberg & Traurig
Hogan Lovells
Hoyng Monegier (based in the Netherlands)
Hughes Hubbard & Reed
Hunton & Williams
Jenner & Block
Jones Day
K&L Gates
Kaye Scholer (now merged with Arnold Porter)
King & Spalding
Kirkland & Ellis
Linklaters
Mayer Brown
Milbank
Mintz Levin
Morrison & Foerster
Orrick Herrington
Paul Weiss Rifkind Wharton & Garrison
Pels Rijcken & Droogleever Fortuijn (based in the Netherlands)
Pepper Hamilton
Proskauer Rose
Shearman & Sterling
Sidley Austin
Skadden Arps Slate Meagher & Flom
Squire Patton Boggs
Steptoe & Johnson
Sullivan & Cromwell
Thompson Hine
Three Crowns
Torys
Troutman Sanders
Venable
Volterra Fietta
Watershed Legal Services (based in Somalia)
Weil Gotshal
White & Case
Wiley Rein
Wilmer Hale