Pursuing a Career or Internship in Human Rights
Please read this page for all of the exciting opportunities that exist for human rights careers! From law firms to paid internships, to clerkships and more, there’s a lot out there. And yes… Most are paid! There’s a diversity of jobs available that go anywhere from part-time internships to full-time post-graduate jobs. The resources on this page are only available to Notre Dame law school users via their school account. If you are an alum or someone interested in reaching out to us about an opportunity, email intlhrs@nd.edu.
Resource Database
Please see this spreadsheet linked for opportunities! You must be signed into your Notre Dame Gmail account to view the spreadsheet. From internships to jobs, to courses and post-grad fellowships, the IHRS has featured some of the top organizations, firms, government agencies and non-profits to see. This list is on-going and periodically updated. If you have a position or workplace to add or note, please let us know through intlhrs@nd.edu.
This spreadsheet is not exhaustive of all human rights opportunities out there. These opportunities also have an international focus, making them different from typical public interest jobs based in the U.S. Therefore, we encourage you to make an appointment with the Career Development Office to speak with a professional about the best opportunities and pathways for you.
General Timeline for Applications
Whereas typical U.S. law firm jobs have a rigid timeline and early-access application portal, international firms and organizations often have a different timeline. The deadlines tend to be later than law firms which often hire a year in advance. Nonetheless, some international firms and agencies do participate in on-campus recruiting (second and third year law student opportunities). Therefore, please visit each organization’s website to see more. The earliest deadlines for human rights and government are typically the U.S. Department of State and the U.S. Department of Justice.
Funding for Non-Paid Opportunities
In addition to the option of Federal Work Study, various centers at Notre Dame offer stipends and funding for summer internships that pertain to human rights and civil rights. Please visit the Klau Institute for Civil Rights and the Kellogg Institute for International Studies. For internships and research that pertain to Catholic ethics or religion, please see the funding opportunities at the De Nicola Center for Ethics and Culture.
Global Human Rights Clinic
IHRS is not affiliated with the Global Human Rights Clinic GHRC but we encourage students to join it! If you’re looking to get hands-on experience with international human rights litigation, this is the place to be! The GHRC works just as another clinic at Notre Dame (except it’s cooler). Many of the IHRS club members are part of the clinic, so feel free to reach out to us if you’d like to hear a student perspective. The application to join usually opens in the spring and is available to second and third year law students as well as LLMs and JSD students. Visit the GHRC website for more information.
International Clerkships
For students unfamiliar with clerkships, a clerkship is an opportunity for students to work for a judge as a clerk by helping the judge write and decide opinions. They typically last for about a year. Just as there are opportunities within the United States and other countries, clerkships exist for international courts and tribunals. The Career Development Office will have information on how to apply for clerkships via Irish Link. Please see the Opportunities with International Tribunals and Foreign Courts written by Prof. Diane Desierto. Please also reach out to Professor Desierto to speak about your interest so that she can give you guidance and advice.
Keep in Mind
Students should also consult the Irish Link Portal, the Career Development Office’s official website that contains jobs, internships, research assistant positions, etc. Students can also make appointment with the career center through Irish Link. Reach out to professors and professionals working in the human rights world. Irish Compass is the Notre Dame alumni directory where students can get in contact with ND alumni from all of the undergraduate and graduate schools.