Careers in International Public Interest Law

By: Kiran Chahal

For students interested in international public interest law, there is a breadth of rewarding opportunity. These opportunities exist at international organizations, international courts and tribunals, nongovernmental organizations, nonprofit organizations and governmental agencies.


Opportunities are diverse and range from researching human rights violations to working in areas of aid and relief. Because international public interest organizations struggle with resources, positions in this field can carry immense responsibility and allow you to collect great practical experience.

Generally, LL.M. students already possess the minimum qualifications required for international public interest positions: international job experience, fluency in two or more languages, and the ability to work in multicultural environments.

To further market yourself as an ideal candidate, highlight any connection that you have to the geographical location of a prospective job. Focus on any local languages that you can speak and any academic or professional background that you have had in the area. Let employers know that you are educated about the political and social environment of the region and that you are aware of their organization's work. Positions in international public interest law generally have a hardship component so emphasize your adaptability and flexibility to work in less than ideal conditions. Finally, look at the organization and the specific job posting to see what other skills you should emphasize to the particular employer.

As in any job search, organizations are looking for people with the skills and qualifications that are most needed in their field.  Before applying for a position, you should make sure that your background is a good fit for the hiring organization.

If you are interested in exploring the different jobs available in international public interest law, try the following sites:

PSJD (www.psjd.org; formerly PSLawNet): PSJD is a public service database of thousands of law-related public service organizations around the world.

ReliefWeb (www.reliefweb.int): ReliefWeb is a project of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs and publishes vacancies available at different humanitarian organizations worldwide.

UNJobs (www.unjobs.org): UNjobs is a listing of job vacancies at the United Nations and various International Organizations.

Human Rights Watch (www.hrw.org): Human Rights Watch is a nonprofit, nongovernmental human rights organization made up of over 280 staff around the globe.