International Court of Justice's University Traineeship Program

An opportunity is available to final year JDs, LLMs, and recent graduates of the University of Michigan Law School to apply for the International Court of Justice's University Traineeship Program.  The ICJ clerkship begins in September of each year and lasts for a period of nine months. 

Michigan is among a select group of top law schools around the world which also participate. Up to one nominee from each school typically is selected. The Law School is grateful to Judge Bruno Simma of the International Court of Justice, who has taught frequently at the Law School, for his invaluable assistance in making this opportunity available to our students.

Students are chosen through a competitive process in which a select group of academic institutions are eligible to nominate students to the International Court of Justice. The Court makes the final selection of clerks from the nominees of all the schools.

Michigan students selected by the Court include:

2009-10: Klara Polackova, LLM 2009

2008-09: Ted Kill, JD 2007

2007-08: Noam Wiener, LLM 2006

2006-07: Marko Milanovic, LLM 2006

2005-06: Jason Morgan-Foster, JD 2005

2004-05: Sonia Boutillon, JD 2003 and Carsten Hoppe, JD 2004

ICJ'S University Traineeship Program

The primary duties of the trainees will be to assist Members of the Court in their tasks, including carrying out research, preparing case files, and drafting various types of documents. For more information about the International Court of Justice, please see its website: www.icj-cij.org/homepage

Eligibility

Applicants must be final year JD students or LLM students, who will complete the JD or LLM requirements in May, or recent JD or LLM graduates of the Law School. Applicants must have excellent proficiency in one of the Court's official languages (French or English) and have a very good knowledge of the other. They must have an excellent overall academic record as well as an excellent academic record in public international law, with demonstrated strong research and writing skills.

Application Process:  Deadline is January 11, 2010

To apply, eligible applicants must submit to the Center for International & Comparative Law, University of Michigan Law School, 300D Legal Research, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-1210, by Monday, January 11, 2010:

1) a letter of application to the International Court of Justice. The letter should include a statement of interest and highlight the applicant's relevant background and reasons for pursuing the traineeship,

2) a description of the applicant's level of proficiency in French and background and experience in speaking, writing and reading in French,

3) a resume,

4) an official Law School transcript,

5) a current study list (document that lists current courses), which the applicant may request from the Law School Registrar's Office - Room 300 HH,

6) at least two letters of recommendation, preferably from individuals who can speak to the applicant's credentials in the field of international law. At least one letter must be from a member of the University of Michigan Law School faculty, and

7) a writing sample. Applicants are encouraged to submit work that has been submitted for publication or other work of publishable quality.

Please also send your letter of application, statement of interest, resume, statement of language proficiency, and writing sample electronically to Barbara Glispin glispin@umich.edu. Your faculty recommender may send his or her letter to Ms. Glispin by e-mail. It is the applicant's responsibility to make sure that his or her application is complete by Monday, January 11, 2010. A Law School selection committee will decide on the candidates to nominate to the Court. It is anticipated that the Court will make the final selection decision in April.

Funding

The Court does not have funding for University traineeships. The University of Michigan Law School will provide a stipend to a Michigan student selected by the Court. Practical arrangements such as travel, visa, accommodations, and medical and other insurance are the responsibility of the candidate.

Miscellaneous

The Court accepts no responsibility for the medical insurance of trainees or costs arising from accident or illness during a traineeship. Nor will the Court be liable in the event of compensation claims by third parties in respect of any loss or damage to their property, or death or personal injury, caused by the action or omission of trainees during their traineeship.

It is also important to note that trainees will be expected to observe all applicable rules, regulations and directions of the Court. Trainees will be bound by the obligation towards the Court of loyalty, discretion and confidentiality, and will be required to make a declaration to that effect.

Questions

Please direct questions to Assistant Dean Virginia Gordan, 300C Legal Research, vgordan@umich.edu.