Call for applications for the 2020-2021 ICJ's Judicial Fellows Programme

Deadline for submission is 12 noon, Monday 3^rd February 2020

The Oxford Law Faculty is one of a group of leading law faculties around the world invited by the International Court of Justice (ICJ) to participate in the ICJ's fellowship programme. The fellowship programme is similar to a judicial clerkship or judicial assistantship and provides an opportunity for one Oxford student or recent graduate to work for nearly a year at the leading international tribunal in the world. The person selected will work closely with the members of the Court on tasks such as drafting opinions, orders and other court documents; preparing case files and researching a variety of legal issues.

As the result of a very generous donation from Sir Frank Berman KCMG QC, and further funds raised by members of the Oxford Public International law subject group, the Oxford Law Faculty is able to offer funding to the person selected for traineeship.  The Faculty may put forward one or more names to the Court, which will make the final decision on the selection for the fellowship. It is expected to reach its final decision in March/April 2020 and nominating universities will be notified accordingly.

Eligibility

The fellowship programme is open to current graduate law students pursuing research or taught courses in the Law Faculty (BCL/MJur/MSc/MSt/MPhil/DPhil), as well as to those who have graduated from Oxford Law Faculty (including the BA programme) in the past two years. There are no restrictions as to nationality. Applicants may be about to complete their graduate degrees in Oxford or, in appropriate cases and after consulting their supervisor, may be seeking to intermit their studies in order to undertake the fellowship.

Applicants should (a) be fluent in either English or French and have an excellent working knowledge of the other language and (b) have distinguished themselves by their exceptional interest and excellence in the field of international law.

Application Process

If you wish to apply for the ICJ fellowship, please submit the following documents in electronic form to jennifer.hassan@law.ox.ac.uk by 12 noon on Monday 3^rd February 2020:

1.     A letter of application describing the applicant’s background in international law and reasons for wishing to undertake the fellowship.
2.     A CV [The ICJ also asks that candidates indicate their age].
3.     Official academic transcripts.
4.     At least two letters of reference, preferably from individuals able to speak to the candidate's abilities in field of international law. In the case of current research students, at least one of the referees should be the applicant’s supervisor.
5.     A writing sample which should not exceed 15 pages. The sample should be work that has been submitted for publication or other work of publishable quality (e.g. part of a thesis, dissertation or a paper).

Cover letters and references should be addressed to: the Registrar to recruitment, International Court of Justice, Peace Palace, The Hague, Netherlands. These documents should be included in your submission when emailing Jenny Hassan.

 

Previous awards for the ICJ fellowship programme:

Zac Vermeer 2019 - 2020
Yulia Ioffe 2018-2019
Sotirios-Ioannis Lekkas 2017 - 2018 / report
Daniel Kaasik 2016 - 2017 /  report
Miles Jackson 2015 - 2016
Jessica Howley 2013 - 2014
Emma Dunlop 2012 - 2013
Ernesto Feliz 2010 - 2011
Veronica Fikfak 2009 - 2010