Faculty honoured to be invited to submit clerkship applications to International Court of Justice

The Faculty is delighted to announce that it has just been invited by the International Court of Justice in The Hague to join a very small number of elite law schools internationally that may submit applications from graduating students to the Court’s nine-month “University Traineeship Programme”.

The International Court of Justice (ICJ) is the world’s leading public international law body, and is also the principal judicial organ of the United Nations. The Court’s role is to settle, in accordance with international law, legal disputes submitted to it by States and to issue advisory opinions on legal questions referred to it by authorized United Nations organs and specialized agencies.

More detailed information about the ICJ can be found here: http://www.icj-cij.org/

The clerkships are only open to law school graduates. Consequently, third year law students and students enrolled in the Faculty’s graduate program who have a demonstrated interest and outstanding ability in the field of Public International Law are encouraged to apply for consideration. Candidates must also be fluent in either English or French, and have a “very good working knowledge” of the other language. A second email outlining application details will be sent to third year and graduate students shortly. Unfortunately, exchange students are not able to apply for these positions, but are encouraged to contact their home faculties regarding any similar opportunities.

This recent decision by the Court to accept clerkship applications from UofT graduates underscores and bolsters the Faculty’s recognized strength in the field of international law. As a result of the ICJ’s invitation to the Faculty, our ties to the world’s leading public international law body will be enormously strengthened, and the already diverse range of international legal opportunities available to graduating students will also be significantly enhanced.