INTERNATIONAL LAW CAREERS SEMINAR Jenny Keaveney Careers and Employability Service The slides from...

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INTERNATIONAL LAW CAREERS SEMINAR Jenny Keaveney Careers and Employability Service The slides from this talk will be available at: www.kent.ac.uk/careers/slides.htm Wednesday 21st March 2012

Transcript of INTERNATIONAL LAW CAREERS SEMINAR Jenny Keaveney Careers and Employability Service The slides from...

Page 1: INTERNATIONAL LAW CAREERS SEMINAR Jenny Keaveney Careers and Employability Service The slides from this talk will be available at: .

INTERNATIONAL LAWCAREERS SEMINAR

Jenny KeaveneyCareers and Employability Service

The slides from this talk will be available at:

www.kent.ac.uk/careers/slides.htm

Wednesday 21st March 2012

Page 2: INTERNATIONAL LAW CAREERS SEMINAR Jenny Keaveney Careers and Employability Service The slides from this talk will be available at: .

What this seminar will cover

• Opportunities with your degree– Employers– Internships– Long-term career opportunities

• How to access these opportunities– Information resources– Making applications

Page 3: INTERNATIONAL LAW CAREERS SEMINAR Jenny Keaveney Careers and Employability Service The slides from this talk will be available at: .

What have past graduates in your subject gone on to do?

• Intern – Special Court for Sierra Leone• Stagiaire – Council of the EU• Assistant - EMCDDA• Junior Adviser - Deutsche Entwicklungsdienst• Trainee Lawyer – Greek law firm • Legal Adviser – Government Legal Service (UK)• English Language Teacher – Japan• Researcher – Black Londoners’ Forum

Plus trainee solicitors, paralegals and postgraduate researchers

Page 4: INTERNATIONAL LAW CAREERS SEMINAR Jenny Keaveney Careers and Employability Service The slides from this talk will be available at: .

What are my opportunities?

• What do you want to do?– What interests you?– Where do you want to work?

• What do you have to offer?– Do you already have a legal

qualification?– Do you have relevant experience?– What else might you need?

Page 5: INTERNATIONAL LAW CAREERS SEMINAR Jenny Keaveney Careers and Employability Service The slides from this talk will be available at: .

A Career as an International Lawyer

First, you will need:- to decide what area of law interests you- to gain a professional law qualification- relevant language skills

Page 6: INTERNATIONAL LAW CAREERS SEMINAR Jenny Keaveney Careers and Employability Service The slides from this talk will be available at: .

Public International Law

“The rules and principles dealing with the conduct of states and of international organizations and with their relations inter se, as well as with some of their relations with individuals”Careers in this field may be based in government, international organisations or academic institutions.

Page 7: INTERNATIONAL LAW CAREERS SEMINAR Jenny Keaveney Careers and Employability Service The slides from this talk will be available at: .

How to start a career in Public International Law

An LLM is a good start! You will also need:• A professional legal qualification • Relevant language skills• Relevant work experience

http://bit.ly/g7lcew

Page 8: INTERNATIONAL LAW CAREERS SEMINAR Jenny Keaveney Careers and Employability Service The slides from this talk will be available at: .

Relevant work experienceEmployers include:

– Inter-governmental organisations, especially the UN and European institutions

–Non-governmental organisations: a very wide range including organisations involved with development, human rights, justice, conflict prevention, disaster relief, environmental protection etc

Experience offered may be permanent or temporary (such as internships/stages), paid or unpaid, in a legal role or in a more general area of work.

Page 9: INTERNATIONAL LAW CAREERS SEMINAR Jenny Keaveney Careers and Employability Service The slides from this talk will be available at: .

What is an internship?• A period of short-term work experience

– usually ranges from one to six months• Usually full-time although some part-

time opportunities may be available• Work may involve research, casework,

project work, drafting, translation, lobbying, administrative tasks

• Often unpaid!• In the EU institutions, internships are

known as stages or as traineeships (and are paid!)

Page 10: INTERNATIONAL LAW CAREERS SEMINAR Jenny Keaveney Careers and Employability Service The slides from this talk will be available at: .

“Stages”• EU organisations which offer stages include:

– European Court of Justice– European Commission– Council of Europe

• Normally start March or Sept and last 5-6 months• Paid or unpaid• Open to both EU and non-EU nationals• Must be able to offer 2 official EU languages• Apply 7 months before the start date• http://ec.europa.eu/stages/index_en.htm

Page 11: INTERNATIONAL LAW CAREERS SEMINAR Jenny Keaveney Careers and Employability Service The slides from this talk will be available at: .

Other internship opportunities

Useful information sources:• International Relations

www.kent.ac.uk/careers/IntRelations.htm• Human Rights

www.kent.ac.uk/careers/workin/humanrights.htm • International Organisations

www.kent.ac.uk/careers/workin/internationalorg.htm

• CECIL www.kent.ac.uk/law/cecil/careers.html/index.html

• Legally Global http://legallyglobal.blogspot.com/ • American Society of International Law

www.asil.org/internships.cfm

Page 12: INTERNATIONAL LAW CAREERS SEMINAR Jenny Keaveney Careers and Employability Service The slides from this talk will be available at: .

Long-term opportunities

• An internship/stage will be useful when applying for permanent posts …

• … but experience in private law can be helpful too“At least 2 years of progressively responsible

professional legal experience is required .. either in an international organisation, or a government, or a

law firm, with experience in international, administrative, commercial and/or criminal law

matters”(UN advertisement for Associate Legal Officer)

Page 13: INTERNATIONAL LAW CAREERS SEMINAR Jenny Keaveney Careers and Employability Service The slides from this talk will be available at: .

Recruiting now!

• The European Personnel Selection Office is currently recruiting administrators in law

• No professional qualification or experience required

• Work involves advising management on legal matters; legal analysis, research and drafting

• Open to nationals of all EU member states• Closes 17 April 2012• Full details at

http://europa.eu/epso/apply/news/news126_en.htmhttp://www.facebook.com/EU.Careers.EPSO

Page 14: INTERNATIONAL LAW CAREERS SEMINAR Jenny Keaveney Careers and Employability Service The slides from this talk will be available at: .

Other useful vacancy sources

• Jobs with the U.N. http://unjobs.org– @UNJobList

• EuroBrussels www.eurobrussels.com– @EuroBrussels

• EurActiv http://jobs.euractiv.com

Page 15: INTERNATIONAL LAW CAREERS SEMINAR Jenny Keaveney Careers and Employability Service The slides from this talk will be available at: .

Private International Law

Concerns the relationship between private individuals, associations and commercial organisationsInvolves the practice of private law in an international context: trade, finance, intellectual property, shipping, corporateOften involves multinational firms and clients

Page 16: INTERNATIONAL LAW CAREERS SEMINAR Jenny Keaveney Careers and Employability Service The slides from this talk will be available at: .

How to start a career in Private International Law

An LLM is not essential but can give you an advantage You will also need:

– A professional legal qualification – Relevant work experience

Language skills are also helpfulMany large law firms sponsor graduates through their professional training

Page 17: INTERNATIONAL LAW CAREERS SEMINAR Jenny Keaveney Careers and Employability Service The slides from this talk will be available at: .

Useful Information Sources

• www.kent.ac.uk/careers/siteslaw.htm• The Student’s Guide to Careers in the

Law (Chambers & Partners)• The Training Contract & Pupillage

Handbook• Target Law• Prospects Law• Lawyer 2B magazine

Page 18: INTERNATIONAL LAW CAREERS SEMINAR Jenny Keaveney Careers and Employability Service The slides from this talk will be available at: .

Application Procedure

• International organisations and large law firms will usually require you to complete an application form

• NGOs and smaller firms may have an application form but more often accept a CV (curriculum vitae) or resumé

• You don’t have to wait for jobs or internships to be advertised – you can send your CV “on spec”

Page 19: INTERNATIONAL LAW CAREERS SEMINAR Jenny Keaveney Careers and Employability Service The slides from this talk will be available at: .

What do international organisations look for in

graduates?• Motivation• International mobility• Interpersonal skills• Cultural awareness• Flexibility/adaptability

All the above in addition to any specific criteria such as education, nationality, language skills and professional experience

Page 20: INTERNATIONAL LAW CAREERS SEMINAR Jenny Keaveney Careers and Employability Service The slides from this talk will be available at: .

Making your application stand out

• Show what you can offer that will help you do the job (knowledge, skills, experience …)

• Give evidence of all the required qualities

• Be clear and concise• Relate your application to the job -

highlight your most relevant skills and experience

• Your spelling, grammar and use of language must be perfect!

Page 21: INTERNATIONAL LAW CAREERS SEMINAR Jenny Keaveney Careers and Employability Service The slides from this talk will be available at: .

Help with making applications

• Careers Service web pages www.kent.ac.uk/careers/applicn.htm

• Advice on your application from a careers adviser. Book an appointment or just drop in www.kent.ac.uk/careers/dutyca.htm

• Booklets, DVDs and reference books/files

Page 22: INTERNATIONAL LAW CAREERS SEMINAR Jenny Keaveney Careers and Employability Service The slides from this talk will be available at: .

THE CAREERS & EMPLOYABILITY SERVICE …

• Open 9-5, Monday-Friday, in term-time and vacation

• Drop in at any time to see the duty careers adviser, or to use the Careers Information Room or networked PCs and IT resources

• or email us: – [email protected]

• or phone 01227 823480/1

Jenny KeaveneyCareers Adviser