The Young Lawyers Internship Program, one of the CBA’s most popular initiatives, is back on track with government funding to support another four years’ work.
The federal government announced its International Youth Internship Program grants on Feb. 5. As part of that program, CBA International Initiatives has received a grant which will provide funding for 32 interns each year, over the next four years, to be placed with organizations around the world to work with locals on rule-of-law and human rights initiatives.
The program officially begins April 1, 2018, with the hiring of a project manager, who will then start the application process for young lawyers and law graduates under 30 years of age. The deadline for applications will likely be in May. After a two-month preparation process, the work of the interns will begin with boots on the ground in September.
Interns will be matched with well-established and respected partner organizations in areas such as Southern Africa, East Africa, the Caribbean, Central and Southeast Asia, and Eastern Europe and the Balkans. They will spend a minimum of six months in their placement countries promoting democratic development by supporting the partners’ work in areas such as strengthening rule of law, protecting human and environmental rights, and increasing access to justice. Many placements will directly support work toward environmental sustainability, access to justice, gender equality, and the empowerment of women and girls.
The practical experience gained on these internship placements will enhance the employment prospects of young Canadian lawyers hoping to build careers in international development. And our partners benefit from the professional skills and innovative approaches to legal development that the interns provide.
The CBA has been running the Young Lawyers Internship Program since 2002. The last CBA Young Lawyers Internship Program wrapped up in March 2017.
For more information about the program or how to apply, please contact Claudia de Oliveira at claudiad@cba.org.