The CBA Young Lawyer International Program, funded by Global Affairs Canada as part of the federal government’s Youth Employment Strategy, is underway for the 2018-2019 internship year. The recruitment process has begun and the timelines for this year’s cohort – expected to be the largest in YLIP’s 16-year history – are being carved out as the program progresses.
The pool of up to 32 young lawyers and law graduates participating in YLIP as legal interns this year will range from lawyers in public and private practice to recent graduates of eligible law programs, many of whom have specialized areas of academic/research focus and/or specialized areas of practical experience. Together, they will be able to contribute a broad range of experience, expertise and practical skills to our host partner organizations. In turn, the host partner organizations will offer legal interns a wide range of practical experience, helping them develop skills and perspective in the fields of justice and development.
The interns will gather in Ottawa this summer to participate in training aimed at preparing them for their international work experience that will begin in the fall. This pre-departure training serves as both an orientation setting out YLIPs expectations of legal interns as representatives of the CBA overseas, as well as training on matters of safety while living overseas, guidance on preparatory logistics prior to departure and practical skill development.
New this year, interns will be introduced to the concept of trauma-informed legal representation and vicarious trauma experienced by front-line service providers. In addition, the training will incorporate content that touches upon Global Affairs Canada’s cross-cutting themes of gender equality, environmental sustainability and governance.
Interns will also have a chance to learn first-hand from some of the more than 160 YLIP alumni about the finer details of participating in the program.
Placement areas for the next four years will include the African countries of South Africa, Namibia, Madagascar and Kenya; Guyana in the Caribbean; Kyrgyzstan in Central Asia, Vietnam and Myanmar in Asia; as well as the European countries of Ukraine and Serbia. Partner organizations include local, national and international NGOs operating on a wide range of mandates, including: promoting environmental justice, combatting corruption, supporting sustainable democratic reform, advocacy in support of gender equality, women’s rights, children’s rights and human rights of marginalized groups and vulnerable populations, public interest litigation, advocacy on behalf of the rights of Indigenous peoples, increasing access to justice by the provision of legal aid services in the areas of criminal, youth, civil and family law, advocacy relating to access to information laws, promoting the rule of law and more.
YLIP is currently accepting applications to create an inventory of eligible candidates to fill any vacancies that might remain after the initial recruitment and placement cycle has completed. See the YLIP website for details.