Position Title: Intern (Legal)
Duty Station: Bangkok, Thailand (Homebased)
Type of Appointment: Internship Contract, 5 months
Closing Date of Vacancy: 14 August 2025
Expected Start Date : As soon as possible
Established in 1951, IOM is a Related Organization of the United Nations, and as the leading UN agency in the field of migration, works closely with governmental, intergovernmental and non-governmental partners. IOM is dedicated to promoting humane and orderly migration for the benefit of all. It does so by providing services and advice to governments, the private sector, and migrants.
Context
The Office of Legal Affairs (LEG) provides legal advice to the Director General, the Deputy Directors General, the Regional Offices, Country Offices, and other Departments and Offices of the Organization. LEG provides support to ensure that the activities and operations of the Organization are carried out in accordance with the Legal Framework governing IOM, including the IOM Constitution, decisions of the governing bodies of IOM, the Unified Staff Regulations and Rules, the Financial Regulations and Rules, IOM instructions and international law.
LEG is comprised of three divisions, the Contracts Law Division (LEGCR), the General and Administrative Law Division (LEGGL), and the Institutional Law and Programme Support Division (LEGPS), and the Regional Legal Hubs in Bangkok and in Nairobi. The Regional Legal Hubs address the legal matters that arise in their respective Region, in coordination with the three Divisions of LEG.
RESPONSIBILITIES
Supervision
Under the overall supervision of the Senior Regional Legal Officer, and the direct supervision of Regional Legal Officer, the intern will support the Regional Legal Hub in Bangkok (ROAP LEG) on a variety of in-house legal issues.
Core Functions/Responsibilities:
Under the supervision of the Regional Legal Officer, and in accordance with the overall direction of the Senior Regional Legal Officer, the Intern will have the following duties and responsibilities:
- Support LEG to work on a variety of in-house legal issues, including IOM’s legal status, privileges and immunities, constitution and mandate of IOM, compliance with IOM’s internal rules and regulations;
- Assist in review of contracts and agreements for IOM offices and provide timely advice on contractual legal issues;
- Prepare draft responses to basic inquiries related to the interpretation and application of IOM rules and regulations;
- Conduct legal research and analysis on issues of international law, which may include issues of international civil service law, privileges and immunities, institutional law, or contract law;
- Prepare background notes on specific legal issues;
- Assist in preparing or reviewing documents, reports, or papers on various legal issues;
- Assist in tracking monitoring cases and requests; and,
Training components and learning elements
The Intern will be exposed to the work of all three Divisions of LEG. He/she will gain experience in public international law issues, in particular privileges and immunities of IOM, contract law, data protection and intellectual property. The Intern will learn how the day-to-day work of LEG evolves and will be able to contribute to it by using basic legal knowledge from his/her studies.
The Intern will gain experience in working in an international multicultural environment, within the United Nations system. He/she will gain experience in organization, management, and international cooperation activities and have a better understanding of IOM’s work, as an inter-governmental organization in the field of Migration. The Intern will have the possibility to interact with IOM staff within the Headquarters, the Regional Office and IOM Country Offices.
It is expected that the intern will gain knowledge in the following areas:
- Public International Law
- Law of International Organizations
- Contract Law
- Privileges and Immunities of International Organizations
QUALIFICATIONS
Eligibility and Selection
The Internship Programme aims at attracting talented students and graduates who have a specific interest in, or whose studies have covered, areas relevant to IOM programmes and activities. Interns must be between 20 and 36 years old and should have less than two years of relevant working experience. The Internship Programme is open to candidates of any nationality.
Required Qualifications and Experience:
Education:
Completed or ongoing university degree in law, from an accredited academic institution; master’s degree, in particular in international law, is an advantage
Experience:
- Experience with or knowledge of UN or alike organizations, in particular in their legal department, is an advantage.
- Ability to work effectively and harmoniously in a team of colleagues of varied cultural and professional backgrounds.
- Ability to produce quality work accurately and concisely according to set deadlines in accordance with instructions and guidelines.
- Practical experience on how to multi-task, prioritize and work independently.
Skills:
- Good analytical, drafting and research skills.
- Excellent communication skills.
- Good level of computer literacy.
- Strong organizational skills.
Language:
Required:
For this position, fluency in English is required (oral and written).
Desirable:
Working knowledge of French and/or Spanish is an advantage.
- Inclusion and respect for diversity: Respects and promotes individual and cultural differences. Encourages diversity and inclusion.
- Integrity and transparency: Maintains high ethical standards and acts in a manner consistent with organizational principles/rules and standards of conduct.
- Professionalism: Demonstrates ability to work in a composed, competent and committed manner and exercises careful judgment in meeting day-to-day challenges.
- Courage: Demonstrates willingness to take a stand on issues of importance.
- Empathy: Shows compassion for others, makes people feel safe, respected and fairly treated.
- Teamwork: Develops and promotes effective collaboration within and across units to achieve shared goals and optimize results.
- Delivering results: Produces and delivers quality results in a service-oriented and timely manner. Is action oriented and committed to achieving agreed outcomes.
- Managing and sharing knowledge: Continuously seeks to learn, share knowledge and innovate.
- Accountability: Takes ownership for achieving the Organization’s priorities and assumes responsibility for own actions and delegated work. Communication: Encourages and contributes to clear and open communication. Explains complex matters in an informative, inspiring and motivational way.
How to apply:
Interested candidates are invited to submit their applications via IOM e-Recruitment system the above-mentioned deadline at 11:59 p.m. (Bangkok time) referring to this advertisement. Please attach the following documents in your application:
Applications should include:
- Cover letter
- Curriculum vitae
- 1-2 writing samples, optional (relevant topic of your choice).
- Any offer made to the candidate in relation to this vacancy notice is subject to funding confirmation.
- Appointment will be subject to certification that the candidate is medically fit for appointment, verification of residency, visa, and authorizations by the concerned Government, where applicable.
- Depending on experience and location, interns are granted a small monthly stipend to help offset costs. Interns benefiting from an internship allowance or scholarship granted by his/her university or other sponsoring body that includes financial remuneration or credits for coursework will not be eligible for the stipend.
- IOM covers Interns against occupational accidents and illnesses under the Compensation Plan (CP), free of charge, for the duration of the assignment. IOM does not provide evacuation or medical insurance for reasons related to non-occupational accidents and illnesses. Interns are responsible for their own medical insurance for non-occupational accident or illness and will be required to provide written proof of such coverage before commencing work.
- IOM has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and IOM, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination based on gender, nationality, age, race, sexual orientation, religious or ethnic background or disabilities.
- IOM does not charge a fee at any stage of its recruitment process (application, interview, processing, training or other fee). IOM does not request any information related to bank accounts.
- IOM only accepts duly completed applications submitted through the IOM online recruitment system. The online tool also allows candidates to track the status of their application.