International positions from a non-T14? Forum

[Bodhicaryavatara]

I am a T2 JD grad, currently clerking for a judge. By the time I start looking for permanent positions, I'll have two years of FTLT legal experience under my belt, plus an MA from an Ivy relevant to international work and fluency in three languages (and proficiency in a fourth). I've done volunteer work abroad with NGOs in undergrad, and refugee/asylum work domestically. While clerking, in my free time I'm doing volunteer pro bono research assistance for an international human rights advocacy org (largely country conditions research). Is international law a pipe dream, given how prestige-hungry some employers can be? I do know of three young grads from my T2 who work abroad-one in Haiti (NGO), one in UAE (private sector), and the other in Rwanda (NGO).

[Anonymous User]

You need to be more specific about what kind of international law you are looking for. The "international law" that biglaw firms practice is for the most part limited to cross-border transactions, international arbitration, and to a lesser degree trade law (i.e. sanctions and international trade).

It seems from your background that you are looking for international human rights law. This is something that biglaw does not do because it is not profitable enough. You can certainly try to work at NGOs, academia and probably some multilateral entities such as the UN. I am not familiar with this area but I understand that some of the most prestigious of such positions can be extremely hard to get (unsurprisingly). If this is what interest you it may be a good idea to try to talk with some professor of human rights at your law school so you can discuss that path.

[Bodhicaryavatara]

You need to be more specific about what kind of international law you are looking for. The "international law" that biglaw firms practice is for the most part limited to cross-border transactions, international arbitration, and to a lesser degree trade law (i.e. sanctions and international trade).

It seems from your background that you are looking for international human rights law. This is something that biglaw does not do because it is not profitable enough. You can certainly try to work at NGOs, academia and probably some multilateral entities such as the UN. I am not familiar with this area but I understand that some of the most prestigious of such positions can be extremely hard to get (unsurprisingly). If this is what interest you it may be a good idea to try to talk with some professor of human rights at your law school so you can discuss that path.

Thank you! I will definitely talk to the prof at my law school that focuses on international human rights. I have zero interest in Big Law. My interests are gender violence, refugee protection, and child advocacy.