Im a resident in India and completed my Bachelors of Law degree few days back.I really want to work in some international organisation(UNCTAD, UNDP, UNICEF etc.)but that would require a LL.M. and work experience.
I have a flair for writing and communications and have work experience in that arena too.
Im confused abt my choice of specialization subject, which could supplement my skills and could help me in my pursuit of an international org job. PLEASE HELP ME, i dont have much days left to decide on this issue.PLEASE HELP.

1) Sign up for some internship (e.g. pick something from here: http://www.pubintel.org/internships.html).
2) Work hard and establish useful connections.
3) Keep asking your boss-crew about possibilities of future work within the institution and whether they can "help".

Should work.

Thank u so much.

Hi
your advices seem fantastic, please can i have one too??
I am about to graduate in phylosophy in italy (3 years degree) and i am asking for a scholarship: i want to take a LLM in international law or HUman rights law, couse i want to work in the international org as well.FIrst question: where do i apply? (remember, i don't have a LLB so i might have few chances in many unis).
Second question: i am taking a year off, i thought of volunteering to get some "field" experience, Brasil is my choise.
Any special advice for this decision??
Thank you so much,
maria

Hi guys here is my experience with this topic!
Its been my longtime dream to work at UN nations or any other int. organization. Well im finally on my wai to achieve this dream and the best advice ican give you is to do an internship.
here you will acquire a lot of experience that you will not get anywhere else.

Go to this website and you ll find a very long list of all the un agencies that offer internship and also their requirements:
http://www.un.org/esa/socdev/unyin/internships.htm

I applied to do an internship at the UN office in Vienna, Austria and got accepted. Im very happy about it and I will begin my internship on May 4 until September 4, 2009. The im leaving to London on September 25 so begin my LLM in Public International Law at University College London (UCL). after I come back to my home country I have a very very good chance to work here at a un agency because they just opened in my country the exact same office im going to do my internship in vienna,,,what a coincidence dont ou think! the people from vienna told me to meet the person who is change of that office here in my country and we have already behan to work together before I leave and he has told me that after i come back from my mastr degree next year i have a very strong chance to work with them. So lets see what happens! Im going to do my best at the internship and stay in touch with them while im doing my LLM so they dont forget about me.

So yes, you need first to obtain your master degree and if you dont have at least 2 years of working experience then an internship for at least 4 months would also allow you to e considered in the UN.

So just keep on dreaming and never stop trying to be better every time!

MARIA, your idea of volunteering is excelent. They love this and this is a quality they look for everytime. I also volunteer a lot with several organizations and also i give you a tip. Go to UN Online volunteering service, There you can volunteer online with several organization you choose and when u finish they give a certificate and an assessment of your work.

I hope this helps and if you have any further questions just ask!

GOOD LUCK!! :)

hi!
thank you so much for your help and good luck with your intership.
I was having a look at the websites you told me, they are very useful,
i am also looking for a LLM in human rights or human rights law (which i like more) . How did you find your LLm? i guess that for me its different as i said, couse i am not a law graduated, but i think that in the end i should be able to find some good opportunities anyway.

Thanks again for the websites and... good luck.
maria

is there some salary for internship? is it enough for your living expenses?

is there some salary for internship? is it enough for your living expenses?

As far as I'm aware all of the UN internships pay nothing - I always find this highly ironic given that the UN has virtual global membership, but it's blatantly obvious that students from poorer countries or backgrounds would never be able to afford the cost of an internship or find funding. In fact, most students from any country can't afford the internship after the cost of law school.

Pucca, well done for getting an internship (I don't mean to be negative) and I definitely think it will be worth it.

Dont worry kerfufly i totally understand and agree with you.

In my case im from what its considered a third world country (Republic of Panama) and believe me, my parents are helping me to fund this internship because otherwise I wouldnt have been able to go there.

I hope that in the near future they give at least some sort of financial help or at least help with the visa proceedings and accommodation search because i did everything over the internet and it takes a lot of time and effort.

Am I correct when saying that most internships in the UN system requires that one is still a student while attending the internship? I am looking to gain some interesting experiences from working at the UN, but will not be able to do so while beeing student. However, I was hoping to do so between my stuides now and the LLM next year (fall semester). Any advice would be much appreciated!

Hi there. Well you should go to this website, that show a really complete list of all the agencies on the UN that offer internships as well as their requirements.
Go to this website and you ll find a very long list of all the un agencies that offer internship and also their requirements:
www.un.org/esa/socdev/unyin/internships.htm

Most of them required that you are a postgraduate student (master's) at the time you apply, begin and finish your internship.

In my case I applied to UN Vienna and Im attending uni at the moment but Im not doing an LLM yet, Im studying a degree in English. But at the time I applied I also informed them that I had been accepted to do my LLM at UCL so maybe thats why they made they decision to accept me I dont know. Just check the list that appears on that website and there you ll find the exact requirements.

Good Luck :o)

UN interships are not paid. However, there are some scholarships (from external sources). Secondly, an internship in Vienna is not that expensive and it will be extremely helpful for your future career. Also, most internships are not very time consuming (generally not more than 35 hours a week). Therefore, it is also possible to find a paid "student job" (e.g. catering four days/month) in order to pay some of the living costs. Good luck!

Yes, thats exacly right Hanna. Are you in Vienna?

Kisses and hugges :o)