[Hiring] Human Rights Accountability Legal Intern @Human Rights First

Role Description

The Accountability Legal Intern will assist with research and analysis aimed at strengthening our team’s ability to effectively advocate for targeted sanctions against human rights abusers and corrupt officials around the world using Magnitsky-style sanctions programs from the U.S., UK, EU, Canada, and Australia.

• Perform legal and policy background research.
• Maintain databases to improve understanding of the applicability, use, and effects of different sanctions programs.
• Conduct research and writing related to specific instances of serious human rights abuse and/or corruption.
• Identify individuals for consideration as possible designees under various government sanctions programs.
• Conduct research and draft materials to support Congressional advocacy efforts.
• Engage with a diverse range of partners.
• Support efforts to protect accountability institutions and human rights activists from attack.

Qualifications

• Strong research and writing skills.
• Significant knowledge of the human rights context in at least one region of the world.
• Knowledge of human rights issues facing vulnerable and marginalized groups.
• Ability to apply legal standards to the facts of specific cases.
• Knowledge of human rights and/or anti-corruption concepts, methods, statutes, and instruments desirable.
• Strong organizational skills.
• Foreign language skills desirable.

Requirements

• Law student (J.D. or LLM) preferred.
• Must be located in the United States.

Benefits

• Gain professional experience in legal analysis and persuasive writing.
• Opportunity for additional responsibilities based on performance.

Application Instructions

• Please include a cover letter, resume, and two writing samples (ideally related to human rights or corruption).

Compensation

• Unpaid

Submission Deadline

• July 24, 2026

Start Date

• September 8, 2026

End Date

• December 11, 2026

Time Commitment

• 10-12 hours/week