The World Bank Legal Internship Program provides a unique opportunity for highly motivated law students to immerse themselves in the mission and operations of the World Bank, specifically within the Legal Vice Presidency. This program invites individuals to bring fresh perspectives, innovative ideas, and the latest research experiences to enhance the World Bank’s daily functions while refining their legal skills in a diverse, multicultural setting.
The primary aim of this initiative is to offer firsthand exposure to the day-to-day workings of the World Bank by closely collaborating with Legal Vice Presidency staff. As an integral part of our team, interns will work directly with exceptional development professionals and senior management, contributing to the legal services provided by the Legal Vice Presidency. Additionally, interns will have the opportunity to participate in prominent events and conferences organized during their internship term.
The World Bank Legal Internship Program is available three times a year, allowing for a maximum internship duration of three months at the World Bank Headquarters in Washington, D.C., and select country offices. Eligibility for participation requires current enrollment in a law school program (LLB, JD, LLM, SJD, PhD, or equivalent) during the internship period.
Are you eligible to intern in the Legal Vice Presidency?
- Do you hold citizenship in any member state of the IBRD (International Bank for Reconstruction and Development)?
- Are you currently enrolled in an LLB, JD, LLM, SJD, PhD, or equivalent legal academic program while undertaking your internship? For instance, if applying for the Summer Cycle of the Legal Internship Program, applicants must be enrolled in an eligible legal academic program between June and August.
If you possess a strong command of the English language and meet the specified criteria, you are eligible to apply for an internship in the World Bank’s Legal Vice Presidency. Candidates with proficiency in a second language, especially one of the IBRD’s working languages (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian, or Spanish), are preferred.
Summer Internship Program:
Applications for the Summer Internship Program will be open from December 1 to December 31, typically offering a 10-12 week internship period between June and August. This program provides an excellent opportunity for law students to gain professional experience at the World Bank during the summer while enrolled in a law program.
Internships at Country Offices:
Internship opportunities at field offices are limited to locations where a lawyer from the Legal Vice Presidency is present.
Additional Information:
Visa: Participants must hold valid student visas sponsored by their educational institutions. The World Bank will assist in visa attainment only in exceptional cases.
Compensation: Participants are not remunerated monetarily by the World Bank. However, they must secure funding sources to cover their internship duration as per World Bank Group policies.
Medical Insurance: Interns are responsible for their medical insurance coverage during the internship period.
Selection Process: Interns are chosen through a competitive selection process, maintaining the World Bank Group’s equal opportunity employment principles.
Onboarding: The Legal Vice Presidency conducts a brief onboarding session at the start of each Summer, Fall, and Spring Internship Program for incoming interns.
Performance Evaluations: The World Bank does not provide performance evaluations for participants in the Legal Internship Program.
Application Procedure:
Kindly use the provided link to upload the following documents:
- Résumé
- Statement of Interest
- Documentation verifying your enrollment in a legal studies program and providing academic transcripts
- A brief composition addressing a research query presented by the Legal Vice Presidency for the ongoing application term
For more details,
The application deadline is December 31, 2023
