Position: Summer Research and Advocacy Intern
Application Deadline: November 11, 2019 (however, 1Ls may submit their applications by December 1)
Position Dates: May 11 – July 31, 2020 (exact dates are negotiable)
Hours: Full-time
The Cornell Center on the Death Penalty Worldwide seeks law student interns for full-time positions in summer 2020. The ideal candidate will have strong legal research and writing skills and a demonstrated commitment to human rights, the abolition of the death penalty, and/or criminal justice reform. The internship is full-time and typically requires a 10 to 12-week commitment. While the internship is unpaid, the Center is willing to work with interns to secure funding.
There is a possibility that this position will involve international travel, which would be covered by the Center. International travel is not required.
Responsibilities:
Interns will have the opportunity to gain valuable experience working closely with the Center’s attorneys. Interns will:
• Research and analyze death penalty laws and practices through the lens of international human rights law;
• Contribute research to the Death Penalty Worldwide Database, the world’s most comprehensive source of legal information on death penalty laws and practices;
• Assist as needed with research and outreach in preparation for the Center’s annual Makwanyane Institute for capital defense lawyers, which will take place in June 2020;
• Contribute research to the Center’s Alice Project, which focuses on the rights of women facing capital punishment;
• Monitor the press and social media for developments in death penalty law and practice;
• Assist with the design and implementation of human rights communication strategies on social media platforms.
Qualifications:
This is a legal internship, open to J.D. and LL.M students only. We seek students with:
• Excellent research, writing, and communication skills, and
• A demonstrated commitment to human rights issues.
• French is strongly preferred, but not required.
Relevant coursework and other foreign language skills (particularly Arabic, Farsi, and Chinese) are an advantage.
To Apply:
Applicants should send the following materials to [email protected] with the subject line “DPW Summer 2020 Legal Internship”:
1. Cover letter explaining their interest in the Center and its work, any relevant experience, and what they hope to gain from the internship; and
2. CV or resume.
References and writing samples may be requested from short-listed candidates. Please note that applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis, so applicants are encouraged to apply as soon as possible.
About the Cornell Center on the Death Penalty Worldwide
The Cornell Center on the Death Penalty Worldwide aims to bridge critical gaps in research and advocacy around the death penalty. First, the Center provides comprehensive, transparent data on the death penalty laws and practices of all countries and territories that retain the death penalty. Second, it publishes reports and manuals on issues of practical relevance to defense lawyers, governments, courts, and organizations grappling with questions relating to the application of the death penalty around the world. Third, it engages in targeted advocacy focusing on the implementation of fair trial standards and the rights of those who come into conflict with the law, including juveniles, women, and individuals with intellectual disabilities and mental illnesses. Finally, it provides training through the Makwanyane Institute to a cadre of competitively chosen Fellows, who undergo intensive capital defense training with the intent to return home and share their knowledge with other capital defenders around the globe. More information is available at http://www.deathpenaltyworldwide.org.
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