Intern abroad on a Law & Human Rights placement and gain the skills and experience needed to pursue a career in the legal field
A Projects Abroad Human Rights intern discusses inheritance rights with local women in Tanzania
Press Release – NEW YORK – October 26, 2016 – Applying to law school is a long and challenging process for students aspiring to be a lawyer in the United States. From LSATs to personal statements, students are busy with fulfilling requirements and making sure that their applications stand out from the crowd. An international Law & Human Rights internship with Projects Abroad is ideal for any student looking to set themselves apart and gain skills and experience in the legal field.
Aside from test scores and undergraduate GPAs, there are a number of things that law schools look out for when they read an application, shares Christian Clark, Deputy Director of Projects Abroad USA. “They want to know about the experiences that shaped your perspectives, the challenges you faced and how you overcame them, and what you will bring to the classroom. An internship abroad will give you a lot to talk and write about and you can focus on anything, from the challenge of adjusting to a different environment and culture, to explaining the professional skills you gained while working with local clients.”
Projects Abroad runs a number of Law & Human Rights Projects around the world, working in partnership with law firms, NGOs, and government offices. The organization also funds and runs its own Human Rights Offices in South Africa, Argentina, Ghana, Senegal, and Tanzania. No matter where a student chooses to intern, they will be able to take on practical tasks with the support of local professionals or a Projects Abroad legal team. They can work in various fields, from raising awareness of human trafficking in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, to discussing corporate law with international clients in Shanghai, China. Everything they do is important and has an impact, says Clark. “For example, our interns in South Africa have completed more than 2,000 cases to date, assisting clients who are unable to afford legal help. More than 400 of these cases have involved refugees fleeing civil unrest in Rwanda, Burundi, and the DRC.”
In another example from Argentina in 2015, Human Rights interns helped 20% of the homeless population in Cordoba get free ID cards (these cards are necessary to get a job or visit a doctor). Interns were also instrumental in developing a program called “Abilities for Life”, which aims to empower and support young female victims of abuse.
Projects Abroad accepts undergraduate students of all levels of experience for Law & Human Rights Projects. Programs have flexible start and end dates and can fit any schedule. For more information and to see what you can do and where you can go, please visit www.projects-abroad.org/volunteer-projects/law-and-human-rights.
Projects Abroad was founded in 1992 by Dr. Peter Slowe, a geography professor, as a program for students to travel and work while on break from full-time study. The program had its genesis in post-USSR Romania, where students were given the chance to teach conversational English. After a few years just sending volunteers to Eastern Europe for teaching, the company expanded to sending volunteers of all ages around the world on a wide range of projects.
Projects Abroad is a global leader in short-term international volunteer programs with projects in 30 countries and recruitment offices in the UK, Australia, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Holland, Hong Kong, Norway, Poland, South Africa, South Korea, Sweden and the United States.
For details on volunteering abroad, visit Projects Abroad’s web site at www.projects-abroad.org.
