About the Internship
The Permanent Bureau of the HCCH seeks legal interns to assist HCCH staff members in the discharge of their duties and in their day-to-day work.
It is also an excellent opportunity for students who, in the context of their degree studies or their doctoral research, wish to gain practical educational work experience, to deepen their knowledge of private international law, and to understand how the HCCH functions.
The application period is now open for three- to six-month legal internships at the Permanent Bureau in The Hague, for the period from September 2026 to February 2027.
Conventions and Projects
The Permanent Bureau in The Hague is seeking interns to work on the following Conventions and projects:
- In the Family and Child Protection Law Division:
- 1980 Child Abduction Convention & 1996 Child Protection Convention
- 1993 Adoption Convention & Parentage / Surrogacy Project
- 2000 Protection of Adults Convention
- 2007 Child Support Convention and Maintenance Obligations Protocol
- Recognition and Enforcement of Protection Orders Project
- In the Transnational Litigation and Apostille Division
- 1961 Apostille Convention (including e-APP)
- 1965 Service Convention, 1970 Evidence Convention & 1980 Access to Justice Convention
- 2005 Choice of Court Convention
- 2019 Judgments Convention
- Jurisdiction Project
- In the Commercial, Digital and Financial Law Division:
- Central Bank Digital Currencies Project
- Carbon Markets Project
- Digital Tokens Project
- Digital Economy Project
- 1985 Trusts Convention
- 2006 Securities Convention
- 2015 Choice of Law Principles
Applicants are encouraged to rank, in the order of their interest, their preferences in relation to the specific Division of the Permanent Bureau that they are applying to intern at.
Eligibility
The HCCH Internship Programme is open to those currently studying law at the Bachelor, Masters, J.D, and PhD. level and to those who have already been awarded a law degree or Masters.
For students currently enrolled in a Bachelor’s programme, please note that preference may be given to those in the later stages of their studies.
Indian students are allowed to apply.
Internship Duration
3 to 6 months
Deadline
April 20, 2026, 9.30 pm IST.
Language Requirements
The intern should be fluent in English, French or Spanish. Knowledge of the other two languages is an asset. Knowledge of any other languages may also be an advantage.
Application Procedure
Prospective applicants should complete the online application form given at the end of the post and submit the following supporting documentation:
- a letter of motivation (one page maximum)
- a curriculum vitae (CV)
- a transcript of academic records or statement of academic results
- an academic writing sample (an excerpt of any of your essays or papers, in English, French, or Spanish)
- at least one letter of recommendation
Please note, all documents should be submitted in PDF format and named in the following way:
[FAMILY NAME] [First Name] [Document Number] – [Document Name]
E.g.:
SMITH John 1 – Letter of Motivation
SMITH John 2 – CV
Candidates are expected to be contacted by e-mail regarding the outcome of their application approximately one month from the date of the closing of applications.
Shortlisted candidates will be invited to participate in a video interview to assess their qualifications and motivations.
Stipend and Accommodation
Internships offered by the Permanent Bureau are not remunerated. Successful applicants are responsible for their travel costs and expenses for the duration of the internship.
The Permanent Bureau is not able to provide accommodation for interns, but successful applicants will be provided with a document from the Permanent Bureau with useful tips for finding accommodation in The Hague.
Please note that successful applicants will be required, upon arrival, to provide an address for the purposes of registration with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Contact Details
For additional information about the HCCH internship programme, please contact: internships@hcch.net.
Click here for the application form!
Disclaimer: Charging money from students for internships or from job applicants is unethical and can result in blacklisting. We strongly discourage requesting any kind of payment from interns, including processing fees or charges for certificates. If you have any concerns, please contact us at contact@lawctopus.com