UNICEF Legal Internships 2026 in New York and Copenhagen

UNICEF is accepting applications for two Legal Internships in 2026, offering law students and recent law graduates an opportunity to gain practical legal experience within a major United Nations organization. The internships are with UNICEF’s Office of the Executive Director Legal Team, with opportunities in New York, United States, and Copenhagen, Denmark.

The internships will run for six months, and applicants can indicate their preferred location in their cover letter. UNICEF is looking for highly motivated candidates interested in international organizations, legal research, policy, institutional law and international development.

About the UNICEF Legal Internships 2026

UNICEF operates in more than 190 countries and territories, working to protect children’s rights and improve their wellbeing. Its Legal Team provides strategic legal support to UNICEF business units worldwide and advises the organization on legal, institutional, operational and reputational risks.

The UNICEF Legal Internships 2026 are designed to provide law students and recent graduates with direct exposure to the legal work of an international organization.

Selected interns will have opportunities to develop their legal research, analytical and drafting skills while collaborating with UNICEF Legal Team professionals on different assignments.

Internship Overview

Detail	Information
Organization	UNICEF
Position	Legal Intern
Job Number	595144
Locations	New York & Copenhagen
Duration	6 months
Contract	Internship
Field	Legal Affairs
Professional experience	Not required
Deadline	13 September 2026

The vacancy was officially advertised on 31 August 2026, with applications closing on 13 September 2026, Eastern Daylight Time.

What Will UNICEF Legal Interns Do?

The interns will work on assignments that provide exposure to the legal and institutional issues encountered by an international organization.

Responsibilities may include conducting legal research on matters connected with UNICEF’s mandate, programmes, partnerships, operations and institutional framework.

Interns may also assist in preparing legal memoranda, briefing notes, presentations, correspondence and other legal documents.

Other responsibilities can include reviewing legal and policy materials, supporting knowledge-management initiatives, preparing background information for meetings, attending meetings and producing summaries or notes.

Interns may also contribute to other Legal Team projects depending on organizational requirements and their own qualifications and interests.

Who Can Apply for the UNICEF Legal Internships?

The opportunity is particularly suitable for law students and recent law graduates.

Applicants must satisfy at least one of UNICEF’s educational requirements. They must either be enrolled in a graduate law programme such as an LL.M., J.D. or equivalent, be in the final academic year of their first university law degree, or have graduated from such a programme within the previous two years.

This makes the internship particularly relevant to students seeking international exposure before beginning or progressing further in their legal careers.

Is Previous Work Experience Required?

One of the most attractive aspects of the UNICEF Legal Internship is that professional legal experience is not required.

However, previous academic, research, volunteer or internship experience involving areas such as international law, public law, commercial law or related disciplines is desirable.

This means students should highlight relevant university research, legal clinics, moot court participation, volunteering, previous internships and other relevant activities in their applications where applicable.

Skills Required

UNICEF is looking for candidates who demonstrate strong legal research and analytical capabilities alongside excellent written communication and drafting skills.

Applicants should also be able to work effectively in a multicultural environment and demonstrate good organizational ability and attention to detail.

Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications is also expected. UNICEF specifically requires candidates to demonstrate a constructive and client-oriented approach to problem-solving.

Language Requirements

Applicants must be fluent in English.

Knowledge of Spanish is desirable, while knowledge of another official UN language—Arabic, Chinese, French or Russian—will be considered an additional asset.

New York and Copenhagen Internship Locations

UNICEF is recruiting two interns, with opportunities connected to its offices in New York and Copenhagen.

Applicants should state their preferred location, if they have one, in their cover letter.

This is important because candidates interested specifically in either the United States or Denmark opportunity should make their preference clear when preparing their application.

UNICEF Competencies

Beyond academic qualifications, candidates should demonstrate qualities aligned with UNICEF’s professional competency framework.

These include the ability to build partnerships, demonstrate ethical awareness, achieve results, embrace change, manage complexity, think strategically and collaborate effectively with others.

Candidates can strengthen their applications by demonstrating these qualities through concrete examples from academic projects, internships, volunteering, student organizations or previous employment.

Application Deadline

Applications for the UNICEF Legal Internships 2026 must be submitted by:

13 September 2026 – Eastern Daylight Time.

The internships were advertised on 31 August 2026, so prospective applicants should avoid waiting until the final day to submit their applications.

How to Apply for UNICEF Legal Internships 2026

Candidates should apply online through UNICEF’s official recruitment system and reference Job No. 595144.

Apply for the UNICEF Legal Internships 2026

Applicants should ensure that their application clearly demonstrates their legal education, research and writing abilities, relevant academic or volunteer experience, language skills and motivation for working with UNICEF.

Candidates should also remember to indicate New York or Copenhagen as their preferred location, where applicable.

UNICEF states that it does not charge any processing or recruitment fees during the application, interview, validation, appointment or training stages.

Why Consider the UNICEF Legal Internship?

For aspiring international lawyers, the internship provides exposure to legal work within the United Nations system without requiring previous professional legal employment.

The combination of legal research, drafting, institutional analysis and collaboration with an international Legal Team could be particularly useful for candidates interested in careers involving international organizations, international law, development, humanitarian affairs, public international law or global policy.

With opportunities available in two major international locations and a six-month duration, the programme offers successful applicants substantial practical exposure early in their legal careers.

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