International Law Fellowship (Gabrielle Kirk McDonald BASIL Fellowship) at the American Society of International Law, Washington DC [Six Months, Full-Time]

The American Society of International Law (ASIL) is accepting applications for the Gabrielle Kirk McDonald BASIL Fellowship, a six-month opportunity offered under the ASIL International Law Fellows Program. The Fellowship is named for the distinguished jurist and former Honorary President of the Society, and is supported through contributions from members of BASIL (Blacks of the American Society of International Law), a group established in 2014 “to affirm, fortify, and evolve the long-standing tradition of Black international lawyers, jurists, and academics in the United States”.

ASIL’s Career Opportunities page lists the International Law Fellow among its current openings and records that the positions are full-time, with fellows working at Tillar House, the Society’s Washington DC headquarters. Fellows work with their supervisor to identify areas of professional interest that can be developed during the fellowship, and they may select and attend internationally themed events in the active Washington DC international law community.

ASIL is a nonprofit, nonpartisan educational membership organisation founded in 1906 and chartered by Congress in 1950. It holds Category II Consultative Status with the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations and is a constituent society of the American Council of Learned Societies. The Society is headquartered at Tillar House in Washington DC, and its mission is to foster the study of international law and to promote the establishment and maintenance of international relations on the basis of law and justice.

The ASIL International Law Fellowship Program is intended to give young legal professionals additional skills across the Society’s research, education and outreach work. The listed areas of work are:

• International legal research, including programme design, syllabi and course development, and research and editorial support for ASIL’s publications.
• Legal education programme management, including continuing legal education, public awareness and public policy activities.
• Event planning, including speaker selection and coordination, outreach and venue logistics.
• Insight into the operation of an international non-profit organisation, covering elements of organisational structure, administration and management.

Fellows also have the opportunity to attend various internationally themed virtual events organised by ASIL and its partners.

Fellows additionally provide support to BASIL, working directly with the BASIL co-chairs and task force members on a range of initiatives. Specific duties may include designing and supporting programmes that increase the number of Black students and lawyers interested in international law and improve the ability of Black practitioners to access job opportunities in the field; writing and reporting on matters of particular interest to Black international lawyers; and assisting with the development of a directory of Blacks in international law.

Successful applicants will:

• Have obtained a graduate degree in law (J.D. or LL.M.) prior to the start of the Fellowship.
• Evidence strong writing and editorial skills.
• Show experience of working in a professional environment and on programme implementation.
• Have a demonstrated interest in international law.

Experience of working on a journal, and coursework or work experience in international law, is strongly preferred. The Fellowships require the ability, initiative and judgment to work independently and to implement projects successfully from beginning to end.

ASIL states on its Career Opportunities page that it is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, colour, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, national origin, marital status, citizenship, disability, veteran status, or on any other basis prohibited by law, and that it encourages all qualified individuals to apply. The notice does not set out any nationality restriction, and it does not address work authorisation or visa support, so applicants outside the United States should raise that directly with the Society before applying.

Applicants should send the following to jobs@asil.org with “Law Fellow” in the subject line:

• A cover letter.
• A resume.
• An unedited writing sample (an excerpt not exceeding 10 pages).
• Two (2) letters of recommendation. Send scanned copies of signed letters, or have them emailed directly to ASIL with the applicant’s name in the subject line.

Incomplete applications will not be considered.

There is no fixed closing date. ASIL states that applications will be considered on a rolling basis and that it would like to have someone start as soon as possible. Applicants should be sure to include their desired start date and their current location in the application materials.

Because the call is rolling, interested candidates should apply early and should check the Society’s Career Opportunities page, which continues to list the International Law Fellow among its current openings.

There is no application fee. ASIL’s notice does not state any stipend, salary or other remuneration for the Fellowship, so applicants should confirm the compensation position with the Society before accepting an offer.