Definition – Private vs. Public

For international law in the private sector, you may find yourself working with Asian clients on a contract that is going to be completed in the US or you may be working with a US company that wants to open operations in South America. In either case, there is no private international law that will cover the transaction—some country’s law will apply. One BYU alum remarked that doing private international just meant he had to take a call from China at 2:00 am.

Public international law is different. Although there is no overseeing government, the UN and various treaties have resulted in a human rights and criminal system of laws, although their application may be limited. Employers may include the federal government, non-governmental organizations (NGO), or an inter-governmental agency such as the United Nations. In public international law, you have several areas to choose from: activism, academic/research, and government/diplomacy. You also need to decide if you want to work in the field or at headquarters.

Marketing Yourself

Your resume must show a strong interest in and commitment to international law.
You should pursue an international externship during your first summer. You can do this by participating in one of several international externship programs including:
1. International By Request Program
2. The Three Full-summer Externships
3. Fellowships with the Center for Law and Religious Studies
Take all international law classes offered.
Get involved with international groups, such as the International Law & Management Review, and the International Society.
Be the best US attorney you can and develop a specialty or expertise. This is particularly important for attorneys interested in private international law.
Be sure to develop a knowledge of international law, particularly if you are looking at public international.
Emphasize your language skills.

Resources

ABA Rule of Law Initiative

The Rule of Law Initiative is a public service project of the American Bar Association dedicated to promoting rule of law around the world. They believe that rule of law promotion is the most effective long-term antidote to the pressing problems facing the world community today, including poverty, economic stagnation, and conflict.

American Foreign Service Association

The AFSA is a professional association whose members include current and retired members of the US Foreign Service.

American Society of International Law

ASIL is a nonprofit, nonpartisan, educational membership organization founded in 1906 and chartered by Congress in 1950. The mission of the American Society of International Law 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.

Central Intelligence Agency

The homepage for the US Central Intelligence Agency.

The Department of Defense

The homepage for the US Department of Defense.

Export-Import Bank of the United States

The Export-Import Bank of the United States (Ex-Im Bank) is the official export credit agency of the United States. Ex-Im Bank’s mission is to assist in financing the export of U.S. goods and services to international markets.

Foreign Policy Association

The Foreign Policy Association is a non-profit organization dedicated to inspiring the American public to learn more about the world. Founded in 1918, the Foreign Policy Association serves as a catalyst for developing awareness, understanding of, and providing informed opinions on global issues. Through its balanced, nonpartisan programs and publications, the FPA encourages citizens to participate in the foreign policy process.

The Hague

The Hague is an actual city in Holland and is home to more than 150 international legal organizations. To find information on these organizations, go to www.thehague.nl. Then click on City of Peace & Justice/International City/International Organizations. The web pages will provide you with information about international organizations, NGO=s (Non-governmental Organizations), European organizations, and the Hague Justice Portal.

Internships USA

(Contact Career Development Office for the passwords.) The internships are categorized by employer type. Categories that might be of interest to students interested in international work include Internships in International Affairs, The Human Rights Internship, The Women’s Rights Internship, and Washington Internships in Law and Policy.

International Bar Association

The International Bar Association (IBA), established in 1947, is the world’s leading organization of international legal practitioners, bar associations, and law societies. The IBA influences the development of international law reform and shapes the future of the legal profession throughout the world. It has a membership of more than 40,000 individual lawyers and 197 bar associations and law societies spanning all continents. It has considerable expertise in providing assistance to the global legal community.

International Center for Law and Religious Studies

The BYU International Center for Law and Religion Studies works with scholars, government leaders, non-governmental groups, and religious organizations to promote religious liberty and study the relations between governments and religious organizations.

The International Criminal Court

The International Criminal Court (ICC) is an independent, permanent court that tries persons accused of the most serious crimes of international concern, namely genocide, crimes against humanity, and war crimes. The ICC is based on a treaty, joined by 104 countries.

International Development Law Organization

IDLO was founded in 1983 by a group of lawyers working in international development agencies in Africa. Troubled by the imbalances they saw in trade, commercial, and development assistance negotiations, they sought to prepare legal professionals in developing countries to better protect and promote their societies’ interests.

International Society

Society members are members or friends of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints who have international interests.

Martindale

This law firm directory allows you to search by country as well. Be sure to do an “advanced search.”

NALP Directory

Another law firm directory that allows for searching by country. Be careful: the directory is predominately NALP membership which means many firms, particularly smaller ones, are missing.

WANGO

A directory of non-governmental organizations.

International Development Finance Corporation

The U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC) is the successor agency to the Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC) and USAID’s Development Credit Authority (DCA). The DFC partners with the private sector to finance solutions to help meet critical needs in housing, health, energy, infrastructure, water, and more in developing contexts.

The Public International Law & Policy Group (PILPG)

The PILPG is a non-profit organization, which operates as a global pro bono law firm providing free legal assistance to states and governments involved in conflicts. To date, PILPG has advised over two dozen states and governments on the legal aspects of peace negotiations and post-conflict constitution drafting, and over two dozen states and War Crimes Tribunals in Europe, Asia, and Africa concerning the protection of human rights, self-determination, and the prosecution of war crimes.

The United Nations

Easy to get to career page with an extensive list of jobs with the UN. Just be patient after you apply.

US Agency for International Development

US foreign assistance has always had the twofold purpose of furthering America’s foreign policy interests in expanding democracy and free markets while improving the lives of the citizens of the developing world. USAID has been the principal US agency to extend assistance to countries recovering from disaster, trying to escape poverty, and engaging in democratic reforms.

US International Trade Commission

The United States International Trade Commission is an independent, quasijudicial federal agency with broad investigative responsibilities on matters of trade.

US Institute of Peace

The United States Institute of Peace (USIP) provides the analysis, training, and tools that help to prevent, manage, and end violent international conflicts, promote stability, and professionalize the field of peacebuilding.

US State Department

According to the website, the US Department of State is the lead US foreign affairs agency whose mission of diplomacy begins in Washington, DC, where Foreign Service, Civil Service, and student employees are hired to work at offices in the United States and at nearly 265 posts abroad.

US Trade and Development Agency

The USTDA helps companies create US jobs through the export of US goods and services for priority development projects in emerging economies. USTDA links US businesses to export opportunities by funding project planning activities, pilot projects, and reverse trade missions while creating sustainable infrastructure and economic growth in partner countries.

US Trade Representative

The Office of the US Trade Representative (USTR) is responsible for developing and coordinating US international trade, commodity, and direct investment policy, and overseeing negotiations with other countries. The head of USTR is the US Trade Representative, a Cabinet member who serves as the president’s principal trade advisor, negotiator, and spokesperson on trade issues.

The World Intellectual Property Organization

The World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) is a specialized agency of the United Nations dedicated to developing a balanced and accessible international intellectual property(IP) system.

The World Trade Organization

The World Trade Organization (WTO) is the only global international organization dealing with the rules of trade between nations.

Government Consultants and Contractors Working in the International Arena

Career Paths