Latest Announcements:

The Autumn 2025 round is now closed. Please apply for the Winter/Spring 2025/26 round.

International Bridges to Justice (IBJ) is a nonprofit, nongovernmental organization dedicated to ensuring the basic legal rights of ordinary citizens in fragile or conflict-affected countries. Specifically, IBJ works to guarantee the right to competent legal representation, the right to be protected from cruel and unusual punishment and the right to a fair trial for every man, women, and child. IBJ is looking for outstanding, self-motivated candidates with a background in various fields who want to be part of our ongoing mission to end investigative torture and provide access to legal representation to everyone around the world. This is a unique opportunity for young professionals to gain meaningful experience while contributing to critical human rights work on a global scale.

IBJ offers internships across several key areas, including legal, programmatic, and technical. These areas reflect where opportunities are generally available, though the number of positions in each may vary throughout the year. We understand that many applicants bring diverse skill sets that don’t fit neatly into a single category, and we welcome that. There is often meaningful crossover between areas, and applicants should feel comfortable applying even if their interests or experience span multiple domains — we value flexibility and are committed to placing interns where they can make the greatest impact.

This page is intended for individuals at the beginning of their careers seeking internship opportunities; if you are an experienced professional, potential volunteer, or interested in partnership opportunities, please write to us at opportunities@ibj.org for more information.

SKILLS

Legal

IBJ is looking for a passionate and detail-oriented law student or graduate with strong research and writing skills, a solid grasp of international human rights or criminal justice systems, and a commitment to access to justice.

  • Location: IBJ Geneva Headquarters
  • Duration: 3 months minimum
  • Ideal Candidate:
    • Background in law
    • Strong legal research and writing skills
    • Degree of familiarity with global criminal justice issues
    • Language skills (French, Arabic, Mandarin are particularly desirable but not essential)

Programmatic

IBJ is looking for an organized and proactive communicator with sharp analytical skills and a deep interest in human rights project implementation. A strong passion for access to justice and empowering underserved communities is at the heart of this role.

  • Location: IBJ Geneva Headquarters
  • Duration: 3 months minimum
  • Ideal Candidate:
    • Strong research skills
    • Proposal writing experience particularly valued
    • Familiarity with nonprofit organizations and grant management ideal
    • Social media savvy
    • Proficiency in other languages (French being particularly desirable) is very helpful

Technical

IBJ is looking for a creative problem-solver with strong coding, data management, or UX/UI design skills. A passion for using technology to drive social impact—and a collaborative spirit to work across cultural and professional boundaries—is key.

  • Location: IBJ Geneva Headquarters
  • Duration: 3 months minimum
  • Ideal Candidate:
    • Comfort with web development tools, CMS platforms (like WordPress, Elementor and HTML)
    • Coding experience
    • Thinking big picture about our technology initiatives

Sample Tasks:

These responsibilities are illustrative; interns may be assigned other tasks at the discretion of their supervisor based on organizational needs.

Legal

• Researching criminal procedure codes and penal codes in different criminal justice systems, helping to develop the DefenseWiki, supporting the work of our local public defenders, and supporting our eLearning and Defender Manuals training programs.

Programmatic

• Researching grant opportunities and requirements, writing grant applications to funders, helping with program management, writing reports, strengthening our online communities through social media, preparing materials and events planning, and contributing to our fundraising initiatives.

Technical

• Developing online tools and resources like the JusticeHub and the website, developing data visualization efforts to showcase IBJ’s work and achievements, and supporting the organization’s technology and AI initiatives.

Timeline & How to Apply:

  • IBJ welcomes international students and graduates
  • We accept applications on a rolling basis throughout the year in 3 broad timeframes: summer, autumn / winter, and winter / spring.
  • In order to apply, please send your CV and a cover letter to : opportunities@ibj.org
  • To be considered for the summer round : send us your application by the end of January
  • To be considered for the autumn / winter round: send us your application by the end of April
  • To be considered for winter / spring round: send us your application by the end of September

Practical Information:

  • Internships are typically full-time, i.e. 40 hours per week
  • Currently, we are not recruiting for remote positions, internships will need to be in-person
  • Internships are not remunerated
  • For anyone who does not possess Swiss or EU nationality, a key requirement in order to be eligible for a visa is to be able to provide proof of funding from a third-party institution (i.e. for students a scholarship from your university)
    • 2690CHF/month is required by Swiss law

Frequently Asked Questions :

How long do internships typically last?

Internships at IBJ usually last 3 to 6 months.

Are there internship opportunities for undergraduate and graduate students?

We welcome both undergraduate and graduate applicants throughout the year. We look for students and graduates with relevant educational, personal or professional experience.

Will I need a visa ?

If you are a Swiss national, you will not need a visa. If you are a EU or international applicant, then you will need a visa for your internship in Geneva.

How do I apply for the visa?

The application process depends on your nationality, and while you will need to prepare the documents yourself, IBJ will assist you and guide you through the visa application process.

What documents will I need for the visa application?

The required documents depend on your nationality. For EU nationals, there may be less documents to provide. For other nationalities, you will typically need to provide a scanned color copy of your passport, and a letter from your school confirming your funding. You will also need to complete the form M, which can be accessed here https://www.ge.ch/document/ocpm-formulaire-m-demande-autorisation-sejour-avec-sans-activite

What if I cannot find my question in these FAQs?

If you have any questions that have not been answered in the internships FAQs, you can contact opportunities@ibj.org.