The Max Planck Institute for Comparative Public Law and International Law is a leading institution in the fields of international law, comparative public law, and European law and represents one of the most vibrant intellectual communities on the European and global scene. Its directors as well as doctoral and postdoctoral researchers carry out top-notch research in all areas of public law, ranging from the use of force to global constitutionalism, from international human rights law to European constitutional law. Research might take the form of cooperative, multi-year projects involving many researchers, or individual theses and articles. In addition, every year the MPIL hosts numerous guests from many different countries, who significantly enrich the academic discourse and life of the Institute.
The Institute offers internships that can be taken on a voluntary basis or as part of a degree requirement (including bar exam traineeships, e.g. Referendariat). In the latter case, it is entirely the responsibility of the intern to make sure that all requirements of the respective degree programs are met.
Interns will be assigned to an MPIL research fellow who will be their tutor during the entirety of their stay. They will be involved in the tutor’s specific research projects as well as in the academic life of the Institute. At the beginning of the internship, the intern and the tutor will set up an education plan.
Interns’ tasks and responsibilities typically include:
- Conducting research activities in the areas of international law, comparative public law, and EU law;
- Assisting in the preparation of contributions to academic meetings of the Institute;
- Writing legal summaries (cases and texts);
- Participating in the organization of workshops and conferences;
- Carrying out specifically tailored research activities (independently or jointly with their tutor);
- Assisting in research projects carried out at the Institute.
Interns are encouraged to participate in the Institute’s activities and intellectual life, which include weekly research meetings as well as thematic discussion fora and international conferences.
Please note that interns are not student assistants. An internship is an educational experience.
The Internship programme is full-time (39.5 hours per week).
Location:
Europe, GermanyBenefits
- The MPIL internship program offers the opportunity to get acquainted with research and academic legal skills in the major fields of comparative public, European, and international law to a limited number of highly motivated undergraduate and graduate students.
- It offers a stimulating and international working environment and the possibility of improving professional skills and networking capacities for future career paths.
- Reimbursement: Interns enrolled in a degree program at a university will generally be reimbursed € 300 per month.
- The reimbursement received is subject to income tax and social insurance regulations. Both conditions apply to residents and non-residents of Germany.
- Internships usually do not last less than 4 weeks and may not exceed 12 weeks. Preference is given to applications proposing more extended internship periods (between 8 and 12 weeks).
Eligibilities
To be eligible for this program applicants must
- be enrolled in a full-time undergraduate or graduate university-level course during their proposed period of internship, preferably in law or related disciplines (e.g. international relations, European affairs, philosophy, social and political sciences), Ph.D. candidates are not eligible for the MPIL internship program, please visit the site Visiting Scholars;
- be among the top students of their degree program, with demonstrated research and drafting skills;
- be fluent in written and oral English (C1 Level); knowledge of other EU languages, and German in particular, will be an asset;
- be computer literate.
Application Process
- Please submit the application using exclusively the online application system on the website.
- Please send the application documents until 1st December 2023.
- Please send the following documents:
- a CV and a cover letter explaining the intern’s motivation and specific interest for applying to the Max Planck Institute, along with the suggested time and duration of their stay;
- a copy of the intern’s high school diploma (e.g. Abitur with English translation);
- a copy of the intern’s academic transcripts (with an English translation including a brief explanation of the university grading system).
- Incomplete applications will not be considered.
- The application deadline for the term May to October 2024 is 1st December 2023.
- The application deadline for the term November 2024 to April 2025 is 1st June 2024.
- Please note that the MPIL does NOT participate in the Erasmus Placement Programme.
- Please do not apply for the above-mentioned program through the MPIL internship program.
Application Deadline: December 1, 2023
Application ClosedOfficial link
