Applications Invited for the ICJ Judicial Fellowship Programme 2025-2026

About

The Oxford Law Faculty invites applications from current graduate students or former students interested in the Judicial Fellowship Programme of the International Court of Justice (ICJ). The Fellowship programme is similar to a judicial clerkship or judicial assistantship and provides an opportunity for a current Oxford student or recent graduate to work for 10 months at the leading international tribunal in the world. For more information about the role please see the ICJ Website (https://www.icj-cij.org/judicial-fellows-program)

As the result of a generous donation from Lady Christine Brownlie, the Oxford Law Faculty is able to offer funding to the person selected for the Fellowship programme. The donation by Lady Brownlie was made in honour of her husband, Professor Sir Ian Brownlie QC FBA who was Chichele Professor of Public International Law in Oxford (from 1980 to 1999), and who appeared as counsel and advocate in numerous cases before the International Court of Justice. The Faculty may put forward one or more names to the Court, which will make the final decision on the selection for the programme. The selected candidate will be the Sir Ian Brownlie Judicial Fellow.

Eligibility

The Fellowship programme is open to current graduate law students pursuing research or taught courses in the Law Faculty as well as to those who have graduated from Oxford Law Faculty in the past two years. There are no restrictions as to nationality. Applicants may be about to complete their graduate degrees in Oxford or, in appropriate cases and after consulting their supervisor, may be seeking to intermit their studies in order to undertake the internship. To be eligible candidates should be 31 years of age or younger at the time of the programme begins, though it is indicated that the Court may waive this requirement in special circumstances.

The official languages of the Court are English and French, and participants must have excellent reading, writing and oral skills in at least one of them. A working knowledge of the second official language is an asset. Candidates must have distinguished themselves by their exceptional interest and excellence in the field of international law.

Application Process

If you wish to apply for the ICJ Judicial Fellowship programme, please submit the following documents by 12 noon on 30 January 2025 :

1. A CV and Short Cover letter;
2. The names and email addresses of two referees, preferably from individuals able to speak to the candidate's abilities in the field of international law. In the case of current research students, at least one of the named referees should be the applicant’s supervisor. 
3. Official academic transcripts in a single pdf file.
4. A writing sample, which should not exceed 15 pages, in a single pdf file. The sample should be work that has been submitted for publication or other work of publishable quality (e.g. part of a thesis, dissertation or a paper).

Applications should be sent by email to Professor Dapo Akande at akande.pa@law.ox.ac.uk

The selected nominees will be asked to complete the ICJ’s own applications forms before final submission.