ABILA Student Research Assistant Openings

Research Assistant Needed for International Monetary Law Committee

The American Branch of the International Law Association seeks a second or third year law school student to serve as a research assistant (R.A.) to the International Monetary Law committee. The R.A. will conduct independent legal research on monetary policy, particularly the economic theories of Joseph Schumpeter, and will collaborate with committee members on a committee report.

Interested applicants should have completed some coursework in international law, should possess strong academic credentials and writing ability, and should have an interest in economics. Candidates should submit a resume to the committee chair, James Lynch, at jim@sobel-cpa.com. The internship is unpaid and applicants are encouraged to explore the possibility of gaining academic credit for their R.A. experience through an externship or similar program at their law school.

It is anticipated that the project will continue until June, 2009. Work on the project can be done remotely by telephone and e-mail.

The International Law Association was founded in 1873 and is the preeminent international non-governmental organization for developing and restating international law. It draws its members from the entire range of those interested in international law - government, international organizations, practitioners and academics. It has consultative status in the United Nations and plays a unique role in drafting treaties, resolutions and other international instruments. The ILA is organized into over 40 national branches located in countries around the world; it truly is an international law organization. The ILA is organized into committees and study groups, in which American Branch members take part. Within the American Branch, members also form parallel committees that comment on and shape the reports of the international-level committees. Those committees also undertake their own reports and projects on matters related to international law. The student R.A. will work within this structure to assist the American Branch committees with legal research, drafting, and scholarly writing.

Research Assistant Needed for International Environmental Law Committee

The American Branch of the International Law Association seeks a second or third year law school student to serve as a research assistant (R.A.) for its International Environmental Law committee. The R.A. will conduct independent legal research and collaborate with committee members to help prepare a report that seeks to identify and critique current efforts by international environmental regimes to operationalize the Precautionary Principle, provisions for which have been incorporated into virtually every multilateral environmental agreement that has entered into force in the past two decades. This is an opportunity for students to work with top international law scholars and to gain experience in the preparation of legal scholarship. It is contemplated that the report will be the cornerstone of the newly-established "Precautionary Principle Project" of the Committee.

Interested applicants should have completed some coursework in international law and should possess strong academic credentials and research and writing abilities. Candidates should submit a resume and writing sample that does not exceed 5 pages to Professor Wil Burns, one of the co-chairs of the Committee, at: wburns@scu.edu. Professor Burns may also be contacted should you have questions about the contours of the project. Applicants are encouraged to explore the possibility of gaining academic credit for their R.A. experience through an externship or similar program at their law school.

The International Law Association was founded in 1873 and is the preeminent international non-governmental organization for developing and restating international law. It draws its members from the entire range of those interested in international law - government, international organizations, practitioners and academics. It has consultative status in the United Nations and plays a unique role in drafting treaties, resolutions and other international instruments. The ILA is organized into over 40 national branches located in countries around the world; it truly is an international law organization. The ILA is organized into committees and study groups, in which American Branch members take part. Within the American Branch, members also form parallel committees that comment on and shape the reports of the international-level committees. Those committees also undertake their own reports and projects on matters related to international law. The student R.A. will work within this structure to assist the American Branch committees with legal research, drafting, and scholarly writing.