The World Bank Legal Internship Program

Application Deadline: September 30th 2020

The World Bank Legal Vice Presidency (“LEGVPU”) offers highly-motivated law students an opportunity to be exposed to the mission and work of the World Bank and that of LEGVPU. The World Bank Legal Internship Program allows individuals to bring new perspectives, innovative ideas, and latest research experiences into the World Bank’s daily operations and improve their legal skills while working in a multicultural environment.

The objective of both programs is to provide you first-hand experiences of the day-to-day operations of the World Bank by closely collaborating with staff in LEGVPU. As part of our team, working directly with outstanding and inspiring development professionals and senior management, you will get the chance to contribute to the legal services offered by LEGVPU as well as participate in high-profile events and conferences organized during the term of your internship.

In the context of the World Bank’s broad development agenda, the Legal Vice Presidency provides legal services required by the World Bank and plays an active role in all institutional activities. In addition, LEGVPU helps to ensure that all World Bank’s activities comply with the institutions’ Articles of Agreement, policies and procedures. Organizationally, LEGVPU includes geographically-based regional Operational Practice Groups devoted to the legal and policy aspects of World Bank lending operations, as well as Corporate Practice Groups, which provide advice on corporate and development finance, administrative, and institutional matters for the World Bank.

World Bank Legal Internship Program

The World Bank Legal Internship Program is offered thrice a year for a period of maximum three months at World Bank Headquarters in Washington, D.C. and in certain selected country offices for currently enrolled law school students.

Can you be a LEGVPU intern?

• Do you hold citizenship of any IBRD member state?
• Are you currently enrolled in an LLB, JD, LLM, SJD, PhD, or equivalent program?
• Do you have an excellent command of the English language?

If you have answered yes to all these questions, you are eligible to be a LEGVPU intern.  Preference shall be given to candidates who possess a decent command of a second language, especially if that is one of the working languages of IBRD (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian, or Spanish).

Applications from eligible international as well as U.S.-based students are equally encouraged.

Spring Internship Program:  

Application period will commence on September 1 and end on September 30 (Proposed internship period is for 10-12 weeks, typically between March and May, depending on prevailing needs).

This is an excellent opportunity for students looking to gain professional experiences at the World Bank in the form of externships during the academic year while enrolled in a full-time law program or for those enrolled in part-time and/or evening law programs. According to U.S. Department of Homeland Security rules, students authorized to participate in pre-completion OPT may work part-time (20 hours or less per week) while school is in session.

All applications must be submitted during respective application periods.

Additional Information

Visa:  Students partaking in the World Bank Legal Internship Program must have valid student visa documents sponsored by their educational institutions. The World Bank shall only assist attainment of visa documents for participants of the World Bank Legal Internship Program in exceptional cases.

Cost: The World Bank shall not remunerate participants of the World Bank Legal Internship Program in the form of monetary fees/compensation.  Each World Bank Legal Intern must however be remunerated in accordance with World Bank Group policies and standards in the form of (i) monetary fees/compensation paid by the university or other sponsoring organization and acceptable to the Bank; or (ii) academic credit equivalent to the Bank’s fee schedule.  Hence, students partaking in the World Bank Legal Internship Program must secure appropriate funding sources for the duration of their internships.

Medical Insurance:  World Bank Legal Interns are responsible for their own medical insurance and any cost(s) arising from accidents and/or illness incurred during the internship period and must show proof of a valid major global medical insurance coverage.

Selection Process:  World Bank Legal Interns shall be selected through a competitive selection process.  The World Bank Group is an equal opportunity employer.

Onboarding:  The World Bank Legal Vice Presidency shall organize a brief onboarding session at the beginning of the Summer, Fall, and Spring Internship Program for the incoming cohort.

Evaluations on Performance:  The World Bank shall not provide evaluation on the performance of participants in the World Bank’s Legal Internship Program.

Please note that applying or partaking in the World Bank Legal Internship Program does not constitute a promise or guarantee of employment at the World Bank upon completion of the Program.

Internship at Country Offices:  LEGVPU has limited its internships in the field to offices where a LEGVPU lawyer is present. 

How to Apply
Please submit the below documents through this link:

1. Résumé
2. Statement of Interest
3. Proof of enrollment in a law degree (LLB, JD, LLM, SJD, PhD, or equivalent) and academic transcript(s).
4. Short essay providing a response to a research question posed by the Legal Vice Presidency for the prevailing application period.

For More Information:

Visit the Official Webpage of the World Bank Legal Vice Presidency’s (LEG VPU) Internship Program 2021