INTERESTED IN LAW, DEVELOPMENT OR HUMAN RIGHTS IN WEST AFRICA?

 

The Nigerian Lawyers Association (NLA) is pleased to announce that it is now accepting applications for its 2011 Nigeria Legal Internship Program.

 

The NLA's Nigeria Legal Internship Program, which was initiated in 2008, is intended to provide NLA members, as well as lawyers, law graduates and law students of Nigerian descent residing in the United States with an opportunity to intern with participating law firms and other law-related organizations in Nigeria. Law students and lawyers who are particularly interested in emerging markets, oil and gas, project development and finance, property law, human rights and jurisprudence in developing nations will benefit greatly from this opportunity. In addition to the exposure to Nigerian law and practice that interns will gain from the program, the program will also foster professional relationships between interns and legal practitioners in Nigeria. The program is in line with the NLA's mission of promoting legal education and professional development in the law. Details of the 2011 program are provided below.

 

Participating Organizations

Participating organizations currently include several law firms and public interest law organizations based in Nigeria. Detailed information about participating organizations and available internships may be accessed by visiting the Programs section of NLA’s website  (http://www.nigerianlawyers.org/).   Law firms and organizations interested in participating in the internship program should send an email to internship@nigerianlawyers.org.

 

Eligible Participants

NLA members, as well as law students, law graduates and attorneys of Nigerian descent residing in the United States are eligible to participate in the program. Law students must be enrolled in a U.S. law school. Law graduates must be graduates of a U.S. law school.

 

Applying for an Internship Position

To apply for an internship position, applicants must submit to the NLA, a resume and a cover letter addressed to the participating organization. Resumes and cover letters can either be submitted via e-mail to internship@nigerianlawyers.org or via the NLA Nigeria Legal Internship page located at http://www.nigerianlawyers.org/programs-nigeria-legal-internship.

 

Applications must be received on or before the applicable deadline specified by the participating organization for the internship position. Applicants must submit a separate cover letter for each application. Although certain participating organizations have indicated their preference for attorney, law graduate or law student applicants, unless otherwise indicated, such indications of preference do not preclude applications by other categories of applicants.

 

The NLA will forward applications to the relevant participating organizations upon receipt. Participating organizations will email applicants to acknowledge receipt of their application. Participating organizations may contact applicants directly to request additional documents to facilitate their review of applications. Participating organizations may also arrange to interview applicants by phone or video conference and are expected to notify applicants of their decision as soon as possible. It is important to note that submission of an application does not guarantee placement.

 

Successful Candidates

If an application for an internship position is successful, the participating organization will negotiate any specific details and logistical matters directly with the applicant. With respect to contributions towards travel expenses to Nigeria, compensation, housing, transportation and any other form of support during the internship program, please note that the policies of participating organizations vary. Please review the information we have provided via our internship page regarding each participating organization's policy on these matters. Interns are solely responsible for reporting any income earned from the internship to all relevant tax authorities. Depending on the policy of the participating organization, applicants may be solely responsible for their travel expenses to Nigeria, as well as housing, transportation and living costs during the duration of their internship with a participating organization.

 

Upon completion of the internship, participating organizations are expected to issue applicants letters confirming their participation in the NLA's 2011 Nigeria Legal Internship Program.

 

Nigeria Lawyers Association Legal Internship Committee

The NLA’s role is to act as a liaison between Nigerian organizations and individuals interested in gaining some exposure to Nigerian law.  Each year, the NLA solicits the participation of Nigerian law firms and organizations in the Nigeria Legal Internship Program and provides details about legal internship opportunities to potential interns as soon as they are available. The NLA will not be involved in the management of the internships nor will they exercise any control over which interns are accepted by participating firms and organizations. Every application received by the NLA’s Legal Internship Committee will be forwarded to the participating law firms and organizations. Each participating law firm or organization has the sole discretion to choose which, if any, interns it accepts, and the conditions of the internship including duties, length, compensation, etc.

 

About NLA

The NLA is an association of attorneys based in the United States. The NLA has been active in cultivating the science of jurisprudence and facilitating the administration of justice in the United States and in Nigeria. In addition, the NLA serves the needs of members of the Nigerian legal community, as well as the Nigerian community as a whole, in their understanding of and access to the law. The NLA also promotes legal education and professional development in the law. Among other events and activities, the NLA holds periodic continuing legal education seminars for lawyers and conducts free legal clinics within the Nigerian community to assist individuals with various legal issues.

 

 

Nigerian Lawyers Association Nigeria Legal Internship Program
URL: http://www.nigerianlawyers.org/programs-nigeria-legal-internship
E-mail: internship@nigerianlawyers.org