The Public Law and Human Rights Forum (CPLR) facilitates International internship opportunities for LLB and JD students from CityUHK School of Law. These internship opportunities aim to provide students with exposure to CPLR's focus areas as a part of the School’s commitment to developing the next generation of lawyers. The internships also enable our students to gain valuable global perspectives as to how different organisations function and the experience of working and living aboard.
Our students have been able to complete internships with human rights, public law and criminal law-focused law firms and barristers' chambers in Hong Kong, Mainland China and abroad. Our students have also interned with the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) in Geneva as well as at human rights-focused law firms and non-governmental organisations (NGO) in Seoul, South Korea. Some students have assisted UN Human Rights experts in their projects as part of the United Nations Volunteers Programme.
The following organisations have previously provided internship opportunities for students:
| Organisation | Area of Work | Location | Website |
|---|---|---|---|
| United Nations Internships | International law, human rights, diplomacy | Various (global) | Link |
| Justice Without Borders | Migrant worker rights, labour rights, human rights | Hong Kong/ SE Asia/ Online | Link |
| Justice Centre Hong Kong | Public law, constitutional, human Rights | Hong Kong | Link |
| Admiralty Chambers | Constitutional, public law | Hong Kong | Link |
| Chambers of Lawrence Lok, SC | Public law | Hong Kong | Link |
| Christian Action (Domestic Workers) | Human rights | Hong Kong | Link |
| Daly & Associates | Human rights | Hong Kong | Link |
| DesVoeux Chambers | Public law | Hong Kong | Link |
| Haldanes | Criminal law | Hong Kong | Link |
| Messrs. Y. K. Lau & Chu | Criminal, human rights | Hong Kong | Link |
| Pro Bono Hong Kong | Pro bono work, access to justice | Hong Kong | Link |
| Queensway Chambers | Criminal, public law | Hong Kong | Link |
| Shenzhen Court of Int. Arbitration | Public international law | Mainland China | Link |
| Yuecheng District People’s Court | Criminal justice | Mainland China | - |
In August 2019, 10 LLB and JD students participated in the MUPR Competition held in Seoul, South Korea. CPLR collaborated with Human Asia, a South Korean Human Rights NGO, to create this unique opportunity for CityU law students. The aims of the MUPR are to encourage participating students to understand human rights challenges and to explore sustainable solutions to such challenges in the given country that they represent. By simulating the UN Human Rights Council’s universal periodic review system, the MUPR also allows students to learn how the UPR works at the UN level. Human Asia also organises an all-day human rights tour of Seoul for participating students. The application process of the MUPR Competition begins in late June each year. Please email lwcplr@cityu.edu.hk if you are interested in participating.
“My time with Daly & Associates was an invaluable learning experience where I gained hands-on exposure to complex non-refoulement and Judicial Review claims. The team is incredibly supportive and professional with a comprehensive training system, providing an environment where I felt truly empowered to contribute to meaningful work. I highly recommend Daly & Associates to any law student looking for a meaningful, hands-on placement where the team is truly invested in your growth.” — Ziyan Hu
“… I was assigned to the oldest law firm in Seoul, Kim, Chang & Lee. I have heard from local students that this internship opportunity is extremely precious and competitive. Two other students and I worked under the direct supervision of the managing partner. Both the internship and MUPR competition are great opportunity for students to develop public speaking and diplomatic skills.” — Jessica Wu
“The Seoul Legal Placement Programme is a great way for students to get involved with Human Rights in all sorts of different contexts. I was placed in the EU Centre of Korea University, where I helped write a paper about the EU’s Human Rights position regarding North Korea. This was a truly unique opportunity to learn more about how Human Rights are implemented around the world.” — Justin Chung
