Paid internships in the Legal Division - 2026

Applications are invited for paid internships in the Legal Division of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT). The internships will be for a maximum of 15 months and are expected to commence in summer 2026. The internship period will run until August/September 2027 and will cover the Irish Presidency of the Council of the European Union. Ireland will assume the rotating six-month Presidency on 1 July 2026.

• Selection will be on the basis of a competitive interview.
• The application form can be downloaded below.

Role of the Legal Division and DFAT

The Legal Division of DFAT seeks to ensure an appropriate legal input in the formulation and implementation of Ireland’s foreign policy and to contribute to effective Irish participation in international legal fora. See further details about the:

• role of the Legal Division
• work of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade

Role of an intern

An intern in the Legal Division will work under the supervision of a legal officer in the Division. An intern will be required to assist on a variety of tasks and projects relating to the work of the Legal Division, which will include undertaking legal research

Requirements and eligibility

Applicants must be graduates in law at the date of application (at least at 2:1 level or equivalent experience or qualification). Applications received from candidates who are not graduates in law at the date of application will not be considered.

• Applicants must be able to demonstrate a good knowledge of and/or skills in public international law, which would usually be evidenced by post-graduate study in the field of public international law or a 2:1 grade or higher in a public international law course at undergraduate level.
• Applicants must have a good general knowledge of Irish law; knowledge of EU law and human rights law is also desirable.
• Ability to work in a team and good IT skills are essential.
• Knowledge of French or another European language would be an advantage

An eigible candidate must be a:

• citizen of the European Economic Area (EEA). The EEA consists of the Member States of the European Union, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway; or
• citizen of the United Kingdom (UK); or
• citizen of Switzerland pursuant to the agreement between the EU and Switzerland on the free movement of persons; or
• non-EEA citizen who has a stamp 4 or a stamp 5 permission.

A candidate who is in doubt in this regard should consult with the Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment.

Candidates who have previously undertaken an internship of six months or more in the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade or in an Irish Diplomatic Mission abroad are not eligible to compete. Successful applicants will also be ineligible for any future intern positions which may arise in other areas of the Department, including the Junior Professional Internship programme.

Canvassing

It should be noted that any attempt, direct or indirect, by or on behalf of a candidate to influence the selection process will automatically disqualify the candidate.

How to apply

Application forms in relation to the internships may be downloaded below or obtained from the college or school which has received this notice. Completed applications should be:

• marked 'Legal Division Intern Application' in the subject line, and
• sent by email to: legalinterncompetition@dfa.ie, and
• received no later than 5pm on Monday, 9 March 2026.

Applications received after the closing date for applications will not be considered. Applications should consist only of the completed application form. If any further documentation is required you will be requested to supply same in due course. Please do not submit CVs.

Selection and appointment

Selection will be on the basis of a competitive interview. If a large number of applications are received, candidates will be short-listed for interview on the basis of information supplied in their application. Referees of candidates short-listed for interview may be contacted directly in advance of the interview.

A panel will be established comprising candidates who, following the interview, are deemed suitable for the position, ranked in order of merit. The internship positions will be filled from this panel.

Appointments will be subject to satisfactory completion of Police vetting. If successful, candidates will not be appointed to the post unless they:

• agree to undertake the duties attached to the post, and
• accept the conditions under which the duties are, or may be required to be, performed, and
• are fully competent, available to, and capable of undertaking those duties.

Reasonable accommodations

We are committed to positively supporting candidates with disabilities throughout the selection process. If you have a disability and would like to share information that you feel would assist you in doing your best during the selection process, including at interview, please contact the Competitions Team to discuss your needs. Candidates who may require a reasonable accommodation will be asked to submit a medical report by email. The information provided will be handled in a confidential manner and will only be used to assist HR in determining reasonable accommodations where appropriate.

DFAT is an Equal Opportunities Employer

The selection process for appointments will be conducted in accordance with the Code of Practice for Appointment to Positions in the Civil Service and Public Service. Complaints/requests for review will be considered in accordance with the procedures set out in the Code of Practice.