UQ opens door for US legal internship

The University of Queensland has been selected as one of two universities world-wide to be offered a graduate internship position in Washington DC.

In 2007 a UQ law graduate will be placed in a two year internship with the Institute for International Banking Law and Practice (IIBLP) based in Washington DC in the US, an offer only extended to one other university, George Mason University in Washington.

The internship will pay the successful candidates a living allowance and pay for all travel expenses. The students will be given the opportunity to attend United Nations sessions; travel to the IIBLP’s conferences in the US, Europe, India, Moscow, Dubai, China, Hong Kong and Singapore; and will have editing duties with the Institute’s journal.

UQ’s internship was brokered by law senior lecturer Dr Alan Davidson who has a long-standing association with the Institute. Dr Davidson has regularly attended the Institute’s conferences as a speaker, chair and panellist and in 2004 was a member of the IIBLP’s review of International Standby Practices.

Dr Davidson said the internship was a once in a lifetime opportunity to visit and work at the United Nations and travel the world.

“It’s also a great career tool,” he said.

“Past interns have commented that prospective employers cannot believe the wealth of knowledge and experience gained.”

The selection process for the internship will begin in semester two 2006.

Media: For more information on the Institute for International Banking Law and Practice internship contact Dr Davidson (telephone 07 3365 2294, email a.davidson@law.uq.edu.au) or visit www.iiblp.org