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General Questions

Where is the IJM office located?

The IJM office is in Arlington, Virginia and is within walking distance of the Crystal City Metro station.

What is the difference between an "internship" and a "fellowship"?

IJM offers three types of internships:

1. Washington D.C. Internships: for college students of all majors, recent graduates, MSW students, and lawyers
2. Field Office Internships: 9-12 month positions for recent college graduates of all majors
3. Summer Legal Internships: Positions for law students from June-August of each year

Fellowships are 9-12 month positions for social workers, lawyers, and other experienced professionals in one of our 14 field offices overseas.

Does IJM only select interns who are law students or have an interest in attending law school?

No. Although IJM internships provide a great experience for those considering a career in law, the internship program is designed to benefit those pursuing a wide variety of careers. The majority of IJM employees are not lawyers and most interns are not directly involved in legal casework. IJM seeks quality applicants from all types of educational backgrounds and skill sets.

If I am selected for an IJM international internship position, will this allow me to have direct contact in counseling victims of sex trafficking, slavery and other forms of oppression?

All interns and fellows work closely with IJM staff in assisting our clients. Thus, they receive exposure to the issues involved in rescuing and providing a new life to victims of oppression. However, for security reasons, interns and fellows will only have contact with victims and clients when accompanied by trained IJM professionals. Also, due to language barriers, IJM relies on its national staff and aftercare partners to provide direct counseling.

What if I have to start later or end earlier than the session dates?

Interns and fellows are not permitted to miss any portion of the pre-scheduled training week. D.C. Interns are not able to begin later than the session start. However, international interns and fellows are permitted to deploy anywhere between one day and one month following their training week. For both positions, there can be some flexibility with the session end date to accommodate academic or business needs.

Do I have to be currently enrolled in law school for the legal intern programs?

All applicants must have completed at least their first year of law school. Graduates of law school are also considered.

Can I serve with IJM after I take the bar and before I start at my law firm?

Yes. IJM generally has openings for lawyers who can serve for a period of nine months to one year.

Does IJM accept married couples as interns and fellows?

Yes. Several of our current international interns and fellows are serving in the field office with their spouse. However, please note that you must apply individually.

Specific Questions Regarding Applications

To whom should I address my application?

Application materials should be addressed to the Intern and Fellows Department.

Can I mail my application to IJM’s physical address?

For security reasons, IJM is not able to release our physical address. Please note that although USPS Priority Mail allows for packages to be delivered to P.O. Box addresses, this service is not available through carriers such as FedEx, DHL and UPS. We are not able to accept overnight or express shipments from these carriers. Please take this into account as you make plans to mail your application before the deadline.

When is the earliest I should send in my application?

Applicants may submit their completed applications one month prior to the posted deadline.

Is my application due by the deadline date or should it be postmarked by that date?

Applications should arrive to IJM by the deadline date.

What are the application requirements if I have previously applied for an IJM internship?

If you have previously applied with IJM within the past year, you are able to use the transcript, reference letters, and writing sample of that application for a second time. If any of this information has changed, please submit your updated information. In all cases, please send an updated application form, addendum, cover letter and resume.

Are applicants from nations outside the United States treated differently in the application process?

No. IJM routinely selects interns who are not from the United States.

Does IJM help secure visas for international internships?

Those hoping to work internationally need to have the appropriate passport and visa(s), or be confident they can attain these documents, both for training week in Washington, D.C., and for their international placement. While it is the candidate's responsibility to obtain the relevant visa(s), IJM staff will provide assistance in the process and provide any necessary letters of verification for a visa application.

What if I want to apply for more than one type of internship at the same time?

Candidates only need to submit one application packet, but will need to submit the application form specific to each internship or fellowship type. Please note in the cover letter which positions are of interest. For example, an applicant interested in both D.C. and international internships should fill out the D.C. internship application and the international internship application. There is no need to submit duplicate copies of the additional materials that complete the application packet.

Does IJM have an early decision process?

If candidates need an early decision due to academic or work restrictions, please note this in the application. IJM makes early decisions on a case by case basis.

What if my application, reference letters or transcripts arrive late?

Your application is not complete until all required documents arrive. IJM cannot make an offer until the application is complete.

What if the individuals writing my references are currently in another country?

If the individuals writing your references are currently overseas and unable to mail you a recommendation letter, please ask them to send the recommendation via email at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it  or fax at 703-465-5499, Attn: Intern and Fellows Department.

What should I write my writing sample about?

Your writing sample can be any piece of work that you feel clearly demonstrates your communication skills. Typically, applicants will submit a portion of an essay written for a college class. Legal applicants are asked to submit a legal writing sample.

How long should my writing sample be?

Writing samples should be two pages, single- or double-spaced, for internship applicants and four pages, single- or double-spaced for fellowship applicants.

Specific Questions Regarding the DC Internship

Do DC interns have to be current students?

No. Many IJM interns are recent college or graduate school graduates.

Is there a minimum age for the D.C. internships?

No, but applicants must hold a high school diploma or G.E.D. and have completed at least two years of college or applicable work experience.

What is the dress code at the D.C. headquarters?

The dress code is business formal. This means that all IJM staff and interns are required to wear a business suit.

What hours do interns work?

Interns work a traditional 40-hour workweek, Monday – Friday, from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Interns receive 5 personal days per session, in addition to staff holidays and retreats. Schedules may be adjusted for academic commitments.

Who will supervise me during my internship?

Each intern will be supervised by someone in their department who will give assignments, monitor projects and provide assistance, support and feedback.

Does IJM provide stipends or scholarships for interns?

Not at this time.

Can I fundraise to pay for the costs of a D.C. IJM internship?

Yes. D.C. interns can fundraise to cover the cost of their travel to Washington, D.C., health insurance, and a daily per diem rate.

Does IJM provide housing?

No. However, upon acceptance, IJM provides interns with resources to aid their housing search.

What are the estimated costs of living in D.C.?

Depending on each individual living situation, interns can expect to pay up to $800 monthly for housing. The number of roommates and proximity to central D.C. make a large difference. Interns may need to pay monthly parking fees for a vehicle.

Specific Questions Regarding Field Office Programs

Where are the IJM offices located?

The IJM offices are located in large cities where there is a significant expatriate community within the vicinity.

Field Office Locations:
• Africa: Kenya, Rwanda, Uganda, Zambia
• India: Bangalore, Kolkata, Chennai, Mumbai (Bombay)
• Latin America: Guatemala, Bolivia
• Southeast Asia: Cambodia, Thailand, Manila, and Cebu

When will I know what country will be my assignment?

IJM will specify the country in which we desire to place the intern or fellow in the offer letter.

Do I need any prior experience or related coursework in human rights or international law?

Although prior experience or related coursework is preferable, there are no specific requirements.

What hours do interns and fellows work?

Interns and fellows work a traditional 40-hour work week, Monday - Friday. Interns will receive 15 days of accrued vacation time per year in addition to all national holidays and staff retreats.

Who will supervise me during my program?

Each participant will be supervised by someone in their department in the field office.

What is the dress code at IJM’s international offices?

The dress code varies depending on the local culture. However, all legal interns will be expected to dress modestly in the culture and have at least one formal business suit. During training week, all interns will be dressed in business formal for most of the days.

Does IJM provide stipends or scholarships for interns and fellows?

Not at this time.

Can I fundraise to pay for the costs of an international IJM program?

Yes, international interns and fellows can fundraise for their costs, whichinclude training week expenses (airfare, lodging, meals, local transportation), airfare to/from destination country, visa fees/postage, immunizations/vaccinations, travel insurance, and an allotted per diem based on the field office location.

Does IJM provide housing?

No. However, upon acceptance, IJM assists interns and fellows to find suitable housing.

Is there a minimum age for the field office programs?

Applicants should be over 21 and have an undergraduate degree or substantial work experience.

Questions Regarding International Internship or Fellowship Giving

Will I receive a tax-deductible receipt?

Yes. You will receive a receipt for each contribution mailed to the address listed on your check or credit card.

If the intern/fellow through whom I made my donation can no longer participate in the project with IJM, can my donation be refunded?

No. In accordance with IRS guidelines, once a tax-deductible receipt is issued to the donor, donations are not refundable even if the fellow/intern does not participate in the IJM project for any reason.

Can I specify that my donation be used to cover a specific expense such as airfare?

Yes and no. Once the money is donated to IJM on behalf of a participant, it is added to IJM’s general funds and credited toward the participant’s overall fundraising goal. However, if you are interested in covering a specific expense related to an individual’s internship, you are welcome to coordinate this with the specific intern to ensure that you are donating the needed amount.

How can I be sure you are investing my support wisely?

An outside accounting firm conducts an annual audit of IJM. In addition, an all-volunteer Board of Directors sets policies and procedures and monitors the budget and expenditures. IJM is a member of the ECFA - the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability - to further ensure that IJM is a good steward of the resources entrusted to us. You may view recent financial documents here.

Can I mail a check or set up monthly direct debit?

Yes. To mail donations, please make checks payable to International Justice Mission and do not write the participant’s name anywhere on the check, including the memo line. In order for your donation to be counted towards the participant’s fundraising goal, you must submit this slip along with your check to IJM. To set up a monthly direct debit, please select the appropriate designation for monthly giving here.

International Justice Mission
PO BOX 58147
Washington, DC 20037