“ICTY makes human rights real. We are helping to bring voice to the victims who lived through this and bring perpetrators to justice.”

— Sarah Hart,
Penn State Law International Justice Externship Program at The Hague on her work on the Rathko Mladic trial at the International  Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia.

Students eager to put the theories and skills they build through the International Curriculum into practice can participate in experiential programs, summer opportunities, and post-graduate fellowships. Students work in law firms with a multinational practice, NGOs, and government organizations. The Career Planning & Development Office and faculty members work with students to identify practice experiences. 

Student experiences

Students can get International human rights and criminal prosecution experience through the International Justice Externship Program or by working with a government organization such as the Department of State or an international development organization during the Semester in Washington program.

Students looking for work experience in developing countries can participate in the International Sustainable Development Projects clinic.

Graduate Fellowships

Graduating law students are eligible to participate in the University Traineeship Program at the International Court of Justice, The Hague, Netherlands, Fulbright Fellowships, and can identify other opportunities through the International Law Students Association. 

Student Extracurricular Activities

“I was attracted to the JLIA opportunity because of my interest in international law and that it's an interdisciplinary journal with the School of International Affairs. I think that is a really unique aspect to the traditional law journal, and it helps get more students, viewpoints, and opinions involved.” 

—​ Asima Ahmad,
past articles editor of the Journal of Law and International Affairs 

Beyond the classroom, Penn State Law offers a rich array of international experiences. 

The Penn State Journal of Law & International Affairs (JLIA) is a digital, interdisciplinary, peer-reviewed journal, jointly published by Penn State's School of Law and School of International Affairs. The journal promotes academic and public discourse at the intersection of law and international affairs, featuring contributions in the areas of public and private international law, international relations, comparative law and politics, geography, economics, history, and policy issues in the various sciences.

Moot Court Competitions

• The Annual Willem C. Vis International Commercial Arbitration Moot 
• International Law Students Association Philip C. Jessup International Law Moot Court Competition 
• LL.M. International Commercial Arbitration Moot Competition

Student Organizations

• Asian Pacific American Law Student Association 
• Human Rights Law Society 
• International Law Society 
• Islamic Legal Council (ILC) 
• Latino/a American Law Students Association 

Enrichment Experiences

• J.D./LL.M. Mentoring Program
• Conversation Partners