Legal Unit Intern

Inclusivity and Diversity at MSF

Do your qualifications and experience not exactly match all requirements of the job?

At MSF OCG, we are committed to an inclusive culture that supports and amplifies the diverse voices of our staff members. We strive to create workplaces where teams of people with diverse backgrounds, characteristics, perspectives, ideas and experiences work together to advance MSF's social mission and create better outcomes for our patients and the communities we work with.

We understand that some people may hesitate to apply for employment if they don't meet all listed job requirements. Research shows that this is especially true for women. If you believe your profile is a good match for this position, we invite you to apply even if you don’t fulfil every listed qualification.

We encourage applications from individuals of all genders, ages, sexual orientations, ethnicities, background, religions, beliefs, ability status, and all other diversity characteristics.

MSF does not tolerate sexual exploitation and abuse, any kind of discrimination or harassment, including sexual harassment. All selected candidates will undergo reference checks.

Context & mission

Médecins Sans Frontières, founded in 1971 is an independent, international medical and humanitarian organization that provides care to people in need, people affected by natural or man-made disasters, and victims of armed conflict, without discrimination and without regard to race, religion, creed or political affiliation (MSF Charter). The Swiss section is present in some thirty countries.

MSF's Intersectional Legal Department is made up of legal advisors and managers under a single management team who advise MSF's various operational centers in a harmonized and mutualized manner.

Is made up of 6 thematic clusters :

1. International Humanitarian Law
2. Medico-Legal
3. Human Resources & Duty of care
4. Legal and administrative framework
5. Governance
6. Innovation, medical research and data protection

The Legal team provides advice and legal support to the operations and headquarters of Médecins Sans Frontières.

The Legal Intern will accompany the Legal Advisors on various thematic and files.

Tasks and responsibilities

Legal Support:

• Drafting notes, tools and guidelines for operational staff in the field and at head office; management and promotion of tools; participation in the development of training courses;
• Drafting and correction of various contracts in English and French;
• Follow up of human resources disputes in our countries of operation (negotiations, litigation).
• Follow up of litigation files in the field (employment, contractual, fiscal, criminal);
• Varied legal research under different legislations (contractual and commercial law, employment law, taxation law);
• Archiving files in the legal database.

Legal Dossier

• Depending on academic requirements, the Intern, during the period of internship (from 6 months to 12 months) might be expected to work on a specific Legal Dossier.
• The dossier selected should combine (a) the legal needs of the Department, (b) academic requirements such as the need to complete a thesis and (c) if possible, a link to the future career of the Intern.

Your profile

• Have a tripartite internship agreement
• Diploma Master 2 in Law, preference for corporate private law (contract, employment, supply, etc.)
• Intern PPI of a Law School
• Other equivalent education / experience
• English: excellent writing and communication skills
• French: Fluent
• Skills in legal research, summarizing information and drafting legal documents (contracts, briefing notes, etc.) are required
• Mastering Microsoft suite is required (Outlook, Word, Teams, Power Point), being at ease with legal design tool is an asset (Canva, etc.)
• Experience in a law firm, company or legal department, involving contract drafting and/or litigation management is an asset.
• Experience in litigation follow up is an asset.
• Experience in risk analysis and assessment using a comparative approach would be an asset.

Terms of employment

• A tripartite internship agreement is mandatory
• 6 to 9 months, according to internship agreement
• Full time (40h/week)
• Based in Geneva, Switzerland
• Start date : 05.01.2025