Global Student Placements
UCL Laws global placements give students real-world legal experience at firms, institutions, and international organisations, bridging study and career while supporting inclusive participation.
UCL Faculty of Laws is committed to supporting students beyond their studies through global placements, helping bridge the gap between university and the professional world. Subject to funding availability each academic year, we offer a range of exciting and competitive opportunities, enabling students to gain professional experience in diverse areas of law at academic institutions, international organisations, and private law firms. Please note: availability of placements may vary each year depending on funding and partner participation.
Global Student Placement Opportunities
Constitutional Court of South Africa Clerkship: Building on longstanding close links, UCL Laws supports LLB/LLM students admitted to the Court’s six-month Foreign Law Clerk Programme with generous funding.
International Court of Justice Judicial Fellowship Programme: UCL Laws provides funding to LLM/PhD students selected by the Court to its prestigious ten-month Fellowship Programme (September–June).
Inter-American Court of Human Rights Professional Visit Programme: Each year, UCL Laws selects one LLB/LLM student to undertake a prestigious three-month professional visit (June–September) at the Court, providing funding to assist with living and travel costs.
Global Law Office Internship: Through alumnus Dr Deming Zhao, UCL Laws offers two fully-paid internship placements each year at one of China’s leading law firms in Shanghai. Internships last one to three months after graduation.
Hague Academy of International Law Summer Courses: UCL Laws financially supports up to two LLB/LLM/PhD students, who are admitted to attend the Academy’s summer courses (three to six weeks, July–August) each year.
HSF Kramer Summer Vacation Scheme: Led by the UCL Laws Centre for Law, Economics and Society in collaboration with Kyriakos Fountoukakos (Managing Partner at HSF), this summer vacation scheme offers top-performing LLB and LLM students in competition law the opportunity to undertake two-week, fully-paid placements with Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer at their Brussels office and, since 2025, at their offices in Hong Kong and Shanghai.
Max Planck Institutes: As part of our strategic research partnership with the Max Planck Law Network in Germany, UCL Laws supports up to two PhD students to undertake a research visit for one to three months at one of the participating Max Planck Institutes, with a view to advancing their doctoral research and fostering research networks.
Pan-European Seal Professional Traineeship Programme: UCL Laws is one of only a few UK universities participating in this prestigious programme with Europe’s leading IP organisations, EUIPO and EPO. Selected LLM/PhD students may undertake a fully-paid twelve-month traineeship starting in the autumn after completing their studies.
I am about halfway through the clerkship – so far, it has been utterly fantastic! It entails a lot of research, critical thinking, and discussion in relation to a variety of legal concepts across a wide range of subject areas. UCL Laws was instrumental in preparing me for this role. My LLM equipped me with the research, writing, and verbal expression skills required to thrive in this position.
Academically, the experience had a lasting impact. It strengthened my confidence as a researcher and opened new avenues, including teaching international law modules in Colombia as a guest lecturer, serving as a moot court judge, and continuing to develop my academic profile through publishing opportunities.
Global Student Placement Testimonials
Read the experiences and reflections of students who have undertaken student placements with organisations abroad.