Sovereign Guarantee Operations Legal Intern

About This Position at Inter-American Development Bank

The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) Group seeks a driven graduate law student for a Sovereign Guarantee Operations Legal Intern position. This is a competitive, paid two-month internship program based at the IDB Headquarters in Washington, D.C., offering students from member countries the chance to engage in development work, understand the Bank's corporate management, and gain professional experience through practical learning.

What You'll Do

• Conduct comprehensive legal research and analysis.
• Draft legal memoranda based on findings.
• Support experienced attorneys by providing legal advice on Bank institutional, financial, and operational matters.
• Draft, review, and edit essential project documentation, including loan contracts and technical cooperation agreements.
• Coordinate effectively with outside law firms and meticulously review their legal advice.

What You'll Need

Education

You must be a current graduate law student enrolled at an accredited university. Your graduation date should be scheduled after the completion of the internship period (August 15, 2026).

Languages

Fluency in English is essential. A working knowledge of one of the other Bank languages (Spanish, French, or Portuguese) is a significant advantage.

Key Skills

We are looking for individuals who are highly motivated by the IDB's mission, collaborative in team settings, client-focused, strong communicators, self-driven, and eager to learn and develop their legal expertise.

Technical Skills

Candidates should possess knowledge of either Common Law or Civil Law legal systems. Strong analytical and drafting skills are required. Familiarity with administrative law, contracts, and corporate financial matters will be particularly helpful in this role.

Requirements

• Citizenship: Be a national of an IDB member country.
• Active Student Status: Must be actively enrolled in a graduate (master’s or Ph.D.) program as of the internship's start date, with a graduation date after August 15, 2026.
• Consanguinity: Must not have close family members (up to the fourth degree of consanguinity and second degree of affinity, including spouse) currently working at the IDB or IDB Invest.
• First Job at IDB Group: This must be your first participation in an Internship Program with the Bank or Inter-American Investment Corporation. Additionally, you must not have been a former staff member, Complementary Workforce (CW), contractor for the Bank or Corporation, or previously provided services to either entity through a contractor or any other contractual modality.

Important Notes for Applicants

• Submit your resume, academic transcripts (official or unofficial), and a university letter certifying your student status with your application.
• If an unofficial transcript is submitted initially, an official one will be required if you progress in the selection process.
• Academic transcripts and university letters should be issued within the last three months.
• Graduate students must have completed a minimum of 50% of their coursework when applying.
• Applications missing any of the requested documentation will be disqualified.
• Save each required file in PDF format, clearly labeled with your name and the subject.
• Do NOT send copies of your degree certificates or other course completion documents.
• You must be available to work full-time (40 hours per week) from June 16 to August 15, 2026. These dates are fixed and cannot be modified.
• International students in the U.S.A. requiring work authorization via CPT or OPT should consult their school advisor, as the role requires 40 hours per week.

Key Skills/Competency

• Legal Research
• Legal Analysis
• Contract Drafting
• Legal Advice
• International Law
• Common Law
• Civil Law
• Administrative Law
• Corporate Finance
• Client Focus