International law careers are very diverse, ranging from private international law practice with a global law firm to international human rights advocacy with a Canadian organization. The path you choose will depend on a variety of factors, including the kind of law you want to practice and where you want to work.

The Faculty of Law's Career Development Office (CDO) offers individual career and job search counseling to students. The CDO promotes diverse career paths and assists students pursuing specialized career goals in fields such as international law.

University of Toronto Law students have access to a variety of electronic and print career resources, covering topics such as summer employment, articling recruitment, and diverse career paths. Students interested to learn more about opportunities in international law can refer to the following CDO resources, which are located in the CDO document library known as UTLawcareers:

  • International Career Guide
  • Pathways to a Career in Public International Law
  • Websites for International Law Careers
  • A Guide to Careers in Public Interest Law
  • Careers Beyond Private Practice

The CDO also provides the following programs to assist students:

  • Career Workshops & Panels:
  • Certain career panels may highlight international career options.  Please check the event list on UTLawcareers on a regular basis.
  • Career & Information Fairs:
  • Public Interest Day and the Annual Career Fair can include representatives from law firms with international offices as well as employers with an international focus.

The following are some examples of international law employers. This list is not exhaustive. For a more detailed listing of both public sector and private sector employers see the CDO's "International Career Guide" and the CDO's "Pathways to a Career in Public International Law.

Government of Canada

  • Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade
  • Canadian International Development Agency
  • Judge Advocate General's Office
  • Canadian Commercial Corporation
  • Export Development Canada
  • International Development Research Centre

The United Nations & Inter-Governmental Organizations

  • United Nations Development Program
  • World Health Organization
  • United Nations Commission on International Trade
  • International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia
  • Inter-American Commission on Human Rights
  • Organization for Security & Cooperation in Europe

Non-Governmental Organizations (NGO)

  • Amnesty International
  • Human Rights Watch
  • International Committee of the Red Cross
  • International Bureau for Children's Rights
  • Canadian Centre for International Justice