Internship - Ethics Office

Name of Organisational Unit: WIPO Ethics Office

Place of Internship: Geneva

Expected Duration of Internship: Initial duration of 6 months with possible renewal

Expected Start Date: October 1, 2026

Application deadline: June 19, 2026.

LinkedIn applications must combine both the CV and cover letter into one single PDF file.

Applications not accompanied by both a motivation letter and a curriculum vitae will not be considered.

• Organizational Context

• Organizational Setting

The WIPO Internship Program provides an opportunity for interns to complement their education and to develop their professional skills and experience through participation in work in an international context.

This internship is located in the Ethics Office, Sector of the Director General.

The main role of the Ethics Office is to ensure that all WIPO personnel maintain the highest standards of ethics and integrity, as required by WIPO’s regulatory framework, including the WIPO Convention, the WIPO Staff Regulations and Rules, the WIPO Code of Ethics, and the Standards of Conduct for the International Civil Service. The Ethics Office serves all WIPO personnel, offering impartial and confidential advice on ethical matters. It also undertakes outreach activities and develops training related to ethical conduct. It further develops and updates policies on ethics-related matters and issues interpretative guidance. Lastly, it is responsible for shielding members of personnel from reprisals and retaliation.

• Reporting Lines

The intern will work under the supervision of the Chief Ethics Officer, within the Ethics Office.

• Objectives

During the internship, the intern will:

• Apply substantive knowledge in a practical setting;
• Develop greater knowledge and understanding of the law of the international civil service;
• Benefit from technical supervision and mentoring;
• Obtain experience working in a United Nations(UN) common system organisation.

• Duties and Responsibilities

Under the guidance and supervision of the Chief Ethics Officer, the intern will perform the following functions:

• Conduct research for new or revised policies related to ethics, drawing on a range of sources from the United Nations (UN) common system;
• Assist with fact-finding and legal research, including collecting information and documents related to cases, liaising with other units as necessary, and performing research on jurisprudence;
• Assist in the formulation of advice on ethics-related issues;
• Contribute to outreach and awareness-raising activities, including education materials (in written and visual form) for a variety of audiences;
• Draft reports, memoranda, and correspondence, prepare PowerPoint presentations, and contribute to updating/enhancing the Internet and Intranet pages of the Ethics Office;
• Performing other related tasks as required.

• Requirements Education (Essential)
• Advanced degree in law (Master's level), preferably public international law, (professional/organisational) ethics or compliance.

Education (Desirable)

• Specialisation in the law of the international civil service.

Experience (Desirable)

• Previous experience working with an international organisation;
• Knowledge of/experience in performing policy work and working with communication materials.

Language (Essential)

• Excellent written and spoken knowledge of English.

Language (Desirable)

• Very good knowledge of French.

Other competencies (Essential)

• Excellent analytical and drafting skills;
• Excellent communication and skills;
• Strong teamwork and flexibility;
• Sound judgement and integrity.
• High level of discretion and ability to maintain strict confidentiality and handle sensitive material.
• Competent user of Microsoft Office applications, Zoom, and able to adapt quickly to new systems and software.

• Organizational Competencies

• Communicating effectively
• Showing team spirit
• Demonstrating integrity
• Valuing diversity
• Producing results
• Showing service orientation
• Seeing the big picture
• Seeking change and innovation
• Developing yourself and others

• Eligibility

This is a category II internship. For this category, only the following individuals are eligible:

• Individuals pursuing their first advanced university degree who have completed their coursework, but not the final thesis; or

• Individuals who have obtained their first advanced university degree and who are pursuing a subsequent university degree; or
• Individuals who have obtained their most recent advanced university degree less than two years from the date of the internship application.

• Stipend

The selected candidate will receive a monthly stipend of 2,170 Swiss francs, and will be provided medical insurance, annual leave, and sick leave benefits.

Note: The stipend amount is for a full-time internship (40 hours per week). The internship is for a minimum duration of 6 months, renewable up to a maximum of 12 months. It will take place at WIPO’s headquarters; in Geneva, Switzerland, and it cannot be carried out remotely.

• Application process

All interested candidates should send to the [email protected] the following documents:

• Motivation letter
• Curriculum Vitae

Please use the following subject line when submitting your application by email: Ethics Internship position 2026

For all LinkedIn applications submitted via “Easy Apply” you must combine both the CV and cover letter into one single PDF file.

Applications not accompanied by both a motivation letter and a curriculum vitae will not be considered.

The application deadline is June 19, 2026.

For more information on WIPO’s Internship Program, please click here.