Hong Kong International Arbitration Centre internship

The internship period is for eight weeks with a flexible starting date between November 2023 – February 2024. The internship will take place in Hong Kong.

An HKIAC internship is a practical educational experience. Interns will principally assist the Secretariat in discharging its day-to-day duties.

Under supervision, interns will be assigned tasks and projects that, to the extent possible, are relevant to their educational background and interests and provide the opportunity to put into practice and further develop their theoretical knowledge.

Where appropriate, HKIAC encourages its interns to exercise initiative and engage in independent thinking.

Interns may be asked to:

• undertake research on various topics in international arbitration and alternative dispute resolution
• assist with the case management team in administering arbitration, mediation, adjudication and domain name cases
• draft articles and prepare materials
• attend and assist with planning hearings, meetings, seminars and conferences
• compile case statistics
• translate documents.

The aim of the HKIAC internship programme is to challenge interns intellectually, to give them a sense of what arbitration and alternative dispute resolution are in practical terms and to better equip them for the next stages in their careers.

Management of the programme

The Asia New Zealand Foundation and HKIAC will jointly deliver pastoral care and support professional development in cultural competency.

• Applications must be submitted by 5pm, 12 June 2023 (closed)
• Shortlisted applicants will be notified by early July 2023
• Shortlisted applicants will be invited to an in-person or online panel interview to select the successful candidate
• The Successful candidate will be advised in late July 2023

All selected interns will be supported to attend a group induction day in Auckland in late November 2023.

Applicants must be:

• New Zealand citizens or have New Zealand permanent resident status
• due to complete at least two years of tertiary study majoring in law at a New Zealand university by November 2023 or practising at a law firm in New Zealand when they apply
• able to demonstrate an interest in a career in international dispute resolution 
• willing to participate in Foundation activities following the internship such as panel discussions, round tables and school talks.

The Foundation will cover:

• return airfares
• a travel insurance subsidy
• accommodation costs
• most living costs.

HKIAC will pay intern the minimum wage according to the Hong Kong minimum wage ordinance. The intern would be required to contribute $500NZD to cover daily living costs during the internship. 

Applicants should be willing to:

• take out appropriate travel insurance (subsidised by the Foundation)
• write a final three-page report evaluating the internship experience
• participate in Foundation professional development activities and networking events after they return.

Successful applicants will be required to agree to the standard Terms and Conditions for Asia New Zealand Foundation funding recipients.

• Read the full terms and conditions (PDF - 418KB)

Reporting requirements

Foundation interns are expected to provide two reports (web article and final report) on their experience, and to seek opportunities to share their experience on their return to New Zealand, and to remain engaged with the Asia New Zealand Foundation. Sharing your experience with others is an important part of this initiative as it enlightens others about developments in Asia. 

Interns are expected to write a 600-word article (with accompanying photos) on their internship that will appear on the Foundation’s website (to be submitted during the internship) and write a final three-page report evaluating the internship experience at the end of the programme.

The 2023 application round has closed for this internship.

If you have a question about the internships, please first check our 'What you need to know' page and if your question is not answered there, email the Foundation’s project officer (internships) Joyce Bonde. jbonde@asianz.org.nz.