You are interested in human rights and prison law, and want to strengthen your legal analysis skills through direct engagement with case law and legislation? You are keen to collaborate with experienced practitioners across Europe and contribute to a network of human rights NGOs? This internship is for you.

Under the supervision of the Knowledge Sharing & Communications Coordinator, the Legal Resources & Knowledge Assistant will support the production of legal resources for prisoners’ rights defenders across Europe and contribute took the development of EPLN’s Knowledge Hub.

Location : Warsaw, Berlin or remote

Duration : 3 to 5 months starting in May or June 2026

Working time : Full-time

Your main responsibilities and tasks

Legal analysis and redaction of legal resources

EPLN develops two main types of legal resources for prison law practitioners: a monthly review of European prison case law and a selection of key domestic legal developments on prisoners’ rights across European countries.

The intern will be in charge of:

• Conducting a monthly monitoring of the ECtHR and CJEU case law on prisons, on the basis of detailed guidelines provided by EPLN’s Secretariat, and providing an analysis of the most important judgments, decisions, and, where applicable, Advocate General opinions.
• Reviewing and editing an analyses of the most important domestic legal developments prepared by EPLN’s national monitors.
• Drafting the legal resources in their communications format (newsletters and content in the Knowledge Hub), organising and boosting their dissemination among practitioners across Europe via EPLN communications means (emailing, website, social media)

Assistance in the production of legal content for EPLN’s Knowledge Hub

In 2025, EPLN developed a Prison Law Knowledge Hub gathering key legal resources for prisoners’ rights defenders (international and European law, case law and standards, analysis of relevant domestic developments, and practical guidance) with a view to enhancing the capacity of legal practitioners and CSOs involved in litigation and advocacy to defend prisoners’ rights at national, European, and international levels.

In view of the public launch of the Knowledge Hub, the intern will be in charge of assisting EPLN’s team in the final development phase of the Hub:

• Contributing to the selection, indexation and integration of relevant prisoners’ rights legal resources into the Hub.
• Participating in the evaluation of the test version of Knowledge Hub, in close cooperation with a pool of testing practitioners, and the team of software developers

Requirements and assets

• Enrolment at a university in the EU for the entire duration of the internship (master student; person who has completed their bachelor studies and is about to start a master’s programme; person writing a thesis, etc.) is a strong asset. For candidates not enrolled in an EU university, consultancy contracts may be considered.
• Fluent spoken and written English; knowledge of another European language is an asset;
• Legal education, including in international and European human rights law and prisoners’ rights;
• Strong analytical, synthesis, and drafting skills;
• Initiative and the ability to work autonomously;
• Experience in the use of legal digital databases is a strong asset.
• Interest and/or experience in digital communications is a strong asset.
• Interest in working within NGO in the field of penitentiary system;
• Commitment to EPLN’s values.

We offer

• Full-time position for three to five months, starting between 1 May and 15 June 2026.
• An interesting position in an international NGO, which involves:
  • Interaction with leading human rights NGOs in Europe;
  • A friendly working atmosphere within the team;
  • The opportunity to learn about civil society and human rights in Europe, from the perspectives of NGOs, legal experts and researchers;
• Minimal monthly compensation for an internship as per French law (all costs – accommodation, board, possibly relocation costs, etc. – are borne by the intern or their organisation of origin).
• Certificate of internship completion and a letter of reference in case of successful cooperation.

How to apply

Please send your application including a cover letter and a CV, to jobs@prisonlitigation.org.

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until we find you!