International Renaissance Foundation
Last year, a law student came for an internship at AMI and stayed in the team. The organization has drawn conclusions, updated the program and announces a new recruitment.
The first internship cycle showed the main thing: the gap between university training and real work in the sector is much greater than it seems. Not because of the trainee's lack of knowledge, but because of the systemic difference between what is taught in the classroom and what happens at the intersection of citizens, the public sector and local governments.
AMI took this experience into account. The 2.0 internship program received three clear blocks with increasing autonomy, realistic indicators and a specific analytical product at the output of each stage.
The internship will run from July to September 2026. During this time, the trainee will go through a full cycle: from acquaintance with the internal processes of AMI to independent provision of legal advice and training of analytics for local governments.
Planned indicators: at least 8 initial consultations for residents, 3 legal documents for local governments, 1 analytical product based on verified public data. It also provides for participation in sessions and meetings of commissions of Kharkiv Regional Council and familiarization with the work of at least two of its departments.
The program is built around a simple idea: practice should grow gradually, rather than throwing a person into the water from day one. The first month is the methodological foundation, in particular the study of legislation on local self-government and the entry into the campaign “Attestation of deputies of local councils”. Further analytical work. Then legal advice.
Program curator Julia Bekkel has more than 17 years in human rights and more than three years on the AMI team. It accompanies each stage: from methodological tasks to evaluation of final results.
For those who live outside Kharkiv, a hybrid format with practice at the place of residence is provided.
Lawyers who understand the logic of local self-government bodies from the inside and at the same time know how to protect the public interest are currently in short supply in Ukraine. Universities train trial lawyers or civil servants. AMI prepares specialists to work at the intersection of government, community and civil society, where there are now the greatest needs and the fewest people.
AMI sees internships as a way to grow a team from within. Over the past year, the organization has expanded to four people. The internship program has become part of this logic: find motivated people, give them real practice and leave those who are suitable.
The set is open until June 29, 2026.
Contacts: initiativeslocal@gmail.com, +38 (050) 14 55 244
The internship at AMI takes place within the framework of the Impulse Project, which is implemented by the International Renaissance Foundation in cooperation with the Eastern Europe Foundation with the support of Norway (NORAD) and Sweden (SIDA).
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