A Valuable Experience in a Great City
A highlight of my internship was attending the third-ever Congress of the Members of the Court, held to commemorate the 125th anniversary of the PCA. This event was hosted in The Hague at the headquarters of the PCA—the Peace Palace—which is also home to the International Court of Justice. The Congress brought together representatives of the PCA’s member states, qualified experts, and the organization’s staff to discuss significant topics in international law and arbitration.
This summer, I had the opportunity to work as a Legal Intern at the Vienna Office of the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA). The PCA is an international organization established in 1899 to promote the peaceful resolution of international disputes. At the time of its founding, the PCA was the first permanent intergovernmental organization to provide a forum for peacefully resolving inter-state disputes, and it was hoped that the existence of such an organization would make war between states less likely. Today, the PCA remains an active forum for inter-state disputes and supports a growing number of investor-state disputes arising from international investment treaties.
Though its headquarters are in The Hague, in recent years the PCA has opened regional offices worldwide, established in Mauritius, Singapore, Buenos Aires, Vienna, and Hanoi. The Vienna Office opened in 2022, and since it is so new, I was one of the first interns to work there. The office is in Vienna’s Hofburg Palace, a sprawling complex dating back to the 13th century that was once home to Austria’s royal family. Today, the PCA shares these premises with other organizations, including the office of the Austrian President, the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, the Austrian National Library, and several museums.
During my internship, I primarily worked with the PCA’s legal counsel and case managers to assist them in administering current cases, and I conducted research on important topics in international law and arbitration. Through this, I was able to gain insight into the inner workings of a major arbitral institution, helping me to better appreciate the function of international dispute resolution in both public and private international law. Working alongside lawyers with backgrounds in varied legal traditions was also an opportunity to better understand the work of international lawyers and the complexity of international law in a globalized world.
A highlight of my internship was attending the third-ever Congress of the Members of the Court, held to commemorate the 125th anniversary of the PCA. This event was hosted in The Hague at the headquarters of the PCA—the Peace Palace—which is also home to the International Court of Justice. The Congress brought together representatives of the PCA’s member states, qualified experts, and the organization’s staff to discuss significant topics in international law and arbitration. I feel incredibly fortunate to have had the privilege of attending and learning from leading minds in the field at this event.
I also enjoyed living in Vienna and came to greatly appreciate the city’s livability. Vienna in the summer is lively and vibrant (but not overcrowded), with walkable streets, monumental architecture, and picturesque parks. During my time there, I took full advantage of the city’s cafés, museums, art galleries, and operas. One feature of the city I especially appreciated was its abundant transit. The U-Bahn (subway), trams, and buses are frequent, reliable, and affordable—all hallmarks of a good transit system. Maybe Toronto has something to learn from Vienna!
My experience as a PCA intern, and living in Vienna, was an incredibly valuable experience. I encourage anyone reading this who would be interested in gaining some international experience next summer to seriously consider the PCA Internship Program, and I invite anyone interested in applying to reach out to me about it.
