Palestinian Laws and Legal Practice Internship: This legal internship program is ideal for students of law, the social sciences, and human rights, as well as for anyone interested in the Palestinian legal system as it operates in the West Bank. As an intern, you can enroll for a period of from 1 to 13 weeks, year-round (spring, summer, fall, and winter). The Palestinian Laws and Legal Practice Internship program aims to provide a full understanding of legislation applying to the West Bank and Gaza.

During the legal internship program, you will visit local Palestinian lawyers, law faculties, courts, human rights organizations, legal and religious institutions, and clinics in Hebron, Palestine. You will witness the enactment of laws, the decision-making process, court rulings, legal negotiations, and mediations in various social settings.

Engage in the West Bank’s Palestinian Laws and Legal Practice Internship Program, which is designed to create a dialogue between participants and Palestinian legal experts, as well as an introduction to one of the world’s most complex legal systems. The internship program will allow you to learn about Palestinian and Humanitarian law and offer insight into some of the issues concerning both Palestine and Israel. 

Engage in the West Bank is now accepting applications for its Palestinian Laws and Legal Practice Internship for 2025/2026. This program is ideal for law students, legal professionals, and human rights advocates interested in gaining firsthand experience with the Palestinian legal system. Participants will engage in legal research, observe court proceedings, and work alongside Palestinian lawyers and legal organizations in the West Bank, particularly in Hebron and surrounding areas.

Interns will explore key legal issues related to human rights, international law, and the challenges faced by Palestinian communities under occupation. Through field visits, case studies, and discussions with local legal experts, participants will gain a deeper understanding of the intersection between law, governance, and social justice in Palestine. Additionally, interns will receive Arabic language instruction to facilitate communication and cultural engagement.

The Israeli Military LawThe Jordanian Law
The Religious LawCustomary Law
British LawOttoman Law
Egyptian LawPalestinian Traditional Law (Arabic Rights)

Participating in this legal internship program will allow you to immerse yourself in Palestinian culture, daily life, politics, human rights, and legal spaces in the city of Hebron, Palestine. Participants will receive Arabic lessons totaling three hours per week and have the chance to visit various sites. Females may also have the option to stay with a Palestinian host family, and all participants will receive full support during their time in Hebron.

The Palestinian legal system is an incredibly intricate one, comprised as it is of components from other legal systems that reflect Palestine’s complex and diverse history.

The Palestinian legal system borrows components from Muslim customary/common law (those laws associated with Sharia Law), Ottoman, British, Jordanian, Egyptian, and Israeli military law, and elements of the contemporary Palestinian Authority’s Basic Law. Finally, the Palestinian community also refers to something called Arabic Rights, which are considered “traditional” and contain elements of the aforementioned laws from different periods.  

The aspects of the law that are observed at any time depend on the specific area of Palestine one resides in, whether it be the Israeli-controlled regions of the West Bank and Jerusalem, the Gaza Strip, or the area of the West Bank controlled by the Palestinian Authority.

Each specific region of Palestine is influenced by its history and geography. For example, the Gaza Strip’s legal system is heavily influenced by Egyptian law, while the West Bank’s is influenced by Jordanian law. 

The City of Hebron is located in the southern West Bank of Palestine and is subject to the laws of the Palestinian Authority and Israeli military law. As a consequence of its imperial and colonial past, it has laws that date from other historical periods of Palestine. These include Sharia, Ottoman, British, and Jordanian laws.

Volunteering for a Law Internship in The West Bank

Engage in the West Bank in Hebron, Palestine, offers its Palestinian Law and Legal Practices Internship program to those who are interested in law internships in the West Bank. If you want to gain experience in law, are curious about pursuing a law career, or are already enrolled as a law or pre-law student, this internship would be ideal. For those interested in diplomacy, this internship would be a great opportunity for you to gain experience in a delicate and high-stakes environment.  

This legal internship program also offers opportunities for those interested in humanitarian work, human rights, religious law, and women’s rights.

In addition to working in a law/policy-oriented environment, the Palestinian Law and Legal Practices Internship also involves extensive fieldwork, community outreach, and cross-cultural communication. This program can provide valuable experience for those considering an academic career in law, human rights advocacy, or the social sciences and for those interested in human rights work in Palestine. 

Suppose you want to learn more about the law, human rights, politics, diplomacy, humanitarian aid, and interpersonal relations while exploring Palestine and contributing to a worthy cause. In that case, this internship program is for you! 

Who Can Participate? 

Engage in the West Bank does not discriminate on any basis, including a person’s nationality, ethnicity, religion, gender, sexual orientation, or any other basis. Furthermore, Engage in the West Bank has a long history of welcoming people from around the globe.

Participants have visited Engage in the West Bank from the following countries: The United Kingdom, the United States of America, Norway, Denmark, the Netherlands, Germany, Sweden, Canada, France, Belgium, Switzerland, Brazil, Mexico, Austria, Bulgaria, Croatia, Republic of Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Finland, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Australia, Japan, South Africa, Singapore, South Korea, Ireland, China and New Zealand!

Program Structure

The Palestinian Laws and Legal Practice Internship would be ideal for summer interns seeking a legal internship in Palestine, the West Bank, Israel, the Middle East, or the wider Arabic world. During the internship program, you will have the unique opportunity to enjoy Palestine, its people, and its culture.

The summer Palestinian Laws and Legal Practice Internship program is ideal for students on a summer break or for anyone looking to intern during an extended visit to the region of Palestine and Israel. The summer legal internship in the West Bank, Palestine, combines an Arabic language focus with a full immersion and engagement in Palestinian culture, politics, and history. It includes visits to Bedouin areas (Susiya), Palestinian refugee camps, local villages, and community centers.

This Law Internship program would suit those interested in the following: 

  • Academic careers  
  • Legal Internships in Palestine
  • Internship programs in human rights and law in the West Bank
  • Communications work
  • The politics of Israel and Palestine 
  • Gaining University credits
  • Contributing to an important cause

Participants in the Palestinian Laws and Legal Practice Internship will focus on several key strands:

  • Learning about Palestinian laws, how they operate, and the humanitarian circumstances of Palestine.
  • Meeting with legal experts, human rights organizations, legal institutions, Palestinian law students, and faculty members of the law department.
  • Arabic language and cultural immersion.
  • Introduction to legal manuals, scripts, and historical material (optional)
  • Interning with Palestinian lawyers (dependent on the duration of stay)

Program Details and Additional Activities in Palestine

Participants in the Palestinian Laws and Legal Practices Internship based in Hebron, West Bank, will also receive the following benefits.  More details are given below. These include:

  • 12 hours of conversational Palestinian Arabic lessons for each month you intern. Participants can also study MSA, Fusha, or colloquial Arabic.
  • Accommodation with a Palestinian host family or in a shared flat.
  • Breakfast with other participants (6 times a week)
  • Support during your time in Palestine
  • Visits to various sites in the city of Hebron (refugee camps in Hebron, the law faculty, human rights organizations, the old city and  different factories)
  • An understanding of Palestinian law and an experience of the occupation of the West Bank, Palestine 
  • An overview of the human rights situation and an opportunity to help Palestinian refugees. 
  • Educational, community, and social activities
  • Access to the hospitality of Palestinians and the pleasant climate
  • The opportunity to live in and gain impressions from one of the Middle East’s most politically divisive and ambivalent regions.
  • The opportunity to visit unique tourist attractions from a particularly native perspective—locations including BethlehemRamallah, Nablus, Hebron, Tulkarm, Qalqilyah, Jenin, and the Dead Sea in Jericho.
  • You can access nearby cities such as Akko, Herzliya, Beersheva, Eilat, Tiberias, Netanya, Safed, Haifa, Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, Masada, Amman, Aqaba, Wadi Rum, and Nazareth.
  • Tuition by well-qualified, attentive Arabic teachers, each with an excellent educational background, ready and happy to help you.
  • A certificate upon completion.

Workshops for Palestinian Law Students

International visitors to Engage in the West Bank with legal expertise may conduct educational workshops for Palestinian law students either at Engage in the West Bank or in local universities in the city of Hebron.

Interning with Palestinian Lawyers

Exposure to the Palestinian legal system will give participants a unique insight into how it functions.  Consequently, some interns may decide to pursue a career in law following this experience. 

Please Note: Interning with Palestinian lawyers is only available to those who are enrolled with Engage in the West Bank for at least one month. 

Another segment of the legal internship focuses on educating participants about Palestinian legal systems, their role in human rights law, and the critical role these play in the West Bank. You will learn all about the legal system’s diversity, complex structure, and modes of operation.

This will entail you and the other interns visiting Palestinian law firms and lawyers’ offices and speaking to law students and local law professors. In addition, participants will have the opportunity to discuss Palestine’s issues and the legal system’s role in dealing with them. This level of immersion in Palestinian law will provide participants with a well-rounded understanding of the legal system in Palestine and its importance. 

Arabic Language and Cultural Immersion

The third portion of the program relates to Arabic language and cultural immersion. When enrolled with Engage in the West Bank, participants will receive 3 hours of Arabic language instruction per week. These courses are designed to provide participants with opportunities to interact with locals, find their way around the City of Hebron, and further immerse themselves in Arabic culture and language.

In addition, Engage in the West Bank operates excursions to areas of historical importance in the old city of Hebron, such as the Abraham Mosque.

Participants will also have the opportunity to visit areas of political significance, such as Palestinian refugee camps, where they will witness firsthand the humanitarian impact of the Israeli–Palestinian conflict. 

Interacting with Palestinian Culture

As an intern in Hebron, West Bank, you will find that most Palestinian people are incredibly friendly, hospitable, and open to foreigners. If participants utilize their Arabic skills, no matter how well developed, you will find that most Palestinians are enthusiastic and patient communicators. They will be delighted to find that people have taken an interest in their language and culture.

Palestine is located in the heart of the Levant (the area associated with the eastern Mediterranean, which is the cradle of three world religions), meaning you will have ample opportunities to visit cultural sights, historical monuments, and other landmarks. Although Palestine faces difficult circumstances, participants will find that the Palestinian people are friendly and open and that Hebron itself is a safe place to learn and to intern!

Overview of Palestinian Laws and Legal Practice Internship

Place of Internship ProgramHebron, West Bank, Palestine 
Program Fees Check Prices Here
Registration fee: 30€, payable at the time of registration
Age18-75 Years Old
Minimum Duration1 Week 
Maximum Duration13 Weeks
Arabic Lessons per Week3 Hours 
Class Duration45 Minutes
Number of Participants Variable (1-5)
Internship FocusPalestinian Laws
Legal practices in Palestine
Humanitarian Laws
Legal Systems in the West Bank
Human Rights in Palestine
Suitable forLaw Students
Social Science Students
Lawyers
People Interested in Palestinian Law
Humanitarian Aid Workers
Start/End DatesFlexible – Anytime
Application DeadlineNo Deadline
University CreditAvailable
Program Language English 
Tel Aviv Airport PickupAvailable (Fee applies)

Program Costs and Information

Engage in the West Bank charges a weekly fee, with the stated costs covering the following expenses: language courses, accommodation, breakfast from Monday to Friday, group excursions, and a contribution towards our running costs.   In addition, a registration fee: of 30€, payable at the time of registration

Furthermore, the program prices listed on this webpage are the complete and final cost students will pay. 

Program Fees Cover:

  • Accommodation
  • Language courses
  • Engage in the West Bank’s operating costs
  • Breakfast (Mon – Fri) 
  • Group excursions within Hebron

What Language Is the Program In? 

All of our internship programs are geared toward English speakers. However, for the sake of immersion, the higher the course level, the less English will be utilized during the program.

Who Will the Volunteers Work With?

During the legal program, participants will work closely with local lawyers, law professors, and university law students, enabling them to gain hands-on experience and practical knowledge about the legal profession in Palestine. Participants will also have the opportunity to interact with legal organizations, non-governmental institutions, women’s community centers, and advocacy groups, allowing them to gain insights into the key issues facing Palestine, such as human rights violations, land disputes, and the challenges of Palestinian refugee populations.

Through the internship program, you will also develop your research, writing, and critical thinking skills, allowing you to analyze complex legal issues and propose viable solutions to address them. Additionally, participants will immerse themselves in various aspects of Palestinian culture, cuisine, and traditions, making their stay in Palestine an enriching and unforgettable experience.

Overall, the Palestinian Laws and Legal Practice Internship program is a unique and impactful opportunity for individuals who are passionate about law, diplomacy, and humanitarian aid to gain valuable insights, skills, and experiences that will equip them to make a meaningful difference in the world.

Duration of the Internship in Palestine

Engage in the West Bank accepts applications for the Palestinian Laws and Legal Practice Internship year-round from individuals looking to intern with our organization for periods ranging from 1 to 13 weeks. As participants in this internship program, you will decide when you would like to start and end the program. We are very flexible with starting dates and the duration of the internship.

The easiest way to get to Hebron and to Engage in the West Bank is:

Traveling to and from Hebron, West Bank

All of Engage in the West Bank’s volunteers travel to and from Hebron using single or shared taxis that pass through checkpoints.

You will find all the necessary information about how to get to Hebron and Engage in the West Bank with relevant contact information in these four articles:

How to Get a Visa to Intern in the West Bank?

Most Engage in the West Bank’s internship program participants receive a three-month tourist visa when flying to Israeli airports or crossing the checkpoint from Jordan to the West Bank.

Americans, Canadians, and most Europeans need no prior visa to enter Palestine (and Israel), as these interns usually qualify for a visa exemption agreement. When you arrive at the Israeli Airports of Tel Aviv or Eilat, you will be granted a tourist visa valid for 90 days, allowing you to travel throughout Palestine and Israel.

Traveling to Palestine On Your Own?

No worries, you’ve come to the right place!

You will meet many participants from overseas who also involve themselves in our volunteer abroad programs, university students, and a community of people with various interests. Palestinians in Hebron, in particular, love to meet new people from different cultures and exchange ideas and experiences.

For everyone here, it is like belonging to one family, and there are always activities to do together in Hebron’s fantastic social scene

Safety of Our Volunteers and Interns

The region of Palestine has not been stable for the last few decades. There is often the threat of unrest and war, which can sometimes become more volatile than usual. Nonetheless, millions of tourists visit Palestine and the West Bank each year without having any safety concerns.  People come to Hebron, Ramallah, Bethlehem, Jenin, Jerusalem, Salfeet, Tulkarem, Nablus, and many other cities. Palestinians, in general, are welcoming and hospitable people. They recognize that the politics of a country and its people may sometimes differ.  

Since its formation in 2011, Engage in the West Bank has welcomed over 1,000 international visitors. These visitors lived and worked in Hebron for a few weeks to several months and, in general, did not face any threat or feel unsafe while there or in the West Bank.

Engage in the West Bank is located in the heart of Hebron, in an area under the administration of the Palestinian Authority. Our Palestinian host families and the male dorms are conveniently located near Engage in the West Bank’s location. 

Program Accommodation

When residing in Hebron, male program participants can either stay with a Palestinian host family (depending on availability) or in a very nice apartment just a 5-minute walk from our center. Both options offer unique advantages.

Staying in the apartment provides extra time to bond with other participants and volunteers, fostering a sense of community. Located near Hebron’s metropolitan center, the apartment offers convenient access to explore the vibrant city with fellow roommates, opening the door to many new and exciting experiences!

The second option available to participants will be to reside with a Palestinian host family. This option will provide participants with an intimate view of Palestinian daily life, customs, and culture, familiarize them with family structures, and allow them to taste some of the delicious Palestinian cuisine. It’s also likely that participants residing with a host family will be invited to family gatherings and cultural events, guaranteeing a culturally immersive experience!

Criteria for Participants in the Law Internship

Required:

  • To be 18 years of age or over
  • To have a positive attitude and a willingness to learn about Palestine
  • To have an interest in meeting people in Palestine
  • An ability to communicate in English
  • Willingness to be a part of a family in Hebron, Palestine

Not required:

  • The ability to speak Arabic
  • Travel experience
  • To be a native English speaker
  • An educational degree
  • Experience in teaching English
  • To be studying full-time

Reviews, Ratings, and Community Awards

Engage in Palestine has been honored with several prestigious Community Awards and recognized as the Best Language School and Top Volunteer and Internship Program Provider for 2019, 2021, 2022, 2023, and 2024. For more details, please visit our profiles on GoOverseas.com and GoAbroad.com.

Summary: Join Our Family in Palestine

The Palestinian Laws and Legal Practice Internship program is a unique opportunity for participants to gain valuable insights into Palestine’s complex legal systems and their critical role in advancing regional humanitarian causes. This internship program, located in the vibrant city of Hebron in the West Bank, is an ideal platform for individuals who aspire to pursue a career in law, diplomacy, or humanitarian aid.

Throughout the legal internship program, as interns, you will be exposed to various aspects of Palestinian law, including its sources, institutions, and practices. The program also provides a thorough understanding of the historical and cultural context in which these laws operate, allowing you to appreciate the nuances of the legal system and how it intersects with the broader social and political realities of Palestine.

How to Apply?

If you want to participate in our internship, please, write to us at info@ecpalestine.org. In the subject line of your email, write “Palestinian Laws and Legal Practice Internship.” We will attach an application form to your response, which you will fill out and return to us to begin the process.

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