At the age of 26, Angel Trejo seemed to have ticked all the boxes for a successful career as an international lawyer. He held a law degree from one of Mexico's top universities, the National Autonomous University of Mexico. He had interned at highly influential non-profit organizations, such as Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights, and leading institutions in international law, such as the International Criminal Court. He had also participated in some of the most respected academic competitions in the field of international humanitarian law, including the Jean-Pictet Competition, where he won first place, and the Ibero-American International Humanitarian Law Competition and the Moot Court International Criminal Court Competition, securing second place in both. But despite his impressive track record, something was still missing — something he had yet to achieve, not for lack of trying: working for the ICRC.

After applying for the legal associate position two years in a row, he finally got lucky the third time. Angel’s perseverance was driven by both motivation and curiosity : I wanted to join the ICRC because, in all the fields I had worked in, the ICRC was always mentioned. It’s an organization that everybody has on their radar. I was also curious to see how an organization that is operational and field-oriented could also be such an expert on IHL and so committed to upholding humanitarian standards that make the law more protective and respectful of human dignity. And I wanted to be a part of that. Angel explains.

After going through a competitive selection process, which may include both written assessments and interviews, he became part of the ICRC’s 12-month associate programme.

While most associate positions at the ICRC tend to require the same core skills of research, evaluation, analysis and writing, and have just one role within a single team, unit or function, the legal associate positions within the Legal Division of the Department of International Law, Policy and Humanitarian Diplomacy are different, as they may involve rotation. Associates may spend the first half of the programme in one unit and the second half in another. The units within the legal division are so different and do such unique work that the advisers really want you to learn as much as you can and gain experience across different units, Angel explains.

In Angel’s case, he spent his first semester in the Privileges and Immunities team and his second semester in the Advisory Service on IHL Unit. The Privileges and Immunities team ensures our organization has the right privileges and immunities under international law to carry out its mandate and uphold its confidential approach. Meanwhile, the Advisory Service on IHL Unit assists states in implementing IHL at the national level.

One project that stands out for Angel from his time in the programme was the 12th Meeting on the Convention on Cluster Munitions. The ICRC was leading the effort for the convention to be respected and abided by all States parties to this treaty. I was able to support drafting the statements for the conference itself, and it was absolutely amazing. Never in my life did I think I would contribute to such an effort, Angel recalls. Reflecting on the experience overall, he says, It’s an interesting job – that’s the first selling point. It’s an interesting job where you are not expected to know everything, but you are expected to want to learn. But above all, I feel that the associate positions within the Legal Division are unique, because you always see the impact of your work. A normal day can go from doing a task that may seem small at first but can ultimately have a significant impact on a bigger commitment, like a country remaining bound by a treaty or enhancing the application of the law.

For those interested in becoming legal associates at the ICRC, Angel has several pieces of advice, starting with basic resources such as the Intercross podcast, Henry Dunant’s A Memory of Solferino, and Le Troisième Combattant by Marcel Junod. However, he also emphasizes the importance of reading widely, recalling the wise words of one of his law school professors: We become better lawyers the less we read about law and the more we read about other things.

His final piece of advice is simple yet powerful: Believe in yourself. This organization needs people from all around the world. It needs lawyers and legal professionals from different backgrounds who have seen different things. A place like the ICRC grows richer, is nurtured and can do its work better with diversity, so believe in yourself and know that your legal traditions, experience, education and training are valuable.