[ID:7094]EDITOR'S NOTES: In this article, author James Pickard explains the types of international criminal courts out there and what they look for when hiring lawyers. James also provides personal insights into how a young lawyer can get his or her foot in the door. His insights are based on, among other things, a six month term as a lawyer (or "junior professional consultant") in Sierra Leone.

International criminal law is incredibly interesting. It’s also competitive, intense and emotionally draining, but definitely worth considering if you’re looking for a great life and legal experience. My time in Sierra Leone was a fantastic experience, one that greatly surpassed my expectations. I not only had the opportunity to learn about and research international criminal law, but I also learned how to interview effectively victims from a dramatically different culture, to organize a case involving hundreds of witnesses (all of whom had serious security concerns) and I also picked up many different strategic nuances from senior prosecutors.

These are just some of my legal...