In-house MDB experience
Working as an in-house lawyer at a multilateral development bank is a rare and highly regarded credential. The LAP puts that on your CV.
Legal Associate Program
LEGAL ASSOCIATE PROGRAM
Practical legal experience that supports accelerated professional growth.
AIIB’s Legal Associate Program aims to develop the next generation of in-house lawyers to cater to the Bank’s legal needs both for private- and public-sector operations through intensive training, real transactions, and a front-row seat to how a multilateral bank operates. The program will start with a two-year contract within the Legal Department at AIIB’s headquarters in Beijing, where the Legal Associates will engage in intensive training (on-the-job and in-classroom settings) on the fundamentals of lawyering at AIIB on development operations.
What You Gain
Two years, thoughtfully designed.
From day one, you will be embedded in AIIB’s Legal Department, rotating across its units, contributing to transactions, and building the kind of in-house expertise that most lawyers spend a decade chasing.
Rotation across four legal units
The LAP rotates you through all four units of AIIB’s Legal Department (Public Sector Operations, Private Sector Investment Operations, Institutional & Administrative, and Finance), giving you a complete view of how legal work powers every part of the Bank.
Structured intensive training
On-the-job and classroom training on AIIB’s policies, products, and operations will help you understand not just the legal framework but the institutional context behind every transaction you work on.
Mentorship
You will work directly with and be supervised by AIIB’s legal counsels, gaining guidance and feedback from lawyers with decades of MDB, government, and private practice experience.
An institutional network
Two years embedded at AIIB means two years of building relationships across investment operations and corporate functions, helping you gain the cross-institutional perspective that shapes effective in-house counsel.
Work with purpose
Your legal work will contribute to infrastructure that connects communities, finances clean energy, and helps Asia build sustainably.
Eligibility
Is the Legal Associate Program the right fit for you?
The LAP is designed for lawyers of the highest caliber who are in the early stages of their careers. Here’s what we require and what we look for.
Selection criteria and eligibility
- Have an advanced law degree (Master’s/LLM/JD) from a recognized educational institution.
- Have a minimum of two years of full-time, relevant legal professional experience.
- Be admitted to practice law in at least one jurisdiction.
- Be fluent in English.
- Have a passion for development and commitment to AIIB’s mission.
Competencies
- Exhibit sufficient professional independence and maturity as well as discretion and sensitivity required for operating in a multicultural setting.
- Demonstrate strong legal knowledge to support drafting legal documents with limited supervision.
- Be able to identify and critically analyze legal issues and provide solutions.
- Be able to work in teams.
- Possess strong communication skills and the ability to present information in a clear and concise manner.
Your legal career, built where it matters.
Join AIIB and help create a prosperous and sustainable Asia while building valuable in-house legal expertise at an international organization. Applications are reviewed on a competitive basis.
| Steps | Timeline |
|---|---|
| Acceptance of Applications | December to February |
| Selection Process | Mid-February to April |
| Offer to Successful Candidates | May to June |
| Program Start / Onboarding | September 1 |
Asia’s infrastructure needs peoplelike you working on it.
Interested in the Legal Associate Program? Join our talent community and we will let you know the moment roles open. Applications close in mid-February each year.
