2024 Fall Trade & Investment Legal Internship

The Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL) is a dynamic, nonprofit organization that works at the intersection of human rights and the environment. CIEL is comprised of attorneys, campaigners, researchers, and communicators who have extensive experience in leading international strategies to advance everyone’s right to a healthy environment. Many of our program areas explore innovative developments in international environmental law and human rights, including in their direct link with other international legal fields, such as international investment law or international trade law.

Our legal internship program on international trade and investment law offers a unique opportunity for law students to develop skills in this field of law as well as in the field of international environmental law, using legal strategies to protect human rights and the environment. Learning from and supervised by a diverse staff of experts and attorneys, internships offer insight into innovative developments in international law, by honing thoughtful and creative research and analysis. Offering this internship is central to CIEL’s mission of developing the next generation of environmental leaders and lawyers through real-world training and practice. 

Responsibilities of a legal intern in international trade and investment law may include researching and writing about areas of domestic and international law, including environmental and human rights law, international investment law, and international trade law and policy; assisting with policy analysis and advocacy; attending meetings at the WTO, the UN or other foras; assisting with the production of CIEL publications, legal opinions and legal briefs; support in the preparation of amicus curiae before international tribunals and otherwise working closely with CIEL staff on various projects. 

Successful applicants generally possess the following skills: 

• Have a strong dedication to public interest law; 
• Have excellent research and writing skills; 
• Are fluent in English;
• Have good academic performance as demonstrated by recent university or institutional record;
• Possess good knowledge of international trade and investment law, as well as of international environmental, human rights law and public international law; and
• Have been following recent developments on international trade and investment law in the context of human rights, the environment or climate change.  
  

Notes:

• Internships for the fall session may start as early as September, 2024.
• Candidates are welcome to submit their application before close of business on 1 May, 2024. 

Requirements:

• Applicants must be enrolled in a course of study leading to a Master of Law or an LLM degree or similar legal professional qualification for the duration of the internship.  We cannot accept recent graduates.
• Applicants are required to be available full time (40 hours week) for 5 or 6 months.

Stipend:

A monthly stipend is available for any intern eligible to receive it under the rules applied by their jurisdiction and educational institution. The basic stipend is 2,660 CHF/month for full-time interns based in Geneva. For less than full-time internships, the stipend is prorated according to the intern’s approximate level of time commitment to CIEL. Stipends are intended to make the CIEL internship more readily available to aspiring professionals, and are not intended to create a legal or employment relationship between the intern and CIEL, or otherwise modify the legal nature of the internship program.

To Apply:

• To apply, please submit your cover letter, resume, and a writing sample in English.

Application Deadline:

• Applicants will be accepted on a rolling basis.

FAQ:

• May I undertake my internship remotely?  Internships with CIEL’s Geneva office are expected to take place in person.
• What should I submit as an English writing sample?  Feel free to submit something that you feel demonstrates your writing ability.  This can include undergraduate work.
  
• May I apply to both offices? You may apply to both our Geneva and Washington, DC offices. Applying for internships with our Washington, DC office is a separate process, see that application page.

If you have further questions or need assistance, please contact geneva@ciel.org.