Spring 2026 Legal Intern

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.

CIEL’s US-based legal internship program, managed through our Washington, DC office,  offers a unique opportunity for law students to develop skills in the field of international environmental law, and 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 environmental law and human rights, 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. 

Requirements:

• Applicants must be enrolled in a graduate program leading to a degree with an accredited university for the duration of the internship.
• You must be working towards or have already completed a legal degree (e.g. LLM, JD).
• Applicants must be willing to make a ten-week commitment of at least 15 hours/week for spring or fall sessions, and 40 hours/week for summer sessions.
• Applicants should possess some experience with international environmental or human rights law, either through graduate-level courses or comparable work experience.