U.S. Fall Legal Internship
About The Position
EarthRights International (ERI), a nongovernmental, nonprofit organization dedicated to defending human rights and the environment by combining law and community power, is seeking fall interns for its District of Columbia office. ERI's U.S. Fall Legal Interns are law students who can commit to full-time or part-time work for a minimum of 10-12 weeks during the fall semester. These interns will provide crucial legal research, writing, and program support for ERI's global activities. The internship is open to J.D. or LL.M. students who have completed at least one year of U.S. legal training by the internship start date. For over 30 years, ERI has been a leader in representing communities and individuals worldwide affected by corporate, financial institution, and governmental actions that harm their rights, livelihoods, and homelands. ERI's legal team collaborates closely with clients, co-counsel, partner NGOs, and campaigners to pursue groundbreaking lawsuits and legal advocacy aimed at providing remedies and ensuring accountability. Notable cases include Jam v. International Finance Corporation, which reached the U.S. Supreme Court and established precedent for the accountability of international financial institutions, and Doe v. Chiquita Brands International, which resulted in the first U.S. jury finding of liability for human rights abuses abroad. Legal interns will engage in various case-related projects, including legal research, writing, and assisting in all litigation phases. They will also contribute to other legal initiatives such as developing new cases, monitoring human rights and environmental law developments, exploring corporate accountability mechanisms, and coordinating with other domestic and international legal groups. Interns will be fully integrated into ERI’s U.S. legal team and may collaborate with any of ERI’s attorneys and staff on advocacy and communications programs.
Requirements
- Law students who can receive course credit for their internship from their law school.
- Must have at least one year of U.S. legal training by the time of the internship.
- Demonstrated commitment to using the U.S. legal system to serve vulnerable communities and/or protect human rights and the environment.
- Independent and creative thinking skills.
- Excellent legal research and writing skills.
- Ability to responsibly handle client, partner, and colleague relationships.
- Ability to protect the confidentiality of our work and our communications.
Nice To Haves
- Proficiency in languages other than English; Spanish fluency is highly desired.
- Experience in fields related to issues of human rights, environmental protection and indigenous peoples, including regional studies, development, environmental sciences, or others.
- Strong interpersonal skills, cultural competency skills, and ability to work in teams.
- Experience or interest in working with people from diverse cultures.
Responsibilities
- Provide legal research, writing, and program support for ERI activities.
- Participate in various projects associated with ERI cases, including legal research, writing, and assistance in all phases of litigation.
- Contribute to other legal work, including the development of new cases.
- Monitor and explore developments in human rights and environmental law.
- Research and utilize other mechanisms of corporate accountability.
- Help coordinate with and assist other groups bringing domestic or international cases.
- Work with ERI’s attorneys and other staff in advocacy and communications programs.
Benefits
- Will work with you to arrange course credit or a stipend through your school
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Intern
