Summer Legal Internships (Chiang Mai, Thailand)

Description

EarthRights International’s Southeast Asia Legal Interns are law students able to work full-time for 8-10 weeks in ERI's Chiang Mai, Thailand, office during the months of June-August 2013. Legal interns provide legal research, writing, and program support for ERI activities to the legal program in the Southeast Asia office. Law students may be J.D. or LL.M. students, but must have at least one year of legal training by the time of the internship.

ERI Southeast Asia supports the Mekong Legal Network, a regional network of lawyers from Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam and China to working on regional public interest legal advocacy. In particular the network’s regional work is currently focused on two key strategic issues. The first is hydropower dams on the mainstream of the Mekong River. This requires engagement of stakeholders including the Mekong River Commission, Mekong government officials and potentially affected communities. The second strategic focus is a joint-study with the Carr Center at the Harvard Kennedy School of Government and Mahidol University in Thailand on Corporate Social Responsibility and human rights. The study will be used to complement a similar study being conducted by the ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights. MLN is also supporting lawyers pursue two different cases in the Thai Human Rights Commission.

Legal interns will be assigned a number of tasks, including legal research and writing and assistance in all phases of legal advocacy, as well as other legal work including development of new cases, monitoring and exploring developments in international human rights and environmental law, researching and utilizing other mechanisms of corporate accountability, and helping to coordinate with and assist other groups bringing domestic or international cases. Interns work directly under ERI's Southeast Asia Legal Director and may provide legal support for other ERI programs, including its campaigns, educational programs, and human rights reporting. There is an opportunity to join field trips with ERI Mekong and Burma school students.

ERI is unable to provide a salary, stipend or housing assistance, we are, however, able to arrange for credit with your law school as needed.

Requirements

  • A demonstrated commitment to protecting human rights and the environment;
  • Independent and creative thinking skills;
  • Excellent legal research and writing skills;
  • Ability to handle sensitive client relationships and protect the confidentiality of our work and our communications;
  • Ability to work in a cross-cultural workplace;
  • Proficiency in standard computer applications, especially Word and WordPerfect;
  • Proficiency in any Mekong country languages including Chinese is helpful, but not required.

 

Here's what our past interns have said about their experience:

“This summer at ERI in Thailand I had the chance to experience what international lawyers in this field actually do. I had the opportunity to interact with local communities and see firsthand the impact of large development projects. This added a very real dimension to the legal research and writing, making it truly an invaluable experience.”

-- Maria Chickedantz, Legal Intern 2011

Application Procedures:

The deadline for applications for Summer 2013 (June - August) is December 15, 2012

Students interested in the position of Legal Intern should submit a cover letter, resume, and contact information for two references, at least one of whom should be familiar with the applicant's legal abilities. Applications are only accepted by email. Please send all application materials to: apply-sea-legal-intern@earthrights.org. Please include "2013 SE Asia Summer Legal Intern Application" in the subject heading.

Due to the volume of applications, ERI is typically unable to interview every applicant. Only applicants who will be interviewed will be contacted. The interview will be conducted by Skype or by phone.