Description:
ERI's U.S. Summer Legal Interns are law students able to work full-time for 8-10 weeks in ERI's Washington DC office during the summer. Legal interns provide legal research, writing, and program support for ERI activities all over the world. Law students may be J.D. or LL.M. students, but must have at least one year of U.S. legal training by the time of the internship.
ERI is currently counsel on several matters, including a landmark lawsuit against Chiquita for its funding of Colombian paramilitaries, and lawsuits against Occidental Petroleum and Union Carbide for environmental damage to communities in Peru and India, respectively.
Legal interns participate in various projects associated with these cases, including legal research and writing and assistance in all phases of litigation, 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 Legal Director and may provide legal support for other ERI programs, including its campaigns, educational programs, and human rights reporting.
Requirements:
Here's what our past interns have said about their experience:
"Interning at ERI reinforced the reasons why I am interested in pursuing a career in Human Rights. It gave me the opportunity to work with bright and dedicated human rights advocates and activists. ERI gives interns the opportunity to work on challenging and complex legal issues, something you do not get in a law school classroom. My time at ERI was priceless--I worked on cutting-edge human rights issues, gained a lot of wisdom, and most of all gained career mentors. Indeed it was a humbling and life changing experience."
Eunice Mavhenyengwa, Legal Intern, Summer 2010
"I appreciated the time I spent in D.C. with EarthRights International, where I assisted attorneys in litigation and researched human rights issues. The biggest blessing was the people I worked with. They were my teachers rather than colleagues or supervisors in that they gave me a clear example of what happy life is like. They work on the cause they are compelled to be engaged in and they work with the people they love to work with."
Dong Keun Lee, Legal Intern, Summer 2010
"ERI is committed to involving interns in every aspect of its work and I had the opportunity to do substantive work on various projects and cases that suited my interests and skills. I have long admired ERI’s contributions to the human rights and environmental justice movement, so the internship was a rewarding opportunity for me to learn about human rights and environmental advocacy directly from the brilliant, compassionate, and natural human rights defenders who make up the organization. ERI has set a very high standard regarding the work environment I hope to enjoy in my career!"
Michelle Salomon, Legal Intern, Summer 2010
ERI is unable to provide a salary, stipend or housing assistance, we are, however, able to work with your law school if you wish to arrange course credit or stipends through your school.
Application Procedures:
The deadline for applications for Summer 2012 is December 15, 2011
Students interested in the position of U.S. Summer Legal Intern should submit a cover letter, resume, a short (<10pp) legal writing sample, 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: ussummerlegalinternapps@earthrights.org.
Due to the volume of applications, ERI is unable to interview every applicant. We typically conduct phone interviews and may request in-person interviews where possible.
Contact Information:
Legal Intern Program
EarthRights International
1612 K St. NW Suite 401
Washington, DC 20006
Tel/Fax: +1 202 466 5188/ +1 202 466 5189
The power of law and the power of people
in defense of human rights and the environment.
© Copyright 1995-2011, EarthRights International
ERI staff, February 2010
Follow EarthRights International on Twitter
