CIEL Spring 2027 Legal Internship in Geneva, Switzerland

The Center for International Environmental Law is an international nonprofit organisation working at the intersection of environmental protection and human rights.
CIEL's Spring 2027 Legal Internship in Geneva is supervised through its Climate & Energy Program and is designed to provide law students with practical exposure to international environmental and human rights law.
Interns may conduct legal research and writing on domestic and international law, environmental law, human rights law, international investment law and international trade law and policy.
Participants may also assist with policy analysis and advocacy, attend meetings and conferences, contribute to CIEL publications, legal opinions and legal briefs, and support the preparation of amicus curiae submissions before international tribunals.
The internship is based in CIEL's Geneva office and must be undertaken in person. Participants work under the supervision of CIEL attorneys and other experts, gaining practical experience in public-interest environmental legal advocacy.
The Spring 2027 placement may begin as early as January 2027. Applicants should ensure that their university can formally recognise the internship as part of their study programme and award academic credit where required.

• Applicants must remain enrolled in a graduate degree programme at an accredited university for the duration of the internship.
• Applicants are generally expected to be working towards a legal degree such as an LLM or JD.
• Applicants completing another relevant graduate degree may be considered if they have already completed a legal degree.
• The internship must form part of the applicant's current academic programme.
• The participating university must be able to confirm the internship arrangement.
• The internship must be validated through academic credit such as ECTS or an equivalent system.
• Applicants should have some experience with international environmental law or human rights law through coursework or comparable work experience.
• Applicants must be available for the required internship period.
• The Spring 2027 posting describes a placement of approximately 12–24 weeks with at least 24 hours of work per week.
• Applicants who are neither Swiss nor EU citizens and are not already in Switzerland may be required to undertake the internship full-time.
• Applicants should have strong legal research and writing abilities.
• Applicants should demonstrate commitment to public-interest law.

• CHF 2,660 gross monthly stipend for eligible full-time interns based in Geneva.
• Prorated stipend for eligible part-time interns.
• Practical experience in international environmental law.
• Exposure to international human rights law.
• Experience in climate and energy legal advocacy.
• Legal research and analytical experience.
• Policy-analysis and advocacy experience.
• Opportunity to contribute to legal opinions and briefs.
• Potential involvement in CIEL publications.
• Exposure to international meetings and conferences.
• Opportunity to support amicus curiae work before international tribunals.
• Direct supervision from experienced attorneys and environmental-law experts.
• Experience within an international public-interest organisation.
• Possible student visa sponsorship depending on nationality or citizenship.

Applicants should prepare:

• Cover letter.
• Résumé/CV.
• Writing sample in English.
• Contact information for two references, as requested in the current application form.
• Expected graduation information.
• Personal and academic details requested through the application portal.

The English writing sample should demonstrate the applicant's writing ability. CIEL states that undergraduate work may be used.

CIEL does not publish a numerical scoring system for the internship.

The official information indicates that strong applicants generally demonstrate:

• Excellent legal research skills.
• Strong writing ability.
• Relevant exposure to international environmental or human rights law.
• Commitment to public-interest law.
• Appropriate graduate-level academic preparation.
• Ability to meet the programme's university-credit requirements.
• Ability to complete the required internship commitment.

• Gain hands-on experience in international environmental law.
• Work on climate and human-rights legal issues.
• Develop advanced legal research and writing skills.
• Learn from experienced international environmental lawyers.
• Gain exposure to policy advocacy and international legal processes.
• Contribute to publications, briefs and legal analysis.
• Experience the work of an international public-interest organisation.
• Build experience relevant to environmental, human-rights and international-law careers.
• Gain professional exposure in Geneva's international policy environment.