How to apply for Legal Fellowship

About Center for International Environmental Law

The Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL) is a nonprofit that works at the intersection of human rights and the environment. Its staff includes attorneys, campaigners, researchers, and communicators who lead international strategies to advance the right to a healthy environment. CIEL explores links between international environmental law and other fields such as investment and trade law.

About the role

This legal fellowship is for recent law school graduates to gain experience in international environmental law. Fellows research and write on international law and policy, assist with policy analysis and advocacy, attend meetings and conferences, help produce CIEL publications, and work closely with staff on various projects. Fellows must secure their own funding, and CIEL cannot guarantee a future position or a particular area of focus.

A typical day

A typical day might involve researching international law and policy topics, drafting memos or sections of CIEL publications, and attending meetings or conferences. You would also assist with policy analysis and advocacy and work closely with CIEL staff on various projects. The exact tasks depend on current program needs and your funding arrangement.

Who Center for International Environmental Law is looking for

• Recent law school graduate with a strong interest in international environmental law and human rights.
• Has secured independent funding, often from a university, third party, or scholarship.
• Skilled in legal research and writing on international law and policy topics.
• Comfortable attending meetings and conferences and assisting with advocacy and publications.
• Flexible about project focus, since CIEL cannot guarantee a particular area of interest.

Tips for this application

• Confirm your funding source before applying, because CIEL requires fellows to come with their own funding.
• In your materials, state clearly that you understand CIEL cannot guarantee a future position or a specific focus area.
• Highlight any experience with international environmental law, human rights, investment law, or trade law, since CIEL works at these intersections.
• Mention your availability for full-time or part-time work and whether you seek academic credit, as fellows often receive credit from their schools.
• Check CIEL's website for current program areas and recent publications, then reference one or two in your application to show specific interest.

What to cover in your cover letter

Explain your funding source and its duration. Describe your legal research and writing experience on international law or policy topics. Show familiarity with CIEL's work at the intersection of human rights and the environment. State your willingness to work on various projects without a guaranteed focus area.

Research before applying

• Read CIEL's recent publications and program pages to understand current work areas.
• Look into CIEL's work at the intersection of international environmental law and human rights, including links to investment law and trade law.
• Identify CIEL staff and their areas of expertise to understand who you might work with.
• Check if CIEL has specific fellowship application instructions or deadlines beyond the general job posting.

Likely interview topics

Based on the job description, expect questions about:

• Your funding source and how it covers full-time or part-time work.
• Your experience researching or writing about international environmental law, human rights, investment law, or trade law.
• How you would assist with policy analysis and advocacy for CIEL projects.
• Your interest in attending meetings and conferences and helping produce CIEL publications.
• Your flexibility regarding project assignments, given that CIEL cannot guarantee a particular area of focus.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Applying without confirming you have independent funding, since this is a strict requirement.
• Assuming CIEL will provide funding or a paid position after the fellowship.
• Expressing a fixed focus area without acknowledging that CIEL cannot guarantee a particular area of interest.