How to apply for Summer 2027 Legal Internship (US)

About Center for International Environmental Law

The Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL) is a nonprofit that uses legal strategies to protect the environment and human rights. Its attorneys, campaigners, researchers, and communicators work on international environmental law and its links to investment law and trade law. This internship is part of CIEL's work to train the next generation of environmental lawyers.

About the role

As a summer 2027 legal intern, you will research and write about domestic and international law, including environmental and human rights law, international investment law, and international trade law and policy. You may also assist with policy analysis and advocacy. You will be supervised by CIEL attorneys and experts, and the work supports CIEL's international strategies to advance the right to a healthy environment.

A typical day

A typical day may involve researching domestic and international law, drafting memos or sections of legal analysis, and assisting with policy analysis or advocacy under the supervision of CIEL attorneys. You may attend remote team meetings and revise your work based on feedback. The exact schedule and tasks depend on CIEL's current program needs, so ask about typical intern assignments during the interview.

Who Center for International Environmental Law is looking for

• Currently enrolled in law school and able to work full-time remotely during summer 2027.
• Strong legal research and writing skills, with interest in international environmental law, human rights law, international investment law, or international trade law.
• Experience or coursework in environmental law, human rights, international law, or related fields.
• Ability to work independently on research tasks and contribute to policy analysis and advocacy under supervision.

Tips for this application

• In your cover letter, name one or two CIEL program areas or recent legal developments that connect to your research or coursework, and explain why you want to work on them.
• Provide a writing sample that shows legal analysis on a topic related to environmental law, human rights, international investment law, or trade law.
• Explain how you meet the full-time remote requirement for summer 2027 and how you stay organized without an in-office setting.
• Use your resume to list specific research, writing, or advocacy projects, including the legal issues involved and the output you produced.
• Check CIEL's website for application instructions and deadlines, and confirm whether they ask for a cover letter, resume, writing sample, or references.

What to cover in your cover letter

Focus on your legal research and writing experience in environmental, human rights, international investment, or trade law. Explain why CIEL's approach of using international legal strategies to protect human rights and the environment fits your goals. Mention any experience with policy analysis or advocacy. Show that you understand the internship is supervised and involves research and writing, not just general interest in the environment.

Research before applying

• Review CIEL's program areas and recent publications or legal filings to understand their current work.
• Read about CIEL's focus on the right to a healthy environment and how they connect human rights with environmental law.
• Look into CIEL's work on international investment law and international trade law to see how those areas relate to environmental protection.
• Find out who supervises legal interns and what former interns have worked on, if that information is available on CIEL's website or social media.

Likely interview topics

Based on the job description, expect questions about:

• Your legal research and writing process, including how you approach a new area of international environmental law.
• A specific environmental or human rights legal issue you have studied or worked on, and what you learned.
• How you would research the link between international investment law or trade law and environmental or human rights protections.
• How you manage multiple research tasks and deadlines in a remote, full-time internship.
• Why you want to intern at CIEL specifically, and which CIEL program areas interest you.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Submitting a generic cover letter that does not mention CIEL's specific legal work or program areas.
• Applying without a writing sample or with a writing sample that is not legal analysis, if a writing sample is requested.
• Ignoring the remote, full-time nature of the internship or failing to explain how you will manage remote work.