Defending Defenders Law Intern

Location: Remote (U.S. and globally) or in-person at ELAW’s office in Eugene, Oregon USA.

Candidates should indicate whether they intend to work remotely, or from ELAW’s Eugene office. The Eugene office is a historic building. In-person internships may include additional opportunities to interact with visiting lawyers.

Timing: 10 weeks between late May and September 2027 (full-time, ~40 hours/week). We are open to considering a different timeframe to accommodate other academic schedules. If you need a different timeframe, please clearly describe that in your application materials.

Eligibility: Open to current second-year (2L) students enrolled in a Juris Doctor (J.D.) program or in their second year of an equivalent graduate-level legal education, and current students enrolled in a Master of Laws (LL.M.) program. International applicants with equivalent legal education are welcome to apply and should describe how their academic or professional background prepares them to succeed in this role.

The ELAW internship with the Defenders team involves communication in English or Spanish. Spanish or French as a first language or proficiency is a welcome asset.

Compensation: While applicants are encouraged to seek funding through school grants or external scholarships, financial aid status is never considered during candidate selection. ELAW will supplement external funding to guarantee that all interns receive a total rate of $17.50 per hour for 10 weeks of full-time work (up to $7,000 total).

Who We Are

Environmental Law Alliance Worldwide (ELAW) is an international NGO, registered in Oregon as a nonprofit. At ELAW, we believe that environmental protection and human rights are inseparable—and that the best solutions come from those closest to the problem. That’s why we support a global network of public interest lawyers and scientists in 80+ countries working to protect communities and ecosystems through law.

The Defenders legal team provides behind-the-scenes research, litigation support, strategic support and resources to defend the grassroots lawyers fighting extractive industries, climate injustice, plastic pollution, environmental injustice, and more. As a law intern, you’ll help us expand that impact while gaining invaluable experience, mentorship, and global exposure. Learn more at www.elaw.org. 

What You’ll Do

Over the course of your internship, you will:

• Conduct legal research and draft memos on a wide range of law, legal doctrines and mechanisms focused on protecting environmental defenders and protecting the rights of communities to engage.  The Defenders team works across the fields of human rights, civil, criminal and corporate accountability law at the international and domestic level across jurisdictions;
  
• Analyze and summarize innovative laws, legal trends, and court decisions;
  
• Assist with drafting briefs, regulatory analyses, or resource updates;
  
• Participate as a collaborative member of a legal team that supports interns through meaningful mentorship; and
  
• Observe strategic and information gathering meetings with local lawyer partners;
• Contribute directly to global legal efforts defending environmental defenders.
  
  

Recent intern projects have included:

• Research on legal issues relevant to responding to the criminalization of defenders, including through strategic lawsuits against public participations (SLAPPs);
  
• Drafting submissions to international bodies and domestic courts, including on topics related to the protection of civil society organizations from authoritarian governments;
  
• Compiling research on the corporations driving the criminalization of defenders; 

Who Thrives in This Internship
Successful interns tend to be:

• Deeply committed to public interest law, environmental justice, and human rights;
• Curious, meticulous researchers who write clearly and think critically;
  
• Collaborative and communicative, but self-directed in managing time and projects;
  
• Adaptable and open-minded, eager to learn across legal systems and cultures; and
  
• Multilingual or bring lived experience from frontline or underrepresented communities (preferred but not required)

What Success Looks Like

• Meaningful Legal Contribution: You complete high-quality research and writing that directly supports frontline legal partners.
  
• Growth in Legal Practice: You improve your ability to analyze complex legal issues across jurisdictions and write with clarity and advocacy in mind.
  
• Strong Mentorship Relationships: You build supportive, lasting connections with ELAW attorneys who care deeply about your growth.
  
• Clarity on Career Path: You leave with insight into your values, your place in the global environmental justice movement, and what comes next.
  
• Positive Community Impact: Your work contributes to legal tools to better protect those defending the environment.
  
  

What Makes This Internship Unique

• Global Legal Exposure: Interns engage with legal frameworks and partners in Africa, Asia, Latin America, and beyond.
  
• Hands-On Experience: This is not a siloed research position—you’ll work on live issues and real-world advocacy.
  
• Movement-Aligned Mentorship: Interns receive clear supervision, collaborative feedback, and intentional support.
  
• A Mission-Driven Team: Our team is collaborative, inclusive, and grounded in shared values—not just expertise.
  
• Remote Flexibility with Real Connection: Whether remote or in Eugene, interns are included in meetings, team communications, and one-on-one check-ins.
  

How to Apply

Please submit one PDF file that includes the following documents in this order:

1. Cover letter (1 page) describing your interest in ELAW and this opportunity, what you hope to gain from the internship, and relevant experiences or skills
   
2. Resume or CV
   
3. Legal writing sample (10 pages max)
   
   

Apply by October 23, 2026

Note: We may send updates via BambooHR. Please monitor your inbox (including spam/junk folders) for messages from us.

Our Commitment to Equity

We actively seek interns from diverse backgrounds and encourage applications from those historically underrepresented in the legal field.

We recognize that unpaid or underfunded internships create barriers for many students. To expand access, ELAW offers fully remote, 10-week full-time internships compensated at $17.50 per hour (up to $7,000 total).

We do not expect all candidates to follow the same academic or professional path. If your experience doesn't match our eligibility criteria exactly but you’ve completed rigorous legal education that you believe is equivalent to two years of a J.D. program or other graduate-level legal education — we encourage you to explain in your cover letter how your background prepares you to succeed in this internship.

ELAW is committed to equity, inclusion, and justice in our work and in our workplace. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, gender, age, disability, immigration status, sexual orientation, or any other protected identity.