Environmental Health Advocate

Earthjustice is the legal backbone for the environment. Founded in 1971, we annually represent nearly 400 non-profit organizations for free in over 250 cases that promote a clean energy future, preserve our natural heritage, and safeguard our health. 

Earthjustice has nine regional offices, an international program, a legislative team and a communications team. We represent coalitions that drive broad environmental protection, prevent irretrievable losses, and ensure that environmental laws are put to work. Our experience and distinguished track record enable us to mount strategic and effective campaigns that result in lasting environmental protection.

This position in Earthjustice’s Policy and Legislation Department provides legislative and administrative strategy development and implementation on environmental health issue priorities for Earthjustice (e.g. toxics, pesticides, hazardous waste ) assigned by Supervisor.



ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND FUNCTIONS

• Development and implementation of legislative and administrative strategies relating to assigned issues.
• Directly lobbies Congress and the Administration.
• Tracks legislation relating to assigned issues.
• Develops lobby and education materials.
• Develops or assists in developing media strategies with Communications Department and conducts media outreach on assigned issues.
• Tracks legislation and policy initiatives relating to assigned issues.
• Perform policy and legislative analysis.
• Represent Earthjustice in coalitions.
• Represents Department on Earthjustice practice groups related to assigned issues.
• Liaison with Earthjustice Litigators working on assigned issues.
• Educate the Administration and Congress on key legal challenges and rulings.
• Based on experience, serve as spokesperson for Earthjustice on assigned issues.

REQUIREMENTS:

• Bachelors or Masters in related environmental field, JD a plus.
• Demonstrated experience working with the legislative process.
• Familiarity with administrative rulemaking process.
• Ability to handle multiple tasks, projects and deadlines.
• Excellent writing and oral communications skills.
• Ability to work in coalitions.
• Experience in working with media.
• Proven ability to work independently.
• Two to six years related policy or legal advocacy experience.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Dependent on experience, this position may supervise projects and other efforts performed on assigned issues by Assistants, Interns or Contractors.

We offer a mission and employee-focused work environment and a competitive compensation package including excellent benefits. Earthjustice is an equal opportunity employer and highly values diversity. For full position description and to learn more about Earthjustice visit www.earthjustice.org.

To Apply
Interested candidates should submit a resume along with cover letter to jobs@earthjustice.org. Please include “Environmental Health Advocate” in the subject line.

Free the Slaves Policy Internship

Policy Internship
Organization Description
Free the Slaves (FTS) is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization dedicated to ending modern slavery worldwide. Founded in 2000, FTS partners with grassroots organizations in six countries to free people from slavery, help them rebuild their lives, and do what it takes to end slavery in their communities. Current partners include local anti-slavery organizations in Ghana, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Haiti, Brazil, India and Nepal. Informed by on-the-ground work and in-depth research, we then bring real-world solutions to policymakers and business leaders in the areas of policy, research, slave-free trade and communications, engage in high-profile advocacy campaigns on the federal and international level, and share compelling stories that inspire individuals to act and to build a global movement against slavery. FTS is headquartered in Washington DC.

Internship Program Description
The Free the Slaves internship program is a formal effort to develop and train future leaders of the anti-slavery movement. We seek to provide each participant with training and hands-on experience in various facets of anti-slavery work. The program operates out of the Washington, DC office of Free the Slaves on a semester system, with three sessions per year: Spring (January to May), Summer (June to August), and Fall (September to December). Participants are expected to participate in an orientation session at the beginning of each semester.

Internships are unpaid but students are often able to arrange academic credit, as Free the Slaves internships often offer direct exposure to the workings of an international human rights organization, close supervision by FTS staff, interaction with other U.S. and international organizations and foreign and domestic government officials, and opportunities to attend lectures, trainings, and special events relating to federal and international anti-slavery advocacy. Students should check with their individual academic institutions for requirements.

Policy Internship
The Programs Team at Free the Slaves (“FTS”) is seeking policy intern(s) to work closely with our policy team in support of our national and international policy efforts worldwide.
Tasks include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Write legislative summaries, website text and text for social media in support of advocacy goals.
• Support efforts to enact federal legislation requiring businesses to disclose what efforts if any they are taking to eliminate slavery from their supply chains and other business operations.
• Monitor anti-slavery and related activity within the U.S. government (Legislative and Executive branches) and potentially other advocacy targets. Attend relevant briefings and meetings in the international development and policy communities.
• Research domestic and international human rights law and policy relevant to FTS.
• Analyze proposed anti-slavery and anti-trafficking legislation.

All interns will assist in answering the phones and other general administrative and support duties as assigned.
Applicant Requirements

• All applicants must be either currently enrolled in, or a recent graduate of, an accredited college or university as a degree-seeking student.
• Recent graduates of post-graduate programs and students at the post-graduate level will be given preference.
• Successful applicants will have a demonstrated history of excellence in their studies and will be in pursuit of or a recipient of a degree within the following fields: law, public policy, international relations or affairs, international development, human rights, or another relevant field.
• Successful candidates will have a demonstrated history of interest and/or involvement in the anti-slavery or human rights movement.
• Applicants must have excellent written and oral communication skills, as well as a functioning knowledge of word processing within Microsoft Word.
• Applicants must be fluent in English, both written and orally. Additional language skills may be an advantage, especially French and Hindi.
• Applicants should be well organized, self-motivated and reliable and should be able to work well both independently and as a part of a team. Successful candidates will demonstrate a history of accepting direction, taking initiative, and working well with both supervisors and peers.

Application Directions
Please apply immediately by submitting via e-mail: a cover letter of interest; resume (highlighting experience in international human rights law and/or policy); a list of three references and/or letters of reference; a brief, unedited writing sample; and a current transcript to: interns@freetheslaves.net. Please use “Policy Intern: [Your Name]” as the subject line of your e-mail.

Free the Slaves is an equal opportunity employer that does not discriminate in its hiring practices and, in order to build the strongest possible workforce, seeks a diverse applicant pool.

Timeline and Application Deadline
This internship will commence in June and end August 31^st. Applications will be considered on a rolling basis, with priority given to applications received by April 2, 2012.

Summer Intern at PILnet: The Global Network for Public Interest Law

PILnet envisions a world where rule of law, as developed and supported within a wide variety of countries, delivers justice and protects human rights. PILnet connects with local partners to develop the institutions essential to rights-respecting societies. It inspires lawyers to serve the public interest, strengthens the ability of civil society to help shape law and policy and makes formal systems of justice more accessible. PILnet was founded in 1997 at Columbia University, became an independent organization in 2007, and has offices in Budapest, Beijing, Moscow, and New York.

Internship Overview
PILnet Budapest is seeking an intern to assist program staff with its Pro Bono program. The intern will be based in PILnet’s Budapest office, working closely with the Legal Officer as well as with other program staff there.

This internship is an exciting opportunity for anybody interested in hands-on experience in not-for-profits and with public interest law and human rights experts from around the world.

Key Responsibilities

• European NGO outreach;

• Help the Global Clearinghouse activities/Develop human rights pro bono projects with legal staff;

• Draft/Edit materials, including for the 2012 Pro Bono Forum to be held in Madrid (papers related to the Forum, articles for the PILnet website and other social media); and

• Basic administrative and other duties, as needed.

Qualifications

• Current enrollment in graduate law degree program (those from polictical science and/or media/PR programs may also apply);

• Interest in public interest law, human rights and/or international affairs;

• Experience with not-for-profits is a plus;

• Resourceful, detail-oriented and organized;

• Proficiency in English; Spanish knowledge is an advantage;

• Enthusiastic and creative; and

• Experience and/or interest in working in a multi-cultural environment in an organization with a global focus.

Start Date: May/June (flexible)
  

Interested candidates should submit a resume and a cover letter that specifically addresses the candidate’s suitability to perform the internship responsibilities detailed above to: Rvarkonyi@pilnet.org.

Only those offered interviews will be contacted.

Only candidates who can intern for a minimum of 4 weeks will be considered.

ABA International Spring Meeting in NYC

The American Bar Association Section of International Law (ABA International) will hold its Spring Meeting at the Grand Hyatt New York in New York City, April 17-21, 2012. Join over 1,200 international practitioners for this landmark meeting in the financial capital of the world. For more information and to register, please visit here. 

Law Clerk Positions to Judges of the International Court of Justice

The International Court of Justice wishes to appoint two law clerks each of whom will provide research and other legal assistance to one of the judges of the Court. Clerks will provide their assigned judge with legal research and related assistance with regard to cases pending before the Court and may also be required to provide legal assistance and support to a judge ad hoc participating in a particular case.  The deadline for applications is April 10, 2012.  For more information, click here.

Advocacy Intern at the RFK Center for Justice and Human Rights

The Robert F. Kennedy Center for Justice and Human Rights, a progressive human rights organization based in Washington, DC, seeks an Advocacy Intern for one of its core programs focused on global human rights advocacy.

Since 1968, the RFK Center has been defending human rights and working to realize Robert Kennedy’s dream of a more peaceful and just world. Forging long-term partnerships through RFK Partners for Human Rights, we assist human rights defenders on the cutting-edge of social change who have won the RFK Human Rights Award.

Responsibilities:
Advocacy interns will be asked to perform a variety of tasks in order to help with the Advocacy Team, including but not limited to:

• Conducting factual research and drafting memoranda on the human rights situation in countries of interest to the Center and on thematic issues (e.g. the human right to health, the right to development, etc.)
• Conducting research on the application of international human rights norms to country conditions, developments in the domestic legal systems of specific countries and their implications for human rights, and other questions
• Preparing documents for submission to government or U.N. officials
• Attending and reporting on briefings, Congressional hearings, symposia and other meetings
• Monitoring sources of information on countries and issues of concern to the Center; and collecting, organizing and analyzing relevant information
• Providing administrative support to Center Staff on an as-needed basis

Qualifications:
Applicants must have completed at least one year of law school or graduate school and have a demonstrated interest in human rights. Ability in one of the following languages is helpful, but not required: Arabic, French, Haitian Creole, or Spanish. Please note that internships are unpaid.
 

To apply:
Qualified candidates should submit a cover letter, resume, list of three references, and a brief writing sample.

• Mail: Intern Coordinator, Robert F. Kennedy Center for Justice & Human Rights, 1367 Connecticut Avenue NW, Suite 200, Washington, D.C. 20036
• E-mail: intern@rfkcenter.org SUBJECT: “Advocacy Intern”
• Fax: 202.463.6606 ATTN: Intern Coordinator

E-mail applications are preferred. Applications will be considered on a rolling basis.
For more information about the RFK Center, please visit: http:www.rfkcenter.org.

International Policy Fellow at Food & Water Watch

Food & Water Watch is inviting applicants for the 2012-13 International Fellowship Program. One fellow will be selected to commit 20 hours per week through the fall and spring semesters to support global campaigns for water justice and food sovereignty. This is a paid position.

Responsibilities may include:

• Research corporations, government and international financial institutions to help craft reports, briefing papers, and articles for the general public, media, NGOs, elected officials and government agencies;

• Assist researchers with data collection, synthesis, and analysis;
• Research emerging issues to move campaigns forward;
• Write popular education blogs about our international campaigns;
• Lobby Congress on foreign affairs legislation;
• Some administrative support (approximately 10%).

Requirements:

Strong interest in Food & Water Watch issues and demonstrated commitment to social change; strong verbal and written communication and time management skills; sense of humor and ability to work both independently and in a team. Experience in academic and corporate research is a plus, as is a background in any of the following: international development, environmental science and policy, agriculture and natural resources management, food and nutrition, economics, political science. Students currently pursuing a master’s degree are strongly preferred. Spanish proficiency is mandatory, French is also an asset.

Additional information:

We operate in a relaxed office environment in Washington, DC, metro accessible. This fellowship may be undertaken for class credit.

  

How to apply:

Please send cover letter, resume and 3-5 page writing sample to: internships@fwwatch.org (Subject: International Policy Fellowship, Fall 2012)

Deadline:
Applications will be accepted until May 15.