CIEL Legal Internship 2027: Earn CHF 2,660 Monthly in Geneva, Switzerland

The Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL) is inviting applications for its Spring 2027 Legal Internship in Geneva, Switzerland. The internship is designed for graduate-level law students who want to gain practical experience in international environmental law, human rights law, legal research, advocacy and policy analysis.

The internship will be hosted under CIEL’s Climate & Energy Program, where successful interns will work alongside lawyers and other experts on legal and policy issues related to environmental protection and human rights. The internship may begin as early as January 2027, depending on the applicant’s academic programme and arrangements. The application deadline is October 16, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. CET.

CIEL Legal Internship 2027 Details

Opportunity	Details
Internship	Spring 2027 Legal Internship
Organization	Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL)
Programme	Climate & Energy Program
Location	Geneva, Switzerland
Duration	12–24 weeks
Minimum commitment	24 hours per week
Stipend	CHF 2,660 per month gross for eligible full-time Geneva interns
Expected start	As early as January 2027
Deadline	October 16, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. CET

About the CIEL Legal Internship

CIEL is a nonprofit organization working at the intersection of human rights and environmental protection. Its work involves attorneys, researchers, campaigners and communications professionals who contribute to international strategies addressing environmental protection and the right to a healthy environment.

The Spring 2027 Legal Internship gives law students the opportunity to develop practical skills while contributing to real-world projects involving international environmental law and human rights law.Interns will be supervised by experienced CIEL lawyers and staff and may participate in legal research, analysis, advocacy, publications and international legal proceedings.

What Will the Legal Intern Do?

Depending on the projects assigned, interns may contribute to a variety of legal and policy activities.

Responsibilities may include:

Conducting research on domestic and international law
Researching environmental and human rights law
Examining international investment law
Researching international trade law and policy
Supporting policy analysis and advocacy
Attending meetings and conferences
Assisting with CIEL publications
Contributing to legal opinions and legal briefs
Supporting the preparation of amicus curiae submissions before international tribunals
Working with CIEL staff on different projects

The role combines legal research and writing with exposure to advocacy and international policy processes.

Internship Stipend

Eligible interns may receive a monthly stipend under the rules applicable to their jurisdiction and educational institution. For full-time interns based in Geneva, the basic gross stipend is CHF 2,660 per month. Interns working less than full time receive a prorated stipend based on their approximate level of commitment. Applicants should review the applicable stipend conditions and confirm their individual eligibility before applying.

Who Can Apply?

Applicants must be enrolled in a graduate programme leading to a degree at an accredited university for the duration of the internship.

Applicants are generally expected to be pursuing a legal qualification such as:

LLM
JD
Another relevant graduate-level legal qualification

Applicants pursuing another graduate degree, such as a PhD or MA, may also be considered if they have already completed a legal degree. An important requirement is that the internship must form part of the applicant’s academic study programme and be validated through study credits, such as ECTS or an equivalent system.

Additional Eligibility Requirements

Applicants must:

Be available for a minimum of 12 weeks and a maximum of 24 weeks
Commit to at least 24 hours per week
Have some prior experience with international environmental law or international human rights law

This experience may come through graduate-level coursework or comparable professional experience. Legal interns who are neither Swiss nor citizens of an EU member state and who are not already located in Switzerland must undertake the internship full time.

Can LLB Students Apply?

LLB students may also be considered if they can demonstrate familiarity with international human rights law or international environmental law through relevant coursework or previous work experience.

Applicants who have already completed an LLM, JD or similar legal qualification may have a non-law degree as their current programme if the subject is relevant to CIEL’s work. However, applicants who have completed their legal degree and are undertaking postgraduate coursework such as bar preparation or practical legal training should note that these programmes do not meet CIEL’s stated eligibility requirements for this internship.

Geneva-Based Internship

The Spring 2027 Legal Internship will be based at CIEL’s office in Geneva, Switzerland. The internship cannot be undertaken remotely, meaning successful interns are required to work in person at the Geneva office. CIEL states that it may be able to sponsor a student visa depending on the applicant’s nationality or citizenship. International applicants should confirm their individual visa requirements and arrangements with CIEL and the relevant authorities.

Application Requirements

Applicants are required to submit three main documents:

Cover letter
Resume/CV
Writing sample in English

The writing sample may be an academic or other piece of work demonstrating the applicant’s writing ability. Undergraduate work may also be submitted as a writing sample. Applicants should ensure that their documents clearly demonstrate their legal background, relevant environmental or human rights experience, and interest in CIEL’s work.

Application Deadline

The deadline for the CIEL Spring 2027 Legal Internship is:

October 16, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. CET.

The internship may begin as early as January 2027 and can last between 12 and 24 weeks, subject to the programme requirements.

How to Apply for the CIEL Legal Internship 2027

Interested applicants should apply through the official CIEL careers platform and submit their cover letter, resume/CV and English writing sample.

CLICK HERE TO APPLY

For additional questions about the internship, applicants can contact:

Email: internshipswitzerland@ciel.org

Important Notice

This opportunity is offered by the Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL). The source article states that Global South Opportunities does not process applications for the internship.

Applicants should verify the latest eligibility requirements, stipend conditions, visa arrangements, academic-credit requirements, application procedures and deadline directly with CIEL before submitting an application.