Work on international law and climate change.
Learn practical skills related to creating and growing innovative public interest initiatives.
Just Atonement Inc. is hosting its 5th annual internship program, with a focus on working with passionate and entrepreneurially-minded law students who are interested in the intersection of international law, democracy, the rule of law, and climate change.
May 16, 2022 to July 22, 2022
Location: New York City (pandemic permitting; otherwise, virtually)
Application deadline: March 31, 2022 (rolling offers given)
EXPECT TO:
Meet experts in international law and human rights
Obtain practical experience working on climate change issues
Learn about foundational aspects of international law and human rights
Engage and work on submissions to the United Nations in Geneva
Draft and prepare legal materials related to how governments must prepare for challenges posed by climate change and the erosion of democratic norms
Draft and prepare model legal documents to help private companies and private company investors comply with ESG and climate change mandates (with a focus on VC-backed tech companies)
Obtain experience on creating and growing new kinds of public interest initiatives designed to call attention to issues of international law, democracy, the rule of law, and climate change
HOW TO APPLY:
Email a cover letter with a CV/Resume to
inder@justatonement.org
FAQ
What are the expected activities during the 10-week internship?
Students will be expected to undertake and complete the following assignments and projects:
engaging with readings on the climate crisis, international law, and international human rights
preparing submissions to the United Nations on human rights issues, particularly on issues related to the climate crisis, challenges to the rule of law, and preservation of democratic norms
preparing materials and memoranda discussing international legal challenges posed by climate change—including issues such as climate migration, impacts on statehood, sovereignty, and self-determination, and the erosion of democratic norms
drafting model documents and model legal language for private companies and private company investors that will impose contractual obligations on such private companies to reduce emissions and comply with current ESG best practices (with a focus on VC-backed tech companies)
working and creating their own public interest initiatives which they can take with them after the internship to continue to bring attention to the aforementioned legal issues. By way of example, such new initiatives could include (i) innovative public interest lawsuits, or (ii) ideas for new NGOs or projects intended to fill identified gaps in the NGO space. Check out EarthRefuge.org and HumanRightsPulse.com for ideas created, and now run and managed, by previous interns.
At the end of the internship, Just Atonement Inc. will host a demo day and will invite experts in the field to assess these initiatives and provide feedback to participating students.
Who is this internship for?
The internship is designed for:
Law students who are about passionate about the intersection of international law, human rights, democracy, the rule of law, and climate change.
Law students interested in the intersection of business and human rights / business and climate change issues, particularly in the private company / tech investment space.
Law students who wish to set up their own public interest initiatives, non-profits, or other organizations in the early stages of their career and who need necessary experience and training related to creating and implementing new public interest ideas.
What else happens during the internship?
Each week has a particular theme, and students will meet to discuss specific issues regarding international law, human rights, democracy, the rule of law, and climate change. The expected weekly schedule is:
Week 1—The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and the current status of climate negotiations
Week 2—Climate change litigation
Week 3—Climate change and human rights
Week 4—Assessment of current science on climate change
Week 5—Climate migration and displacement; the scale of climate migration in the 21st century
Week 6—Government emergency powers
Week 7—The laws of war and peace; the United Nations Charter
Week 8—International law of government liability; venues for government liability; common defenses
Week 9—International law of corporate tortfeasors
Week 10—The Iraq War, the crime of aggression, and social impact lawyering
What have previous experiences been like?
Past interns have all been highly satisfied with previous internships. Check out our Internships page for further information.
How can students apply and what materials are required?
Please provide a resume and cover letter. In your cover letter, please highlight any previous experience with international law, democracy and the rule of law, and climate change. Please also describe the gap in the public interest space that you wish to address through a new initiative, and your passion for bringing that initiative to life.