Intern – Health and Environment

Based in London office

Internship Purpose: ClientEarth is seeking an enthusiastic intern to work in our Health and Environment programme. You will have the opportunity to carry out legal and policy research across a number of challenging and innovative projects which we are developing into the impact of chemicals on human health and the natural environment. These include:

-          Legal research into mechanisms to protect the public from exposure to pesticide use;

-          The application of EU and national regulation to the use of substances (eg neonicotinoids) that harm bees and other important pollinators;

-          Critical assessment of theUKgovernment’s (now overdue) proposals for implementation of EU measures relating to pesticide use;

-          Improving the transparency of key EU regulators – particularly ECHA (the European Chemicals Agency) and EFSA (the European Food Standards Agency);

-          Using legal principle and procedural mechanisms (particularly the application of REACH) to tackle specific problems posed by endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs);

-          The development of the legal and regulatory framework applicable to nanotechnology.

In all these projects, we take a holistic and contextual approach to our legal analysis, working closely with other NGOs and concerned scientists. You will have a degree in law and, ideally, an understanding and/or experience of relevant policy and science. While this role is primarily focussed on legal and policy research to support these projects, the successful candidate will also have the opportunity to structure proposals for legal reform as well as assisting in the preparation of advocacy and policy materials and commenting on media debate. 

Key responsibilities

-          Legal research into mechanisms for public protection from exposure to pesticide use; the application of EU and national regulation to the use of substances (eg neonicotinoids) harmful to bees and other important pollinators;

-          Case law research supporting the legal proceedings currently being brought by ClientEarth (and others) against ECHA and EFSA in relation to information disclosure;

-          Investigation and review of extensive documentation produced by key regulatory bodies responsible for implementation of REACH, in particular ECHA, CARACAL, Member States management committees;

-          Keeping abreast of policy and media debate for designated issues – particularly bee campaigns and public concerns about health risks arising from exposure of vulnerable groups to consumer products containing EDCs;

-          Comparative analysis of policies and practices in different jurisdictions;

-          Producing briefing and background notes for staff;

-          Liaising with and assisting staff engaged in other aspects of Health and Environment programme;

-          Where appropriate, collaboration with and support to other programme areas within ClientEarth (for example, Air Quality, public procurement, CSR).

Required skills and competencies

-          Strong legal research skills and patience with detail;

-          Intellectual curiosity and applied lateral thinking;

-          Excellent written and oral communication skills, including ability to write for various audiences – legal, media, and lay people.

-          Ability to appreciate and take into account the political, commercial and scientific context of law;

-          Self starter who takes pride in their work;

-          Ability to grasp quickly and accurately new and complex concepts and areas of law;

-          Confident phone manner. 

Person Specifications

-          Hold a law degree including a sound understanding of the UK and EU legal systems, preferably with some experience of environmental law;

-          Some work experience in a relevant environment;

-          Academic or practical experience in chemical, biological or environmental sciences, highly valued;

-          Positive attitude and a strong commitment to working for the environment. 

About the role: We ask that interns commit to a minimum of 3 days per week for at least three months. The maximum duration for internships is six months. In instances where interns are not working full time, they should ideally commit to set days each week.

ClientEarth cover interns’ work-related expenses (travel and lunch) via a contribution of £10 for each day spent in the office.

Recruitment is open now and you should send your application as soon as possible and no later than30 November 2012.

If you have any questions about the role, please contact Elizabeth Hiester (ehiester@clientearth.org) or Vito Buonsante (vbuonsante@clientearth.org).  

To apply: Please send us a CV along with the internship form which you can download from the website.

Please send your application by email to: internship.uk@clientearth.org. Please include “ClientEarth Health and Environment intern –London” in the email subject line, and identify the documents you are sending by including “[your name] internship form” and “[your name] CV” in the file name.