Intern (Legal Assistant) at United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)

 The Programme will promote the environmental rule of law, strengthen the related capacities in countries, and contribute to the environmental dimension of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Under the direct supervision of the Head of the Montevideo Coordination and Delivery Unit Division and/or her designates, selected interns will work with and learn from a team of experienced legal professionals in environmental law. The interns will be offered the opportunity to: 

• Support intergovernmental processes, notably as the sixth session of the United Nations Environment Assembly and the second meeting of the national focal points to the Fifth Montevideo Programme for the Development and Periodic Review of Environmental Law, including by preparing legal briefs on substantive matters and rules of procedure;
• Assist countries to develop environmental legislation or to review and revise their environmental legislation through carrying out research and analysis and, providing comments and drafting proposals for consideration; 
• Assist in the development of institutional capacities in countries to support implementation of environmental legislation and compliance with MEAs and in coordination activities among relevant entities, such as the Green Customs Initiative (GCI);      
• Carry out research on select environmental law and governance issues, including but not limited to environmental rule of law, MEAs, progressive development of international environmental law; implementation and enforcement; human rights and the environment; and environmental crime;
• Prepare written summaries and/or make oral presentations of his/her research, including briefing notes and reports;
• Assist in the organization and support of training events and other meetings and workshops that are organized by the Division through, e.g., preparing the agenda, liaising with participants, compiling materials, making presentations, taking notes, etc.;
• Help monitor, manage, and assist in due diligence activities for online knowledge bases, such as InforMEA, the Law and Environment Assistance Platform and project websites, in support of UNEP's digital transformation. This will include providing up-to-date information on environmental laws, news, and resources and supporting LEAP's response mechanism to requests for technical assistance;
• Undertake such other tasks as may be assigned by the Director and/or her designates, such as the preparation of communication material promoting the Law Division's work.

Qualifications/special skills
Applicants must:

• be enrolled in, or have completed, a graduate school programme (second university degree or equivalent, or higher) in law;
• Applicants to the UN Internship Programme are not required to have professional work experience. However, a field of study that is closely related to the type of internship that you are applying for is required.
• Applicants must be a student in Master’s or Ph.D. Programme or equivalent, or have completed a Master’s or PH.D. Programme.  Do you meet any of the above criteria? If yes, please indicate which one and attach proof to the application. Please note that you will have to provide an official certificate at a later stage.
• Applicants should have good knowledge of standard software applications, especially MS Word, MS PowerPoint, and MS Teams.

Languages

• English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. Fluency in spoken and written English is required for the internship. Knowledge of French or Spanish is an advantage.