Legal Volunteering

Volunteering for the free legal advice line

If you're a qualified environmental lawyer and can give up a few hours each month to help, we'd really love to hear from you.

You can either volunteer for the advice line, which happens on the first and third Wednesday of the month at the Friends of the Earth office in central London, or, if you're able to have a look at a problem for us and provide some pro bono advice on an ad hoc basis, from anywhere in the country, please get in touch via legal@foe.co.uk

Secondment opportunities

If you're a qualified solicitor or barrister and interested in undertaking a secondment with us, please get in touch via legal@foe.co.uk

Legal Internship opportunities

Intern positions are available at the Friends of the Earth Rights and Justice Centre in London for law graduates, those in the final year of a law degree or postgraduate legal studies, and newly qualified lawyers.

Interns will assist the Rights and Justice team with legal research and help out with cases and campaigns.

What we're looking for

We're looking for people who are motivated, proactive and good team workers. Candidates should have good computer literacy and be familiar with Microsoft Word, email and the internet.

Candidates should have good analytical and writing skills and experience of undertaking legal research. Interns should also have an interest in environmental law, public interest law or community legal advice. 

Experience in public law or environmental law is helpful, but not essential.

We welcome all applications, but particularly encourage applications from people from groups who are currently under-represented in the legal profession.

Availability of positions

Positions are available throughout the year, but ideally run in 4 to 6 month blocks, usually starting between September and December or between March and June.

We're able to consider interns who wish to work full or part time, but we require a minimum commitment of 3 days per week.

When to apply

For internships beginning between September and February applications will close at 12 noon on 18 July.  Interviews will be held at our London office during the last week in July.

For internships beginning between March and August applications will close at 12 noon on 31 January.  Interviews will be held at our London office during the second week of February.

If you have missed either of these deadlines, please do still get in touch although it's less likely that an opportunity will be available.  If you apply between these dates and no opportunities are immediately available, your application will be held until the next round of recruitment.

How to apply

To apply, please send a CV together with a covering letter, by email or by post.

Your covering letter should explain:

• Why you wish to be considered for an intern position
• The dates you're available to take up an intern position
• Why you have an interest in Friends of the Earth

Please send your application to legal@foe.co.uk with the word "Intern" in the title, or by post to:

Legal Internship, Rights and Justice Centre, Friends of the Earth, 26 - 28 Underwood Street, London N1 7JQ

If you don't hear within 3 weeks of the closing date for applications in each round, your application hasn't been successful.  We regret that we're not able to offer feedback in cases where candidates aren't invited to interview.

Funding

Unfortunately we can only provide reasonable travel expenses and a small lunch payment of £4.00 per day for interns.

We understand that this can make it difficult for some interns to take up the position and we're seeking sources of grants and funding for interns.  If you'd like further information about potential sources of funding please email us at legal@foe.co.uk and we'll forward some information to you.