Summer 2026 Legal Interns

Organizational Background

Global Labor Justice (GLJ) brings strategic capacity to cross-sectoral work on global value chains and labor migration corridors. GLJ holds global corporations accountable for labor rights violations in their supply chains, advances policies and laws that protect decent work and just migration, and strengthens freedom of association, new forms of bargaining, and worker organizations. 

GLJ has a team of over 20 staff people, based in our Washington, D.C. office and around the world, committed to defending labor rights and building worker power in the global economy. 

GLJ’s Legal Department works to realize freedom of association, living wages, and decent work for all—centering women, migrants, and workers in the Global South. The Department brings the capacity to expand and enforce labor rights in workplaces and at the policy level, as well as to defend against retaliation. The Department seeks not only to advance campaign strategies but also to reimagine what is possible. We push for transformative changes in law and policy that raise workers' standards and build worker power to realize and defend their rights. All of the Legal Department’s work is guided by our organizational values, including anti-racism, anti-colonialism, and gender justice, and a deep commitment to working in partnership with unions and worker organizations. We are a transnational movement of lawyers defending labor rights and building worker power in the global economy.  

Position Summary

GLJ is seeking legal interns to work with its legal department during Summer 2026. Legal work at GLJ supports worker-led campaigns to win power in the global economy. Current campaigns involve several sectors globally, including garment manufacturing, agriculture, fishing, and hospitality. Our legal team works closely with our campaign staff, partner unions, and civil society organizations to build legal strategies that advance their organizing goals.

Responsibilities

During Summer 2026, GLJ will host legal interns who will work on ongoing GLJ campaigns and urgent case response as necessary, under the direct supervision of GLJ attorneys and campaign staff. Responsibilities include drafting factual and legal memoranda, research reports, and external communications (letters to targets, press releases, etc.). Past interns have worked on cases involving advocacy with the International Finance Corporation (IFC), International Labor Organization (ILO), UN Special Rapporteurs, and the US Government.

Interns will be provided opportunities to attend educational sessions on movement lawyering and ongoing work at the organization. 

Qualifications

Applicants must currently be JD or LLM students and be able to independently secure work authorization to serve as a legal intern in the United States by the internship start date. 

Job Status

Full-time internship.

Compensation

GLJ will support interns to seek school funding for their fellowship and will work with interns who do not have access to outside funding to obtain academic credit for their work. 

Dates and location 

The 2026 internship program will be in person at our DC office from Monday, June 1, to Friday, August 7, 2026. 

Application

Please apply directly below or through the Peggy Browning Fellowship (PBF) program, which opens applications November 3. 

Applications for summer internships from 2L students will be reviewed on a rolling basis through December 12, 2025. Applications for summer internships from 1L students will be reviewed on a rolling basis through Friday, February 13, 2026. However, we strongly encourage students to apply early. Offers may be made as early as mid-November and will be made on a rolling basis until positions are filled. 

Global Labor Justice is an equal opportunity employer. This description does not constitute an employment contract, implied or otherwise.