Job Description

Global Labor Justice (GLJ) is a strategy hub supporting transnational collaboration among worker and migrant organizations to expand labor rights and new forms of bargaining on global supply chains, capital markets, and international labor migration corridors.  Through transnational campaigns, organizations of low-wage workers are rewriting the governing rules of the economy, bargaining in new ways with the state and corporate and market actors, and sustaining powerful worker-led movements. Women and migrant workers play a crucial leadership role.

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 20 staff based in our Washington DC office and worldwide who are committed to defending labor rights and building worker power in the global economy.   

Overall, GLJ’s Legal Department works to realize freedom of association, living wages, and decent work for all—centering women, migrants, and global South workers. 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 standards for workers 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.  

GLJ is seeking legal interns to work with its legal department during the Summer of 2025. 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. Issues covered include freedom of association, living wages, racial and gender justice, and just migration. Our legal team works closely with our campaign staff, partner unions, and civil society organizations to build legal strategies that advance their organizing goals.

Roles and responsibilities

During Summer 2025, GLJ will host law interns currently JD students or enrolled in a joint JD program. 

Interns 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. 

Dates and location 

The 2025 internship program will be in person at our DC office from Monday, June 2, to Friday, August 8.

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. Please note that GLJ participates in the Peggy Browning Fellowship (PBF) program, which offers paid fellowships.

Application

Applications for summer fellowships will be accepted and reviewed on a rolling basis through Friday, January 31, 2025. However, we strongly encourage students to apply as soon as possible rather than waiting until the deadline, as offers will be made on a rolling basis until the positions are filled.

Students who wish to apply to GLJ through the Peggy Browning Fellowship program should apply through the Peggy Browning Fellowship process once applications are open. 

Demonstrated knowledge of labor, employment, or human rights law and proficiency in language(s) other than English are beneficial. 

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GLJ is an equal opportunity employer with a commitment to equity. People of color, women, and LGBTQI candidates are encouraged to apply.