Legal Trainee / Rechtsreferendar*in in der Wahlstation (REF-0069)
• Salary: Paid by the Federal State. Rates of pay are set centrally.
• Location: Berlin
• Contract Type: Fixed Term
• Contract: At least three months. We can offer placements from January 2027 until December 2027
• Hours: Part Time
• Hours Details: Around 32 hours/week
• Closing Date: Tuesday, June 30, 2026
• First Interview Dates: Wednesday, July 15th, 2026
About the role
We are pleased to offer aspiring environmental lawyers and change-makers the opportunity to spend their elective traineeship at ClientEarth from January 2027 until December 2027. We are a legal and environmental charity that uses the power of the law to fight against climate change and to protect nature and the environment. In Germany, we currently focus on:
• Emissions Reduction Our work is aimed at where possible preventing or reducing emissions through varied legal interventions before national and international courts, addressing governments or polluting facilities, on behalf of NGOs or affected individuals. We also engage in advocacy work to improve the relevant legal frameworks at EU level and in some key national jurisdictions
• Fundamental Rights The Fundamental Rights team works at the intersection of environmental protection and human rights. Our focus is on strengthening the recognition of the interconnectedness of planetary health and human well-being. Examples of the teams‘ work include litigation before national and international courts and bodies, as well as supporting other CE team’s litigation through the use of fundamental rights arguments.
• Environmental Democracy The Environmental Democracy team aims to implement, defend, and strengthen the Aarhus Convention. Examples of the teams‘ work include improving access to justice for civil society at national and EU level, for example by supporting other CE teams‘ litigation, enhancing transparency and access to information of the EU institutions, and preventing rollback of Aarhus rights both on EU and national level.
• Marine Biodiversity The Marine Ecosystems team focusses on ocean and fisheries related laws and policies. We work on enforcing existing legislation across Europe – e.g. to ensure that marine protected areas are truly protected. And we engage in EU legislative processes, such as on the revision of the Marine Strategy Framework Directive, the upcoming Ocean Act or the evaluation of the Common Fisheries Policy.
• Accountable Corporations The Accountable Corporations team uses corporate and financial laws to drive greater integration of climate- und nature-related risks into the management decisions of companies and influential actors in the corporate sector. The legal interventions such as strategic litigation have the objective of encouraging a shift towards a more sustainable and resilient economic system that operates within planetary boundaries.
• The Sustainable Food System The Sustainable Food Systems team’s work focuses on transforming food systems, including global supply chains, and has the aim to limit market dominance of big companies as well as to stop environmental degradation and economic injustice caused by unfair and harmful agricultural and agribusiness practices. Examples of the team’s work are strategic interventions at both national and European level to reduce the use of pesticides, to challenge harmful subsidies and to hold governments accountable for their failure to protect individuals‘ human rights. Trainee lawyers will work on one of these topics. We ask that you indicate you preferences and specific knowledge when applying.
Typical tasks on your traineeship
• Drafting legal opinions and memos
• Legal research on environmental law issues
• Background research on emerging policy issues
• Attending meetings with NGOs and other stakeholders
• Taking part in the process of litigation, meetings with external lawyers, etc.
• Drafting requests for information to government agencies Role requirements
• Law degree
• *You must be currently taking part in a Legal Traineeship (Referendariat) in Germany* • Knowledge of either Environmental Law / Public International Law / European Law / Administrative Law
• Fluency (at least CEFR level C1) in English Further Information
• Duration of traineeship: At least three months. We can offer placements from January 2027 onwards.
• Time commitment: Around 32 hours/week, depending on the Federal States’ regulation. One day off per week to study.
• Rate of pay: you will be paid by the Federal State. Rates of pay are set centrally We will advertise this position three times a year – in February, June and October. We encourage you to apply at the beginning of your Traineeship, or at least nine months in advance, as places fill up quickly.