Global Labor Justice/International Labor Rights Forum

Washington, DC

This is the 2024 fellowship description for this mentor organization.

Global Labor Justice - International Labor Rights Forum (GLJ-ILRF) 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-ILRF 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-ILRF has a team of 20 staff people based in our Washington DC office and around the world committed to defending labor rights and building worker power in the global economy.

Overall, GLJ-ILRF’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 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 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 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-ILRF is seeking legal interns to work with its legal department during Summer 2024. Legal work at GLJ-ILRF 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 and as well as partner unions and civil society organizations on building legal strategies that advance their organizing goals.

Roles and responsibilities

During Summer 2024, GLJ-ILRF will host law interns who are currently JD students or enrolled in a joint JD program.

The 2024 internship program will be fully remote, though students in the Washington DC area may choose to come into work at our DC office.

Interns will work on ongoing GLJ-ILRF campaigns as well as urgent case response as necessary, under the direct supervision of GLJ-ILRF 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 US Government.

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

Dates

The summer fellowship program will run from early June to mid-August, during which interns are expected to work 35 hours per week.

Internship deadline is set by mentor organization at December 31, 2023.

Stipend: $7,000 for 10 weeks.

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

Applicants should send a resume, cover letter, two professional references, and writing sample to:

Sahiba Gill
Staff Attorney
Global Labor Justice - International Labor Rights Forum (GLJ-ILRF)
1634 I Street NW, Suite 1000
Washington, DC 20006