Volunteer with us
By volunteering at Environmental Justice Australia, you gain experience in public interest environment law, and help use the law to seek justice for communities, our climate and nature. Volunteers also make an invaluable contribution to our work and how much we can do for the community.
Law student volunteers undertake legal research, assist on casework and projects and carry out administrative tasks.
We run two volunteer programs for law students:
- Weekly volunteer placement program (March-November)
- Summer and winter internships (November-February and June-July)
If you are Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander, we have a separate program you can express interest in.
1. Weekly volunteer placement program
Volunteers work one full day per week for a minimum of one semester. The next weekly volunteer placement program begins March 2024.
As a volunteer, each week, you might assist staff with casework, law reform and policy projects, or research and update publications.
Who should apply?
Law students with an interest in environmental issues and environmental law. Usually second-year minimum, unless you have strongly relevant undergraduate studies.
We give preference to students who have studied administrative law.
While volunteers are based in our Carlton office, applications for remote internships from students outside Melbourne will be considered for exceptional candidates.
WHEN TO apply
Rosters are organised each semester, finalised at the end of March and late July. If a casual vacancy arises during semester, applications on file will be reviewed.
HOW TO APPLY
Complete this application form and email or post it to EJA together with your CV and academic transcript. Incomplete applications will not be considered. Applications close March 5, 2024.
ANY QUESTIONS?
Contact Hong Vu, EJA’s office administrator and volunteer coordinator.
2. Summer and winter internships
Interns work full-time for two consecutive weeks over summer (between November and February) or over the winter break between semesters (June/July).
As a summer or winter intern, you might assist staff with casework, law reform and policy projects, and help with research and updating publications.
Who should apply?
Bachelor of Laws or JD students with an interest in environmental issues and environmental law – especially later-year students and law students pursuing additional study in a related field such as science or environmental policy. (First year students are not eligible.)
We give preference to students who have studied administrative law, but it is not essential.
Applications from outside Melbourne for remote internships are considered for exceptional candidates.
When to apply
Applications for Summer Interns close on October 15, 2023.
We also advertise through the Environmental Justice Australia e-Bulletin and via universities where possible.
HOW TO APPLY
Complete this internship application form and email or post it to EJA, together with your CV and academic transcript. Incomplete applications will not be considered.
ANY QUESTIONS?
Contact Hong Vu, EJA’s office administrator and volunteer coordinator.
OUR VOLUNTEERS
Liv Swift – Semester 1 & 2 volunteer
What inspired you to apply to work with us at EJA?
My passion for the environment and reading about the accomplishments of EJA was what inspired my volunteering application. I wanted to volunteer somewhere where I could expand my knowledge of environmental law and know that, as part of the EJA team, my work would make a difference in environmental justice in Australia.
What has been your favourite thing about the role?
My favourite thing about volunteering with EJA has been assisting and collaborating with experienced individuals who share a likeminded passion for environmental justice. As a law and arts student in my early stages of university, this role has provided me with a valuable insight into how the law, politics, and environmental conservation intersect.
What does environmental justice mean to you?
Environmental justice means creating a world in which all living beings, including animals and other organisms, can live without the threat of degradation and pollution. We should all be entitled to a safe and healthy environment, and the law needs to play a much greater role in facilitating and upholding these rights.
Ruby Issell – Semester 1 & 2 volunteer
What inspired you to apply to work with us at EJA?
I had been supportive of the work EJA does for several years and felt that volunteering at EJA would be a fantastic opportunity to combine my passion for the environment and the law, and gain professional experience in an area I would love to pursue. I value the way EJA prides itself in using legal action to empower communities to safeguard the environment.
What has been your favourite thing about the role?
I have been volunteering in the Ecosystems Team at EJA and have thoroughly enjoyed the diversity of work. I have found that environmental law encompasses aspects of administrative, land and criminal law. I have particularly enjoyed work for matters in the Northern Territory, as it is often work that aims to protect large masses of untouched land. I was also thrilled to be volunteering at EJA when the Victorian Government announced the end of native logging in 2024.
What does environmental justice mean to you?
To me, environmental justice is heavily interrelated with social justice, as often those most vulnerable are most susceptible to the impacts of climate change. Environmental justice is also about taking holistic and collaborative action to sustain the environment and natural world for the generations to come.
Tanmay Kulkarni - Summer Intern 2022-23
What inspired you to apply to work with us at EJA?
I wanted to make a positive impact in the environmental justice space, having always possessed a strong passion for addressing environmental and social issues. I felt that EJA was the ideal place to do this considering their involvement in key cases such as WOTCH v VicForests.
What has been your favourite thing about the role?
My favourite part of the role was working with the EJA team. Everyone in the organisation is so friendly and approachable. I learned so much about what it takes to be a good lawyer from them.
What does environmental justice mean to you?
Environmental justice means the fair distribution of benefits and burdens across society and the environment. It
includes implementing fair processes to ensure that all peoples and species are recognised and respected.