Legal Trainee / Rechtsreferendar*in in der Wahlstation

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:

See the job description (below) for a full list of duties for this role.

See the job description (below) for a full list of requirements for this role.

Note to candidates: We know that long lists of criteria can be daunting and that some candidates will not apply for a role unless they feel they are 100% qualified. If you feel you meet at least some of the essential criteria, we still encourage you to apply.

Have a question about this job? Please visit our Careers site for advice on applying, FAQs, and more.

Flexible working: We are proud to be a Flexa accredited Employer. Visit our Flexa Employer page for more information on our approach to flexible working. Our flexible working policy allows our people the choice to decide to work from home/another location in the country where their contract of employment is issued for 80% of their month, with the other 20% of their month being office-based See our Benefits page for more as well as our flexible working FAQ.

ClientEarth values diversity and inclusion and the benefits this brings. We aim to appoint the most suitable candidate at all times and welcome applications from people from all different backgrounds. See our equity, diversity and inclusion journey page for more.

Please note that ClientEarth is only able to employ those who have the pre-existing legal right to work in Germany.

ClientEarth is not a law firm and does not provide legal advice or legal services to third parties.

We are a non-profit using the power of the law to bring about end-to-end systemic change: informing, implementing and enforcing the law, drafting and advising decision-makers on policy, building legal expertise, and ensuring citizens’ access to the laws that defend them.

We take governments to court – and win. We force polluting industries to shut down. We protect irreplaceable forests and vulnerable species. We empower people and NGOs with the legal rights to bring forward environmental battles of their own. Using the law means that we create real, long-lasting and embedded change.

We’re working to secure a lasting civilisation in which people and nature thrive together. We work in partnership across borders, systems and sectors, ingeniously using the law to protect life on Earth.