UNEP-Georgetown Global Environment and Sustainability Law Fellows Program: Enhancing the capacity of environmental lawyers
In 2016, UNEP and the Georgetown University Law Center partnered to develop a joint Global Environment and Sustainability Law Fellows Program, to train public sector lawyers from developing countries working on matters related to environmental law, natural resources law, or associated fields of law, to ultimately promote the environmental rule of law.
Successful Fellows will receive an Environmental and Energy Law LL.M. Degree from the Law Center. Georgetown Law offers over 60 courses in environmental and energy law and closely related disciplines ranging from core courses in environmental law, energy law and natural resources law, to specialized seminars in environmental justice, water law, wildlife law, food and drug law, energy trading, and the intersection of business, sustainability and human rights, taught by world-class faculty and practitioners. Upon graduation, Fellows will gain international environmental legal and policy experience with the United Nations by working at UNEP’s Headquarters or regional offices for three months.
In the new phase of the Fellowship, UNEP and Georgetown Law are now inviting National Focal Points (NFPs) to the Montevideo Environmental Law Programme to nominate candidates by email. The Montevideo Programme is UNEP’s flagship environmental law programme.
“Inviting National Focal Points to the Montevideo Programme to nominate candidates fosters a sense of ownership and enhances the skills of experienced legal professionals. This fellowship offers world-class academic training from one of the globe's most esteemed institutions, coupled with invaluable on-the-ground experience on environmental decision-making.” Patricia Kameri-Mbote, Director of Law Division, UNEP
The Program helps defray the costs for candidates who would not otherwise be able to afford an LL.M. degree focusing on environmental law. The Fellowship will cover the full cost of tuition, necessary travel, and the living stipend for the three-month period in UNEP’s Headquarters or regional offices. We strongly recommend candidates to pursue an external source of funding for living expenses while in Washington, DC.
"Georgetown Law is thrilled to be partnering with UNEP in making its world-class environmental law program available to lawyers from Africa and other developing nations in the public sector, who will be addressing many of the planet's most challenging ecological and resource problems," William Treanor, Dean of the Georgetown University Law Center
Program Fellows:
Since its inception, UNEP and Georgetown Law have supported and trained ten Fellows from different countries which have gone on to positions in government ministries, environmental agencies and international organizations, as well as positions of traditional authority. Read more about past fellows and their thoughts about the Fellowship here.
Program Requirements:
To be eligible for this fellowship a candidate must:
- reside in a developing country;
- possess the requisite degree to practice law in his or her home country;
- be currently employed by a national or local government entity; and
- be engaged in practicing environmental law, energy law, natural resources law, or a related legal field.
The Fellows must commit to return to their home country to continue working in public sector environmental law and policy for no less than three years.
Application process
National Focal Points (NFP) to the Montevideo Environmental Law Programme are invited to nominate candidates by email to unep-montevideo@un.org. Nominations should be accompanied by a curriculum vitae of the nominee, of no more than two pages. Each NFP may nominate up to two candidates. Nominees will be reviewed and shortlisted, and shortlisted candidates will be provided with a waiver of application fees by Georgetown.
Any other interested candidates can also apply directly to Georgetown and indicate their interest in the Fellowship on their LL.M. application. Candidates who apply directly are not eligible for application fee waivers. Visit Georgetown Law Admissions for application forms and other information on requirements, deadlines and processes. With their application to Georgetown Law, all candidates must submit a supplemental essay of 500 words or less on an issue of environmental law or policy of particular interest.
The deadlines for the 2025-2026 academic year will be updated here.
Webinar Sessions
UNEP and Georgetown Law will be organizing two information session webinars:
- 11 October 2024 and directed to NFPs;
- 3 December 2024 10am Brasilia/4pm Nairobi/8pm Bangkok, directed to the wider public; you can register here for the webinar.
Contact Information:
- For any questions or assistance, please contact UNEP at unep-montevideo@un.org or Lydia Slobodianat Georgetown Law at ins27@georgetown.edu.
- To know more about the call for applications, including the application processes and deadlines, please visit here.
