2026 Legal Internships
The Commission for Environmental Cooperation (CEC) is seeking candidates for multiple internship opportunities in the Legal Affairs and Submissions on Enforcement Matters (SEM) Unit during 2026. This Unit is charged with administering the public submissions process under Chapter 24 of the USMCA/CUSMA and consults on internal legal matters across the CEC. This is an exciting time to work with the CEC Secretariat as we currently have many active submissions at various stages of development in the SEM process.
Responsibilities
- Legal interns will perform research and prepare legal memoranda on environmental issues in Canada, Mexico, and the United States, as well as international issues.
- Legal interns will assist with reviewing submissions and associated documents, and preparing determinations, notifications and factual records.
Location and Duration
- Successful candidates will work under the supervision of a CEC Legal Officer at the CEC’s Headquarters Office in Montreal, Canada, or remotely.
- A 12-week program, part-time (15 hours per week) or full time (37.5 hours per week), depending on candidates’ availabilities, and starting in February, June or September 2026.
- The CEC will provide a stipend of C$3,500 to successful candidates for full time internships (this amount may be pro-rated for part-time internships).
Requirements
- Applicants must be current law students on track to graduate in 2026 or 2027.
- Applicants should have completed coursework in environmental and/or international law.
- Applicants should possess strong writing and legal research skills and be able to work both independently and with a team.
- Applicants should have a general understanding of the SEM process and are encouraged to consult the CEC website at: org/submissions.
- Applicants should have working proficiency in at least two of the three CEC official languages (English and/or Spanish and/or French).
- Applicants must be residents of Canada, Mexico, or the United States.
- Successful candidates will be responsible for their own health insurance and equipment (e.g., computer).
Please send a résumé/CV, an unofficial transcript, and a one-page statement of interest no later than 31 January 2026 to: sem@cec.org.
Overview
Status
Active
Deadline
January 31, 2026 5:00pm
Stipend
C$3,500 (Canadian dollars).
Location
The CEC’s Headquarters Office in Montreal, Canada, or remotely.
About the CEC and SEM Process
The Commission for Environmental Cooperation (CEC) was created by Canada, Mexico, and the United States under the North American Agreement on Environmental Cooperation, a parallel agreement to the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). The CEC now operates under the Agreement on Environmental Cooperation and the Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA) as of July 1, 2020.
The CEC facilitates effective cooperation and public participation to conserve, protect and enhance the North American environment in support of sustainable development for the benefit of present and future generations.
The Submissions on Enforcement Matters (SEM) process under Chapter 24 of the CUSMA allows any national of or entity established in Canada, Mexico, or the US to file a submission asserting that a Party to CUSMA is failing to effectively enforce its environmental laws.
We appreciate your interest in the CEC and wish to inform you that only short-listed candidates will be contacted. All résumés will be kept on file for a six-month period and taken into consideration for any suitable vacancies occurring during that time.