The new internship, part of the UNSW Law & Justice Work Integrated Learning (WIL) program, aims to support ecological start-ups in addressing biodiversity and water law issues.
This joint internship allows law students to spend half their internship at Earth & Every and the other half at Ninox Law, focusing on environmental regulation and litigation, respectively.
Both start-ups are dedicated to serving the public interest and align with the principles of "movement lawyering," which advocates for systemic change through collective action led by the people. Their core mission is to assist individuals and communities in caring for their Country and environment for future generations. Earth & Every and Ninox Law provide services to First Nations people and community groups at affordable rates or pro bono.
Being a start-up is exciting because you can have more creative freedom than you otherwise would have in a larger, more established organisation.
Janice Baird, founder of Earth & Every, highlighted the importance of the new joint internship program. "Being a start-up is exciting because you can have more creative freedom than you otherwise would have in a larger, more established organisation. You can run new arguments and take on a broader range of clients. However, it comes at a cost. Environmental regulation and litigation are complex areas that require attention to detail and can be very time-consuming," Baird said.
Sean Ryan, Principal Lawyer of Ninox Law, added, "Litigation is often a tool of last resort due to the costs and risks involved, but when protecting your family, home, or environment, you may be left with no other choice but to litigate. We aim to keep legal costs affordable for those protecting their environment by working with Earth & Every and students at UNSW Law & Justice, who bring fresh eyes and help draft legal documents."
Students bring so much more than legal skills when they come. They also bring enthusiasm, diverse perspectives, and fresh ideas.
Baird and Ryan are eager to tap into the interdisciplinary knowledge of law students enrolled in the combined law degree or graduate JD/LLM program. "Students bring so much more than legal skills when they come. They also bring enthusiasm, diverse perspectives, and fresh ideas. We look forward to working with UNSW Law & Justice interns this year to seek environmental justice and create meaningful change."
Professor Andrew Lynch, Dean of the Faculty of Law & Justice, expressed his gratitude to the partner firms for their support. "Our partner firms play a crucial role in providing valuable opportunities for our students. Their support in work-integrated learning programs such as this joint internship is instrumental in shaping the future of legal practice and ensuring our students can contribute meaningfully to critical issues such as biodiversity and water law and serve those most vulnerable in the community."
Learn more about Law & Justice Work Integrated Learning (WIL) at UNSW Sydney.