Legal Intern

The Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet (Global Energy Alliance) The Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet (Global Energy Alliance) works for a world where everyone has access to affordable, reliable, clean electricity and the means to use it to improve their lives. Our Alliance builds transformative public, private, philanthropic partnerships to end energy poverty and accelerate green economic opportunity. Founded in 2021 by The Rockefeller Foundation, IKEA Foundation, and Bezos Earth Fund, we design innovative projects/programs, unlock finance, strengthen institutions and transform markets, delivering progress anchored in deep community engagement. By uniting actors across the value chain, from households to heads of state, we go beyond individual projects to drive lasting systems change. With work in more than 30 countries across Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean, our Alliance aims to reach 1 billion people with clean electricity, prevent 4 billion tons of carbon emissions and create or improve 150 million jobs. 

 

Key accountabilities

Working across the Global Energy Alliance’s global operations, the Legal team supports the organization’s governance, compliance, and partnership frameworks, ensuring that programs and fundraising activities operate within applicable legal and regulatory requirements across jurisdictions.

As part of the Legal team, you will support research, policy development, and legal operations that enable the organization to effectively manage its nonprofit and charitable obligations while advancing clean energy initiatives globally.

• Conduct supervised legal research on U.S. nonprofit and charitable law, including 501(c)(3) compliance, governance requirements, tax-exempt status, and regulatory obligations, as well as comparative research on international governance frameworks.
• Research U.S. and U.K. fundraising and charitable solicitation regulations, including federal, state, and Charity Commission requirements, donor disclosures, registration obligations, and cross-border fundraising considerations.
• Assist with drafting, reviewing, and updating internal policies, guidance, and reference materials related to fundraising compliance, donor acceptance, gift restrictions, conflicts of interest, and ethical fundraising practices.
• Support grant and contract development and administration with global partners in the sustainable energy sector.
• Research emerging legal and regulatory issues affecting global nonprofit operations, including data privacy and data protection, energy justice considerations, and related compliance matters.
• Prepare legal research summaries, memoranda, briefing notes, and presentations for internal and external stakeholders, translating complex legal concepts into accessible insights for non-legal audiences.
• Support the organization and maintenance of legal, governance, and compliance documentation, ensuring records remain accurate and accessible for ongoing projects and regulatory requirements.
• Assist with special projects and ad hoc legal research assignments as needed.
• Project work: In addition, the intern will be designated ownership of a discrete project aligned with team priorities, the scope of which will be determined closer to the start of the internship.

Learning Opportunity 

This internship provides hands-on exposure to nonprofit and charitable law within a global organization working at the intersection of climate, development, and clean energy access. Through direct mentorship from the US and UK Legal Counsels, you will develop practical experience conducting legal research, drafting policy and governance materials, and supporting compliance frameworks across multiple jurisdictions. The internship offers insight into how legal and governance structures enable international nonprofit organizations to manage partnerships, grants, and fundraising activities responsibly and effectively. You will also gain experience translating complex legal issues into clear written materials for diverse audiences and learn how legal teams collaborate with program, finance, and development teams to support global initiatives.

Skills and experience you will develop:

• Practical experience conducting nonprofit and charitable law research
• Exposure to global and comparative corporate governance concepts
• Professional legal writing and synthesis of complex issues for mixed audiences
• Experience preparing executive-level presentations and briefing materials
• Insight into legal operations, compliance, and governance workflows

Who are you?
You are a motivated and detail-oriented recent graduate with a demonstrated interest in nonprofit law, charitable organizations, and corporate governance. You are curious about how legal and regulatory frameworks support mission-driven organizations working across multiple countries and sectors.

You bring strong legal research, writing, and analytical skills, along with the ability to synthesize complex legal information into clear and concise insights. You are highly organized, attentive to detail, and able to manage multiple tasks while meeting deadlines in a collaborative environment.

You have recently completed a degree in law, political science, international relations, public policy, or a related field. You are proficient with Microsoft Office, Google Workspace, and presentation tools, and are comfortable working both independently and as part of a team while maintaining strict confidentiality and professional standards.

• This internship will be paid in line with the New York living wage.
• The assignment will run for 8-10 weeks in the summer period, starting in May/June 2026.
• As we will be operating a hybrid structure, we ask that you are or can be based in DC or NY and are able to join us in office twice a week.
• Unfortunately, we are not able to sponsor visas for this position.
• To apply, please submit your CV and cover letter by 26th March.

 

We look forward to hearing from you!

 

#LI-DNI

We operate from a strong commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion in everything we do. It is not only the right thing to do – we could not make an impact without our team members' diverse perspectives and experiences. We expect all Global Energy Alliance employees to contribute by developing their unique perspectives and talent, challenging conventional wisdom through evidence and reason, and amplifying marginalized voices.  

Global Energy Alliance is committed to the principles of equal employment opportunity and compliance with all federal, state, and local laws concerning employment discrimination, including the Americans with Disabilities Act. To this end, the organization ensures equal opportunity to all employees and applicants regardless of race, color, age, gender, sexual orientation, religion, marital status, national origin or ancestry, citizenship, lawful alien status, physical, mental, and medical disability, veteran status, or liability for service in the United States Armed Forces.  

Global Energy Alliance is an Equal Opportunity Employer.