Oceans North is seeking to hire two law students for flexible, part-time work as paid legal research interns for our Winnipeg office.

The work is dynamic, interesting, and impactful, the organizational culture is human-centered and equitable, and we have a genuine desire to make the experience valuable for the students who join us. Start date would ideally fall mid-to-late February, though later may be workable. This position have a remote work arrangement if candidates are outside of Manitoba. Oceans North is a non-profit organization working in partnership with indigenous and coastal communities to support marine conservation. Most of our domestic work focuses on the Arctic and Atlantic coasts of Canada, with our sister organization in Greenland committed to issues relevant there. Additionally, we also engage on broader transboundary issues related to global marine conservation—for example, climate change, or deepsea mining.

Some of the ways we work include:

• Supporting indigenous communities in the development of marine protected areas and community-based monitoring programs

• Partnering to fund scientific, social, and historical research, and to document traditional knowledge and land use

• Working with industry to develop effective solutions to harmful practices and to improve resource management

• Involvement in environmental assessment processes

• Engaging with media to amplify marine issues and the indigenous voices most affected by them

• Development of reports, maps, and other tools valuable in public education and promotion of evidence-based marine policy

• Acting as an intervenor in Supreme Court cases of relevance to marine conservation

• Participation in working groups, councils, and other bodies at regional, national, and international levels to further policy consistent with the needs of ocean ecosystems and coastal peoples

The Position

These positions involve supporting in-house counsel and other members of staff with research related to our campaigns. In addition to memos and summary documents for use internally, there may additionally be writing tasks intended for external audiences—for example, blog posts, reports, or contributions to submissions for judicial or quasi-judicial proceedings. Hours are flexible and account for the reality of the time commitments already faced by law students. The work can be remote, but at least occasional in-office work at our Exchange District location is preferred for candidates who do live in Manitoba. This position pays $20/hr, and has potential to carry on through summer on a full-time basis.

Please note that we are open to working with the university to develop this arrangement into a (paid) placement for course credit providing the selected candidates are eligible, and that our workplan and terms can be compatible the university’s requirements.

The Candidate

This position requires—above all—strong writing skills and impeccable research skills.

The ideal candidate is a motivated individual with a proven ability to solve problems and work independently, but is comfortable asking questions and doesn’t hesitate to ask for clarification if needed. Interest or experience (through classes, internships, volunteer work, etc.) in environmental or Aboriginal law is an asset. While historically these positions have gone to upper-years law students, we will happily consider 1 st year students who are otherwise exceptional candidates.

To Apply

Interested candidates please send cv, cover letter (no more than one page), one academic writing sample (3-5 pages, can be exerpt), and UOttawa Faculty of Law academic transcript (official or copy) to Georgia MacDonald at gmacdonald@oceansnorth.ca. References are not required with initial application; however, requests will be made of those selected for interview. If there is a logistical issue in securing transcripts at this time, screenshots of final grades and GPA will suffice for the initial application.

For first year students only: please provide final grades for 2023 fall term, as well as documentation of undergraduate GPA unless you graduated prior to 2020, in which case undergraduate GPA is optional.

In your email, please state when you would be available to start work.

Submission deadline 12:00pm February 12, 2024.

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