Internship – Legal

MISSION TO METRICS 
The mission of The Ocean Cleanup is to develop and scale technologies to rid the world’s oceans of plastic. This internship provides an opportunity to be exposed to and help work on this ambitious goal by supporting the Legal team’s daily operations and improving their legal skills while working in a dynamic environment.

This internship is an opportunity for students and/or young professionals who wish to gain practical educational work experience and deepen their legal knowledge. Interns will receive monthly compensation, as well as free and healthy lunches at our office.

RESPONSIBILITIES
During this internship, you will be provided with first-hand experience of the day-to-day legal operations of The Ocean Cleanup by closely collaborating with all members of the Legal department. As part of our team, you will be involved in a variety of tasks, ranging from providing support in the maintenance of our organization’s trademarks and patents portfolio to supporting the review and filing of agreements.

Main tasks:

• Supporting the team in the implementation and use of the Legal team’s new Document Management System (DMS).
• Answering simple legal questions from other departments and escalating to the relevant Legal Counsel(s) where necessary.
• Supporting the digital (on SharePoint and Salesforce) and physical filing of agreements of the organization.
• Assisting in reviewing various documents and contracts.
• Supporting with registration processes at the Dutch Chamber of Commerce (KvK).
• Support in the organization of meetings and events related to the Legal department.
• Providing administrative support on maintaining the intellectual property (trademarks and patents) and insurance portfolio of the organization.
• Assisting with the implementation of a Contract Lifecycle Management tool, preparing documents, securing timelines, and liaising with the internal stakeholders (i.e., Supply Chain, IT) and suppliers. 
• Assisting with assessment of camera(s) use and data privacy measures to implement and improve procedures for protection and sharing with third parties.
• Taking notes during departmental meetings, identifying action items and following up on them.
• There will be opportunities to assist the Director of Legal and Public Affairs with administrative tasks such as scheduling meetings, managing calendars, organizing files, and assisting with the preparation of presentations and collection of other information, according to the needs of the Legal department. These tasks are essential for the smooth operation of the Legal team and will provide valuable exposure to the daily responsibilities of a legal professional.

PROFESSIONAL QUALIFICATIONS

• Currently pursuing a law degree (third-year bachelor's degree or higher) - this requirement applies only to non-EU candidates. EU candidates do not necessarily have to be enrolled at a university during the period of the internship.
• Knowledge of or an interest in legal topics related to the activities of the organization, in particular in the Legal department (e.g., maritime law, patents and trademarks, GDPR).
• Prior experience with SharePoint and/or Salesforce is desirable.
• Excellent English language skills (written and verbal); Dutch or Spanish is desirable.

PERSONAL QUALIFICATIONS

• Curious and eager to learn
• Pragmatic where possible, but thorough when needed
• Team player with high cultural awareness and sensitivity
• Excellent communication skills
• Thrives in a fast-paced, international environment
• Ability to work both independently and collaboratively in a team environment
• Intrinsic motivation to work on our ambitious and meaningful goal

APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS
Prospective applicants should submit:

• A curriculum vitae (CV)
• A transcript of academic records or statement of academic results
• An academic writing sample (an excerpt of any of your essays or papers in English)
• At least one letter of recommendation

Please submit all required documents as one PDF file.

Please note: 

• Candidates are expected to be available 32 hours/week throughout the duration of the internship.
• Candidates are expected to work from our HQ in Rotterdam at least 3 days a week.
• If applicable, the internship can be combined with a Master's thesis project. 

ADDITIONAL DETAILS

• Duration of internship: Minimum of 6 months, after which an extension is possible
• Starting date: from 1 November 2025
• Work permit needed: European Union

Curious to hear how it is to work at The Ocean Cleanup? Listen to our team members explain their work in our podcast.