The Legal Response Initiative
The Legal Response Initiative (LRI) is an innovative, award-winning, pro bono initiative that provides legal advice and legal capacity-building services in relation to the UN climate change negotiations. It focuses on least developed countries which suffer the worst impacts of climate change yet have the fewest resources available to address them.
The LRI was set up in order to help ‘level the playing field’ and enable fair participation of all stakeholders in the UN climate change negotiations. The LRI uses an international network of experienced lawyers who provide a rapid response, high-quality, free legal advice in response to queries from developing country delegates and NGOs during the negotiations. The LRI has no political agenda, and strives to provide objective, pure legal advice with a no policy slant.
What skills are they looking for?
The LRI is seeking experienced lawyers from any jurisdiction to join its database of experts. It is particularly interested in hearing from members of the bar who are from, or associated with, developing or least developed countries. However, it welcomes anyone with a relevant area of expertise.
Lawyers should have experience in areas such as public international law, international environment law, climate change law and the UNFCCC process, forestry and land use, multilateral treaty negotiations, and human rights.
Who are they looking for?
Lawyers can agree to provide: (i) ‘rapid response advice’ on short timeframes (e.g. within 1 or 2 days) during the UNFCCC negotiating sessions themselves; and/or (ii) ‘ad hoc advice’ assisting with briefing papers, discrete queries or capacity building workshops throughout the year.
When?
The time commitment is variable, but not significant: during any one negotiating session a lawyer may not be contacted at all, or may be sent one or two queries during the session.
There are usually four negotiating sessions each year, two lasting one week each and two lasting for two weeks (including the end of year Conference of the Parties
Where?
International – lawyers can provide assistance electronically from their usual places of work.
Interested?
For more information please click here:
If you are interested in undertaking any of the opportunities please email Natalia at Bar in the Community at BiCEnquiries@barprobono.org.uk Please provide the name of the organisation you wish to volunteer with. We kindly ask that you do not contact the organisations directly.