Ocean Legal Fellowship Needs Assessment Survey 2026: Opportunity for Early-Career Lawyers in Ocean, Coastal, and Climate Law

Overview

The Ocean Legal Fellowship Needs Assessment Survey is a consultation initiative conducted by Sustainable Ocean Alliance to gather feedback from early-career legal professionals and recent graduates. The survey aims to explore the professional realities, challenges, and support systems experienced by individuals working at the intersection of law, ocean protection, and climate action.

Rather than announcing a confirmed program, the initiative is designed to determine the potential value of a dedicated global fellowship and to inform its structure and practical design. The findings will contribute to a Needs Assessment Report scheduled for release in late 2026. Participants who choose to opt in may also be invited to take part in a regional consultation or a short follow-up conversation.

Who can apply

The consultation is intended for early-career legal professionals working on ocean, coastal, or climate-related issues, recent law graduates, and Master of Laws students who are interested in these specialized fields of law. Sustainable Ocean Alliance has a deliberate focus on practitioners based in the Global South.

Requirements

Participation in the survey takes approximately 10 to 15 minutes to complete. The process is entirely voluntary, and respondents may skip questions. Individual responses are kept confidential and will be reported only in aggregate or anonymized form. Names will not be attached to responses unless participants are separately asked and agree to be identified.