Ocean Legal Fellowship Needs Assessment Survey 2026 flyer by Sustainable Ocean Alliance

Are you a young lawyer, a recent law graduate or an LL.M. student interested in ocean, coastal or climate law? Sustainable Ocean Alliance (SOA) is thinking about launching a new global Ocean Legal Fellowship for early-career lawyers, and it wants to hear from you first, especially if you are based in the Global South.

SOA has opened a short Ocean Legal Fellowship Needs Assessment Survey. It takes about 10–15 minutes and asks about your career, the support you currently have and what would actually help you grow in this field.

Please note: this is a survey, not a fellowship application. The fellowship has not been confirmed, and there are no stipends, places or selection process yet. Taking part is a chance to shape the programme and get on SOA’s radar early, so you hear first if it launches.

Quick Facts

Organiser: Sustainable Ocean Alliance (SOA)
What it is: a needs-assessment survey for a possible Ocean Legal Fellowship
Time needed: about 10–15 minutes, online
Who: early-career lawyers, recent law graduates and LL.M. students
Focus: practitioners in the Global South, though others are not excluded
Cost: free
Deadline: none stated — the survey feeds a report due in late 2026, so respond soon

About Sustainable Ocean Alliance

SOA supports young ocean advocates and entrepreneurs working on solutions for a healthy ocean. It has already run two fellowship cohorts supporting 80 early-career ocean advocates from 52 countries. It is now asking whether a similar programme should exist specifically for lawyers working on ocean and climate issues, and how it should be designed.

What the Survey Wants to Learn

What support you have now — mentors, training, networks, funding or institutional backing.
What would make the biggest difference to your career in ocean and climate law.
What is realistic for you to take on alongside your current job or studies.

Your answers will feed into a Needs Assessment Report due in late 2026. If SOA builds the fellowship, it will be based on what respondents say they need.

Eligibility: Who Should Take Part

early-career lawyers working on ocean, coastal or climate issues — environmental law, marine conservation, coastal governance, climate policy, advocacy or research
recent law graduates who want to build a career in these areas (no exact cut-off is given; contact SOA if unsure)
LL.M. students studying environmental, international, maritime or climate law

SOA particularly wants to hear from people working in the Global South, including Africa, who understand how this work plays out in frontline coastal communities.

Why It’s Worth 15 Minutes of Your Time

you help design a fellowship around real needs in your region
if you opt in at the end, you may be invited to a regional consultation or a short follow-up conversation with SOA
you stay connected to an organisation that already funds and trains young ocean leaders
you’ll be ready to apply quickly if the fellowship launches

Privacy and Consent

Participation is voluntary. Individual responses are confidential and reported only in aggregate or anonymised form. You can skip any question, and your name will not be linked to your answers unless SOA asks you separately and you agree.

How to Apply (Take the Survey)

Open the official Ocean Legal Fellowship Needs Assessment Survey.
Read the introduction and agree to the consent terms.
Answer the questions about your background, current support and career goals. Be specific about the challenges you face where you work.
At the end, opt in if you want to be invited to a regional consultation or follow-up conversation.
Submit. Questions can go to [email protected], copying [email protected].