Fall 2023 Legal Externship – Clean Energy Program

Earthjustice’s Clean Energy Program is accepting applications for 2-3 full- or part-time legal externs for fall 2023. We are seeking current law students who share a passion for justice and a healthy environment, and who are eligible to receive academic credit or fulfill a graduation requirement through this externship. The successful candidate may work remotely or on a hybrid schedule from one of Earthjustice’s offices.

Earthjustice is the premier nonprofit environmental law organization. We take on the biggest, most precedent-setting cases across the country. We wield the power of law and the strength of partnership to protect people’s health; to preserve magnificent places and wildlife; to advance clean energy, and combat climate change. We partner with thousands of groups, supporters, individuals, and communities to engage in the critical environmental issues of our time and bring about positive change. We are guided by a passionate, ambitious vision for the future for people and our planet: until justice stands for all, we will never rest. We are here because the earth needs a good lawyer.

The Clean Energy Program works to accelerate the essential transition from fossil fuels to clean energy, to hold coal generators accountable for their pollution and protect communities from toxic coal waste, and to increase access to clean energy. The Clean Energy Program is deeply invested in fighting false climate solutions and opposing the dangerous rush to expand or prolong the life of gas generation and infrastructure in our state and federal energy regulatory advocacy. Our focus is the “fossil to clean fight” and ensuring that all communities benefit from a clean energy transition.

Responsibilities:

Under the supervision of an attorney:

• Assist in case investigation, legal research and discovery.
• Prepare memoranda, comments, briefs and other legal documents for administrative and judicial proceedings.

Qualifications:

• Enrolled in law school as a 2L or 3L during fall 2023.
• Must be eligible to receive academic credit or fulfill a graduation requirement through this externship.
• Demonstrated commitment to environmental protection or environmental justice.
• Excellent research, analytic and writing skills.
• Initiative, creative thinking and the ability to work collegially with others.
• Significant knowledge of environmental, energy, or administrative law is a plus.
• Commitment of 15-20 hours per week, if part-time.
• Commitment of 37.5 hours per week, if full-time.

Compensation:

Legal externs are unpaid and must receive academic credit or fulfill a graduation requirement for their work with Earthjustice.

To Apply: 
Interested candidates should submit the following materials by May 14, 2023 via Jobvite. Incomplete applications will not be considered. Applications will be reviewed beginning May 15 with offers extended no later than July 21.

• Resume.
• Cover letter – In one page, (1) Address why you want to work for Earthjustice, and specifically in the Clean Energy Program, and any information about yourself that is not apparent or fully explained in the resume; (2) Note if you are interested in part-time or full-time work hours; (3) Confirm that you can earn academic credit from your law school or that you will fulfill a graduation requirement through this externship; and (4) Indicate any applicable deadlines or requirements that are relevant to your submission or ability to accept an offer.
• Recent writing sample, preferably a legal brief or memorandum of no more than 10 pages that primarily reflects your work.
• List of courses taken so far in law school (transcript not necessary).
• Finalists will be asked to submit 2 references, including one law professor and one legal employer.

Please note that this job posting is for a legal externship and does NOT cover summer positions; there is a separate application process for applicants interested in summer clerkships with Earthjustice.

Please reach out to jobs@earthjustice.org if you are having technical difficulties submitting your application. No phone calls, drop-ins, or hard copies. Earthjustice only considers applications submitted for current openings via Jobvite. Unsolicited resumes or resumes for posted positions that are not submitted via Jobvite will not be reviewed or retained.

Earthjustice is driven by a passion for justice, partnership, and excellence. Our core values lead us to seek a broad range of perspectives and backgrounds to achieve our mission and to maintain an inclusive environment where all staff are valued and respected. As an equal opportunity employer, we are committed to employment practices that ensure that employees and applicants for employment are provided with equal opportunities without regard to race, color, national origin, ancestry, sex, age, religion, physical or mental disability, medical condition, veteran status, marital status, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, genetic information, or any other factor that is not related to the position.

For positions located within the City and County of San Francisco: Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

For positions located within the City of Los Angeles: We will consider qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with the Los Angeles Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring.