Jim Tripp Emerging Issues Legal Intern

Overview

Put your passion and skills to work for the planet. Climate change is the most urgent issue of our time, and we need people like you to help us build a vital Earth — for everyone.

We’re Environmental Defense Fund, a fast-paced nonprofit with a growing staff of more than 1,000 people in nearly 30 countries. We deliver game-changing solutions that cut climate pollution and strengthen people’s ability to thrive despite the effects climate change is already having. We work wherever we can have the most impact, from local communities to top companies to governments worldwide, and even in space.

Our culture, values and commitment to diversity make EDF an exciting and meaningful place to work. Every job here makes a difference. Won’t you join us?

Responsibilities

Program/Department Overview

EDF’s Global Climate Cooperation team leads and executes EDF’s work on international climate policy and carbon pricing. The team’s objective is to promote ambitious, well-designed market-based climate policies around the world, including at international forums like the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). Our staff members undertake original research and publish in peer-reviewed journals; participate in and regularly give presentations to international negotiators, representing EDF and broader NGO coalitions; and develop and present advocacy materials in a wide range of other settings, including international meetings, Congress, etc.

Overall Function

The Jim Tripp Emerging Legal Internship is named after former EDF staff, Jim Tripp. Throughout his tenure, Jim has prepared briefs in the Supreme Court, fought to protect the Mississippi River, and has shared his expertise internationally. This internship is created to attract some of those best and brightest to EDF, and continue Jim’s legacy.

The intern will work with EDF’s Global Climate Cooperation team on research projects focused on legal and institutional issues essential to effective, efficient, and equitable cooperative climate action between and among countries. Working with other team members and external experts, the intern will be expected to prepare a comparative analysis of newly evolving frameworks for carbon market cooperation.  This research will help identify needs and opportunities for ongoing EDF advocacy on high-quality carbon credits. The intern will report to the Lead Counsel for Global Climate Cooperation and work closely with the Manager, Global Climate.

Key Responsibilities

Tasks will include but are not limited to:

• Identify the challenges that countries face when engaging in international carbon market cooperation under Article 6 of the Paris Agreement.
• Review the legal and institutional frameworks for international carbon market cooperation that countries have established or proposed.
• Assess the extent to which these frameworks may address the challenges identified, and demonstrate good practice for environmental integrity and transparency.
• Assist team members within and outside the Global Climate Cooperation team to identify opportunities to embed into emerging frameworks and processes high-quality carbon credit criteria previously developed by EDF and partners.
• Participate in team meetings and contribute to short policy briefs and other research products to inform team preparations for and analysis of UNFCCC negotiations in June and December 2023.
• Collaborate with Donor Stewardship to create a brief summary of work undertaken at the end of the internship.
• Participate in advancing EDF Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) goals in which people from all backgrounds and experiences feel connected, included, and empowered to address the environmental and organizational challenges in alignment with EDF values.

Qualifications

• Current 1L or 2L at ABA-approved law school.
• Demonstrated interest in environmental law.
• Demonstrated interest in international relations, global climate policy, the history of climate treaty negotiations, and/or carbon market mechanisms (familiarity with UNFCCC is a plus).
• Excellent written and oral communication skills.
• Must be well organized, motivated, and detail-oriented.
• Ability to multi-task, prioritize and meet deadlines.
• Ability to work in a team setting and have the ability to work independently when projects are due.
• Demonstrate self-awareness, cultural competency and inclusivity, and ability to work with colleagues and stakeholders across diverse cultures and backgrounds.
• Demonstrate initiative and problem solving skills.

Location

Hybrid out of Washington, D.C. or U.S. remote.

Term

10 weeks (June-August 2023)

Hours

Full-time (35 hours/week)

Compensation

This internship would involve compensation for work paid at a rate competitive with leading non-profits at a total of $10,000, with an hourly rate of $28.57.

Application Materials

Interested applicants should attach their cover letter and resume to the EDF application, together with a brief (maximum 5 pages) writing sample reflecting their own work.

Pay Ranges

We offer a strong total rewards package encompassing competitive salary, robust benefits, and professional development opportunities consistent with a modern global organization. We take into account factors such as candidate experience, skills, training, internal team equity and local norms.

The pay range for this role is shown below.

Please note that pay ranges are country specific. As a result, the stated currency is not meant be converted into any other currency.

Minimum Salary

USD $28.57/Hr.

Maximum Salary

USD $28.57/Hr.

EEO Information

Environmental Defense Fund is an equal opportunity employer where an applicant's qualifications are considered without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other basis prohibited by law.