This job is no longer available

Earthjustice

2025 Northeast Regional Program Clerkship

New York, NY, US

In-personFull time roleNo Previous Experience, Early Career

11 months ago

About the Job

The Northeast Regional Program works to address the serious health and environmental threats associated with climate change, toxic chemicals, and other sources of pollution. We partake in efforts to ensure that New York state and local authorities faithfully implement innovative new environmental laws including the 2022 Environmental Rights Amendment and the landmark 2019 Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act. In addition, we fight to protect drinking and surface waters from pollutants including PFAS in Cayuga Lake and cyanotoxins in Owasco Lake through administrative advocacy and state and federal litigation. The Northeast Office approaches many of its cases and projects with an environmental justice lens working with partners in frontline communities to help ensure that some of the most vulnerable residents in our region are no longer disproportionately burdened by pollution of their air and water.

ABOUT US

Founded in 1971, Earthjustice is now the premier nonprofit environmental law organization in the U.S. with approximately 575 staff nationwide and 15 offices located strategically across the country. We wield the power of law and the strength of partnership to protect people’s health; preserve magnificent places and wildlife; advance clean energy; and combat climate change. We partner with thousands of groups and supporters to take on the biggest, most precedent-setting cases across the country and have a distinguished track record of achieving significant, lasting environmental protections. We are here because the earth needs a good lawyer.

Earthjustice’s work is currently divided into three major areas:

Lands, Wildlife, and Oceans focuses on cases that protect endangered species, national forests, national parks, other public lands, water resources, and the oceans.

Healthy Communities focuses on cases that protect public health, prevent air and water pollution, and curb exposures to toxic chemicals, particularly in disproportionately impacted communities. Recently, our healthy communities work has also begun to promote sustainable food and agriculture and the rights of farm workers.

Climate and Energy focuses on cases that encourage the swift and just transition to clean energy while challenging the reliance on coal, oil, and other dirty fuels.

We welcome all interested law students from across the country to apply for a summer law clerk position.  We expect that students will work proximate to or in an office where the program is located.  In some limited instances, an office may hire clerks to work in an area that is outside that team’s geographic area, but still proximate to an Earthjustice office. 

RESPONSIBILITIES

Summer Law Clerks will have the opportunity to work with several attorneys on case development and litigation strategy. Students may draft pleadings and briefs, do legal research, develop strategy and legal theories, gather evidence, and attend client meetings and court proceedings. Earthjustice’s summer law clerk program also includes various programmatic offerings, such as in-person and virtual seminars with attorneys and guest speakers on current environmental issues, interactions with other local and regional environmental groups, and a job interview workshop.

COMPENSATION

Earthjustice summer law clerkships are paid positions. The total stipend amount will be dependent on any external funding a student secures, such as through their law school’s summer funding program. Earthjustice will provide a one-time stipend at the start of the clerkship in the amount of $1,319.00 per week, minus the total amount received from any other sources and applicable taxes. The summer law clerkship is designed to be 10 weeks long at full-time hours (37.5 hours/week).

You are welcome to pursue outside funding. The ability to secure outside funding will not be considered as part of the hiring process.

HOW TO APPLY

Eligibility: Candidates must be enrolled in a U.S. law school through fall 2025 (i.e., not graduating before December 2025) and be available to commit ten weeks during summer 2025. Summer law clerks must work from the U.S. during their clerkship.

INSTRUCTIONS

Interested candidates should submit their complete application via Jobvite by 5:00pm PT on September 2, 2024. Incomplete applications will not be considered.

Each Earthjustice litigation team participates in clerk hiring; candidates may submit applications to whichever and however many litigation teams they are interested. Please be prepared to respond to our September follow-up e-mail, requesting your ranked choice of the teams for which you have applied. Do not include such rankings within your Jobvite application.

Application Materials Requested:

Resume.

Cover letter that addresses:

(1) relevant aspects of your background that are not apparent or fully explained in your resume;
(2) why you are drawn to Earthjustice’s mission and the litigation teams for which you are applying; and
(3) whether there are particular environmental or public interest issues that inspire you.

Additional documents (select “Add Files” in Jobvite):

(1) A recent legal writing sample of no more than 10 pages that primarily reflects your work. Please include a cover page indicating the extent to which your writing sample reflects edits and feedback from others.
(2) Unofficial transcript.

Finalists will be asked to submit two references; these may be law school faculty or legal professional, clinical, or volunteer supervisors.

RESOURCES

While identical applications for each team will be considered, we recommend tailoring your cover letter to describe why you are interested in that specific team. Additional information about our hiring process and tips for success can be found at https://earthjustice.org/about/jobs/hiring-process.

If you experience any technical difficulties or require any accommodations throughout the hiring process, please contact us at jobs@earthjustice.org. No phone calls, drop-ins, or hard copies.

About the Company

Earthjustice

San Francisco, CA, USA

251-500

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 to combat climate change. We partner with thousands of groups, supporters, individuals, and communities to engage 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. Founded in 1971, Earthjustice has a distinguished track record of achieving significant, lasting environmental protections. We achieve this by hiring people who share a passion for justice and a healthy environment. Our headquarters are in San Francisco with offices in Anchorage, Juneau, Los Angeles, Tallahassee, Miami, Honolulu, New York, Philadelphia, Denver, Seattle, Bozeman, Chicago, and Washington, D.C.

Similar Jobs

Senior Attorney, National Climate

Earthjustice
United States
Remote
Full time role

"Leading legal battles to safeguard the environment and combat climate change."

2 months ago

Senior Attorney, National Climate

Earthjustice
United States
Remote
Full time role

"Leading legal battles to safeguard the environment and combat climate change."

2 months ago

Fall 2025 Legal Internship – Tribal Partnerships Program

Earthjustice
Remote
Full time role
$35.16 – $35.16 / Hourly

"Leading legal battles to safeguard the environment and combat climate change."

About 2 months ago

Fall '25 Legal Externships

Earthjustice
Hybrid
Internship

"Leading legal battles to safeguard the environment and combat climate change."

About 2 months ago

Part-time Law Clerk Fall 2025 - Energy Justice

Center for biological diversity
Washington, DC, US
In-person
Full time role

Protecting endangered species by preserving critical lands, waters, and the climate.

About 1 month ago

Senior Attorney, Northeast Regional

Earthjustice
New York, NY, US
Hybrid
Full time role

"Leading legal battles to safeguard the environment and combat climate change."

28 days ago

Articling Student (2026/2027)

Bruce power
In-person
Full time role

Provides 30% of Ontario's electricity with clean, low-cost nuclear power.

21 days ago

M24231 Legal Assistant to the General Counsel

Cimmyt (international maize and wheat improvement center)
Texcoco, Méx., MX
In-person
Full time role

Improving resilient agrifood systems to benefit resource-poor farmers and enhance climate sustainability.

11 days ago

Associate Attorney, Northeast Regional Office

Earthjustice
New York, NY, US
Hybrid
Full time role

"Leading legal battles to safeguard the environment and combat climate change."

10 days ago

(Sr.) Legislative Representative

Earthjustice
Washington, DC, US
Hybrid
Full time role

"Leading legal battles to safeguard the environment and combat climate change."

3 days ago