Spring 2025 Legal Externship – California Regional Office

Earthjustice’s California Regional Office is accepting applications for two full- or part-time legal externs for spring 2025. We are seeking rising 2L and 3L 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 within the U.S. 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; preserve magnificent places and wildlife; 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. We are here because the earth needs a good lawyer. The California Regional Office currently works to promote clean energy and zero-emissions transportation policies; to rein in oil and gas extraction, particularly in locations that threaten frontline communities; to improve air quality for residents in the Central Valley; to preserve lands and biodiversity across the state; and to protect state residents and sensitive ecosystems from pesticides and other toxic substances. Our attorneys bring lawsuits under a mix of state and federal environmental laws and engage in administrative and other forms of legal advocacy to protect the environment and promote environmental justice.
Responsibilities: Under the supervision of an attorney, the legal externs may: 

• Work with attorneys on case development and litigation. 
• Perform legal and factual research and develop case strategy and legal theories. 
• Assist attorneys with preparing briefs and motions and meet with clients and experts. 
• Participate in moots of oral arguments and attend court proceedings and conferences with opposing counsel.  

Qualifications:  

• Enrolled in law school as a 2L or 3L during spring 2025.
• Must be eligible to receive academic credit or fulfill a graduation requirement through this externship.
• Excellent research, analytic and writing skills.
• Initiative, creative thinking and the ability to work collegially with others.
• Interest in environmental protection or environmental justice is a plus.
• Commitment of at least 15 hours per week. 

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 5:00pm PT on Wednesday, August 14, 2024. Incomplete applications will not be considered. Applications will be reviewed beginning August 15 with offers extended no later than October 11.   

• Resume.
• Cover letter – (1) Address why you are drawn to Earthjustice’s mission and whether there are particular legal, environmental, or social justice issues that inspire you; (2) Specify the number of hours, or a reasonable estimate, you will be able to work each week; (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.
• Additional Documents (select “Add Files” in Jobvite):
• Recent writing sample, preferably a legal brief or memorandum 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.
• Unofficial or official copy of your law school transcript. 
• Finalists will be asked to submit 2 references, including one law professor and one legal employer. 

Information about our hiring process and tips for success can be found at https://earthjustice.org/about/jobs/hiring-process. 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. As an equal opportunity employer, Earthjustice is committed to employment practices that ensure that employees a