Spring 2025 Legal Externship – Biodiversity Defense Program

Earthjustice’s Biodiversity Defense Program is accepting applications for one full- or part-time legal extern for spring 2025. We are seeking 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; 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.  We are here because the earth needs a good lawyer.

The Biodiversity Defense Program focuses on the biggest drivers of biodiversity loss, including habitat destruction and over-exploitation (or over-hunting) of wildlife. As the scope of this work is so immense and intersectional, a key piece of the program’s strategy is partnering with our regional offices and programs to add litigation and policy knowledge to their work and to build new partnerships. Additionally, we advance policies aimed at protecting habitat critical to the survival of species, such as a national plan to permanently protect America’s carbon-dense and biodiverse mature and old-growth forests.
Responsibilities: Under the supervision of an attorney, the legal extern will contribute legal research and writing related to new and ongoing cases for the Biodiversity Defense Program. 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 writing, research, analytical and organizational skills.
• Familiarity with legal research tools, including Westlaw.
• Strong work ethic, initiative, and ability to think creatively.
• Ability to work collegially with others and independently.
• Knowledge of environmental and administrative law is a plus.
• Interest in public interest law and social justice.
• If full-time, must commit to 37.5 hours per week.
• If part-time, must commit to at least 12 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 – In one page, (1) Address why you want to work with the Biodiversity Defense Program and any information about yourself that is not apparent or fully explained in the resume; (2) Note 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.
• Finalists will be asked to submit 2 references, including one law professor or 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 and applicants for employment are provided with e