New job Legal Externship, Fall 2021 in Illinois

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 and citizens 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 the best and brightest who share a passion for justice and a healthy environment. Our headquarters are in San Francisco with thirteen offices across the U.S.

The Coal Program uses hard-hitting litigation and administrative advocacy to work to end our nation’s reliance on dirty, expensive, and outdated coal-fired power, to challenge a growing rush to gas in the utility industry, and to transform our country’s energy sector into one that is clean, renewable, and modern. Our docket includes litigation to secure, defend, and strengthen stringent environmental standards for power plants, lawsuits challenging government or industry failure to implement such standards, and challenges to utility proposals to spend hundreds of millions of dollars or more on aging coal plants rather than investing in clean energy. Pursuant to our goal of a swift and equitable transition to 100% clean energy, the Coal Program is also increasingly challenging proposals for new gas-fired power plants, which are often proposed to replace retiring coal plants. For more information about the Coal Program, please visit http://earthjustice.org/about/offices/coal
We are now accepting applications for part-time and full-time legal externs for the Fall 2021 academic semester, with a preference for full-time legal externs. Applicants should indicate on their cover letter if they need a decision by a certain date, e.g., based on their academic calendar. The successful candidate can work from the New York office or remotely. We will also consider candidates in Chicago and Philadelphia that could go into the respective office occasionally. As of now, all Earthjustice offices will remain closed through at least September 2021. Externs are expected to work on a variety of litigation projects for 20 to 37.5 hours per week, depending on whether the position it part-time or full-time. Applicants must be eligible to receive academic credit for the externship. We are seeking current law students who share a passion for justice and a healthy environment.Responsibilities:
Legal externs work under the direct supervision of attorneys in the development and prosecution of litigation and other advocacy. Externs will participate in a wide range of tasks, including:

• Assisting in case investigation, legal research and discovery.
• Preparing memoranda, briefs and other legal documents for administrative and judicial proceedings.

Qualifications:

• Currently enrolled in law school.
• Demonstrated commitment to environmental protection or environmental justice.
• Excellent research, analytic and writing skills.
• Strong work ethic.
• Initiative, creative thinking and the ability to work collegially with others.
• Significant knowledge of environmental and administrative law is a plus.
• Commitment of 20 hours per week, if part-time.
• Commitment of at least 37.5 hours per week, if full-time.
• Eligibility to receive academic credit from your law school.

Please note that this position does not offer compensation or benefits. We do offer academic credit.
To Apply:
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Interested candidates should submit the following materials. Incomplete applications will not be considered.

• Resume
• Cover letter – In one page, address why you want to work for Earthjustice and any information about yourself that is not apparent or fully explained in the resume. Please note if you are interested in part-time or full-time work hours. Please note if you are eligible to receive academic credit.
• Recent writing sample, preferably a legal brief or memorandum of no more than 10 pages that primarily reflects your work.
• Unofficial law school transcript.
• List of references, including at least one law professor or legal employer.

Applications are accepted and offers are made on a rolling basis, so please submit as soon as possible.
Please reach out to [email protected] if you are having technical difficulties submitting your application.
No phone calls, drop-ins, or hard copies.
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.

Job Type: Full-time