2027 Healthy Communities Clerkship

Earthjustice • New York, NY

3d • Onsite

About The Position

The Litigation Directors for Drinking Water, Pesticides, and Crosscutting Toxics work primarily within the Healthy Communities focus area. The law student would assist with the development and advancement of strategic advocacy goals related to those three bodies of work using state and federal laws, including some intersectional work such as legal advocacy to address pesticide contamination of drinking water. As a summer clerk, you’ll conduct legal and factual research, draft memoranda and court pleadings, and assist attorneys with other tasks like client interactions, oral argument preparation, and more. The team coordinates with other programs to ensure our clerks form professional connections within the office and the larger public-interest legal community. We welcome applicants who, in addition to demonstrating core legal research, writing, and advocacy skills, have a demonstrated interest in and capacity for deploying emotional intelligence and cultural competency in their work. Founded in 1971, Earthjustice has a distinguished track record of achieving significant, lasting environmental protections. 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. 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.

Requirements

• Enrolled in a U.S. law school through fall 2027 (i.e., not graduating before December 2027)
• Available to commit ten weeks during summer 2027
• Must work from the U.S. during their clerkship
• Core legal research skills
• Core legal writing skills
• Core advocacy skills

Nice To Haves

• Demonstrated interest in and capacity for deploying emotional intelligence in their work
• Demonstrated interest in and capacity for deploying cultural competency in their work

Responsibilities

• Conduct legal and factual research
• Draft memoranda and court pleadings
• Assist attorneys with client interactions
• Assist attorneys with oral argument preparation
• Draft pleadings and briefs
• Develop strategy and legal theories
• Gather evidence
• Attend client meetings and court proceedings

Benefits

• Paid positions
• Total stipend amount will be dependent on any external funding a student secures
• One-time stipend at the start of the clerkship in the amount of $1,382.00 per week, minus the total amount received from any other sources and applicable taxes
• 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
• Job interview workshop

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: No Education Listed