2026 Fall Legal Clerkship
About The Position
Our Children's Trust is seeking current law students to join as Law Clerks to support their Legal Team. This is an opportunity for a law student to be part of a cutting-edge legal strategy and work with top attorneys and scientists to address the climate crisis. Our Children’s Trust is a non-profit public interest law firm that provides strategic, campaign-based legal services to youth from diverse backgrounds to secure their legal rights to a safe climate. They work to protect the Earth’s climate system for present and future generations by representing young people in global legal efforts to secure their binding and enforceable legal rights to a healthy atmosphere and stable climate, based on the best available science. They support their youth clients and amplify their voices before the third branch of government in a highly strategic legal campaign that includes targeted media, education, and public engagement work to support the youths’ legal actions. Their legal work – guided by constitutional, public trust, human rights laws and the laws of nature – aims to ensure systemic and science-based climate recovery planning and remedies at federal, state, and global levels. They seek legally-binding, countrywide and/or statewide science-based Climate Recovery Plans that will return atmospheric carbon dioxide concentrations to levels below 350 ppm by the year 2100. Law clerks will directly support OCT’s legal efforts in local, state, federal, and/or international actions. Law clerks will have the opportunity to work on a variety of projects, which could include assisting attorneys around the country and the world in their legal efforts; working with experts; conducting legal and evidentiary research; drafting legal memoranda; drafting, reviewing, and editing complaints, briefs, motions, discovery requests, and declarations; preparing for oral argument and trial; and assisting with document review. OCT relies heavily on law clerks for support, placing a premium on careful, accurate, and self-directed work.
Requirements
- Current law student
- Ability to commit to working at least 10 hours per week during the Fall
- Resume
- Cover letter
- Short writing sample (no more than 7 pages)
- Copy of transcript (unofficial OK)
- 3 references (at least one legal) with email addresses and phone numbers
Responsibilities
- Assisting attorneys around the country and the world in their legal efforts
- Working with experts
- Conducting legal and evidentiary research
- Drafting legal memoranda
- Drafting, reviewing, and editing complaints, briefs, motions, discovery requests, and declarations
- Preparing for oral argument and trial
- Assisting with document review
Benefits
- Support in securing outside funding or academic credit
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Entry Level
Education Level
No Education Listed
