U.S. Climate Resilience & Environmental Justice Fall Legal Intern

EarthRights International•Washington, DC

23d•Hybrid

About The Position

EarthRights International (ERI), a nongovernmental, nonprofit organization dedicated to defending human rights and the environment through the combined power of law and people, is seeking fall legal interns for its U.S. Climate Resilience & Environmental Justice Project (CREJP). The CREJP Legal Interns are law students who can commit to full-time or part-time work for a minimum of 10-12 weeks during the fall semester. Interns can be J.D. or LL.M. students with at least one year of U.S. legal training. ERI has over two decades of experience partnering with marginalized communities worldwide, employing innovative legal strategies to hold accountable those who disregard human rights and the environment. The organization specializes in supporting community struggles against powerful entities, aligning litigation with community accountability goals to shift power dynamics and challenge systems of impunity. The CREJP was recently established to support frontline communities impacted by climate change and environmental harms, focusing on building resilience and holding government, companies, and financial institutions accountable. Current efforts involve working with Black and Indigenous communities across the U.S. facing challenges such as climate-forced displacement, toxic industrial pollution, and water access issues. The project utilizes a range of legal and advocacy tools, including corporate accountability, environmental protection, and civil rights, to advance community resilience. Interns will work closely with community partners to identify and apply appropriate tools, such as litigation, non-judicial mechanisms, campaigning, policy advocacy, and media strategies. This structured educational internship is designed to offer hands-on learning and professional development in community-centered lawyering and advocacy. Under the close supervision and mentorship of experienced attorneys and staff, interns will engage in skill-building projects rather than routine tasks. Activities may include legal and factual research, observing and supporting advocacy strategy development, and participating in meetings with community leaders and civil society partners. Interns will collaborate with the CREJP team and other ERI attorneys, complementing their academic coursework and career interests. Interns will not independently represent ERI or perform work typically assigned to regular staff.

Requirements

Law students who can receive course credit for their internship from their law school.
Must have at least one year of U.S. legal training by the time of the internship.
A demonstrated commitment to using the U.S. legal system to serve frontline communities and/or to support environmental justice communities.
Excellent legal research and writing skills.
Strong interpersonal skills and ability to work in teams and coalitions.
Ability to handle sensitive client relationships and protect the confidentiality of our work and our communications.

Nice To Haves

A background or experience in environmental law, civil rights law, corporate accountability, and/or Indigenous peoples’ rights.
Experience working with environmental justice communities, Indigenous communities, or grassroots organizations.
Independent and creative thinking.
A positive attitude.

Responsibilities

Engage in projects that emphasize skill-building rather than routine staff work.
Conduct legal research and writing.
Perform factual research.
Observe and support advocacy strategy development.
Participate in meetings with community leaders and civil society partners.
Work closely with members of the CREJP team and other EarthRights International attorneys.