About the Role
This externship provides law students with practical experience in public interest environmental law, including participation in litigation, legal research, and policy advocacy. Externs will work on cases involving environmental protection, tribal rights, and climate justice.
Responsibilities
- Conduct legal research on environmental statutes and regulations
- Draft memoranda on complex legal issues
- Assist in preparing court filings and briefs
- Support litigation strategy development
- Participate in case planning meetings
- Review and analyze regulatory documents
- Help prepare clients for legal proceedings
- Attend court hearings and administrative meetings
- Collaborate with legal teams on case materials
- Draft legal correspondence
- Summarize deposition transcripts
- Organize case files and documents
- Monitor developments in environmental law
- Support outreach to community partners
- Engage in legal writing for internal and external use
- Assist in developing legal arguments
- Participate in client consultations
- Contribute to interdisciplinary legal strategies
- Support amicus brief preparation
- Analyze judicial decisions for precedent value
Nice to Have
- Coursework in environmental law, administrative law, or tribal law
- Prior internship with a public interest legal organization
- Experience working with Indigenous communities
- Fluency in a second language
- Research experience in constitutional or civil rights law
- Involvement in law review or legal journal
- Participation in moot court or trial advocacy
- Background in science or environmental studies
Compensation
Unpaid externship; academic credit available
Work Arrangement
Hybrid
Team
Mid-sized legal team focused on regional environmental and tribal advocacy
Application Process
- Applicants must submit a resume, cover letter, transcript, and writing sample.
- Applications are accepted through the organization’s online portal.
- Deadline for submission is March 15, 2026.
- Selected candidates will be contacted for interviews.
- Finalists may be asked to provide references.
Externship Duration
- The externship runs for 12 weeks during the fall 2026 semester.
- Externs are expected to commit 15-20 hours per week.
- Schedule is flexible to accommodate academic commitments.
- Start and end dates align with academic calendar.
Location
- Primary office location is in the Rocky Mountain region.
- Hybrid work model includes remote and in-office days.
- Externs must be able to report to the office periodically.
Diversity and Inclusion
- The organization values diverse perspectives and lived experiences.
- Encourages applications from underrepresented communities in the legal field.
- Committed to fostering an inclusive workplace environment.
Professional Development
- Externs receive mentorship from senior attorneys.
- Opportunities to attend legal trainings and workshops.
- Regular feedback on written and oral work.
- Exposure to high-impact litigation and policy initiatives.
Not available
