Spring 2025 Legal Externship ?Puerto Rico Team

Description Earthjustice’s Puerto Rico team is accepting applications for one full- or part-time legal extern for spring 2025. We are seeking law students who share a passion for justice and a healthy environment, and who are eligible to receive academic credit or fulfill a graduation requirement through this externship. Priority will be given to those living in Puerto Rico, but the successful candidate may work remotely within the U.S. or on a hybrid schedule from one of Earthjustice’s offices .

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 combat climate change. We partner with thousands of groups, supporters, individuals, and communities to engage in 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. We are here because the earth needs a good lawyer.

The Puerto Rico Team uses the law and the power of partnership with local grassroots organizations and disproportionately impacted communities to promote clean and equitable renewable energy; stop the buildout of new fossil fuels infrastructure; fight air pollution from fossil fuel power plants and incinerators; protect agricultural and ecologically sensitive lands from development; improve and protect water quality; address issues related to sea level rise; and protect endangered species and biodiversity.

Responsibilities

Under the supervision of an attorney, the legal extern may:

• Conduct factual and legal research.
• Communicate findings through internal memoranda and external presentations to clients.
• Support drafting briefs, motions, and/or other court and administrative filings.
• Participate in partner/client check-in meetings.

Qualifications

• Enrolled in law school as a 2L or 3L during spring 2025.
• Must be eligible to receive academic credit or fulfill a graduation requirement through this externship.
• Excellent writing, research, analytical and organizational skills.
• Familiarity with legal research tools, including Westlaw.
• Strong work ethic, initiative, and ability to think creatively.
• Ability to work collegially with others and independently.
• Knowledge of environmental and administrative law is a plus.
• Demonstrated commitment to environmental protection or environmental justice.
• Commitment of at least 14 hours/week.

Compensation

Legal externs are unpaid and must receive academic credit or fulfill a graduation requirement for their work with Earthjustice.

To Apply

Interested candidates should submit the following materials by 5:00pm PT on Monday, September 9, 2024. Incomplete applications will not be considered. Applications are being reviewed on a rolling basis with offers extended no later than October 18.

• Resume.
• Cover letter – In one page, (1) Address why you want to work with the Puerto Rico Team and any information about yourself that is not apparent or fully explained in the resume; (2) Note the number of hours, or a reasonable estimate, you will be able to work each week; (3) Confirm that you can earn academic credit from your law school or that you will fulfill a graduation requirement through this externship; and (4) Indicate any applicable deadlines or requirements that are relevant to your submission or ability to accept an offer.
• Additional Documents (select “Add Files” in Jobvite): Recent writing sample, preferably a legal brief or memorandum of no more than 10 pages that primarily reflects your work. Please include a cover page indicating the extent to which your writing sample reflects edits and feedback from others.
• Finalists will be asked to submit 2 references, including one law professor or legal employer.

Information about our hiring process and tips for success can be found at https://earthjustice.org/about/jobs/hiring-process . Please reach out to [email protected] if you are having technical difficulties submitting your application. No phone calls, drop-ins, or hard copies. Earthjustice only considers applications submitted for current openings via Jobvite. Unsolicited resumes or resumes for posted positions that are not submitted via Jobvite will not be reviewed or retained.

As an equal opportunity employer, Earthjustice is 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, genetic information, or any other factor specified under applicable laws 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.