The application window for the Summer 2026 Law Clerkships has closed.<\/p>\n
Founded in 1971, Earthjustice has a distinguished track record of achieving significant, lasting environmental protections. We achieve this by hiring people who share a passion for justice and a healthy environment. 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.<\/em><\/p>\n Earthjustice’s work is currently divided into three major areas:<\/p>\n 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. In some limited instances, an office may hire clerks to work in an area that is outside that team’s geographic area, but still proximate to an Earthjustice office.<\/em><\/p>\n Please note the location preferences of each litigation team in their descriptions below.<\/em><\/p>\n Summer law clerks will have the opportunity to work with several attorneys on case development and litigation strategy. Students may draft pleadings and briefs, do legal research, develop strategy and legal theories, gather evidence, and attend client meetings and court proceedings. Earthjustice’s summer law clerk program also includes various 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, and a job interview workshop.<\/p>\n Earthjustice summer law clerkships are paid positions. The total stipend amount will be dependent on any external funding a student secures, such as through their law school’s summer funding program. Earthjustice will provide a one-time stipend at the start of the clerkship in the amount of $1,320.00 per week, minus the total amount received from any other sources and applicable taxes. The summer law clerkship is designed to be 10 weeks long at full-time hours (37.5 hours\/week).<\/p>\n You are welcome to pursue outside funding. The ability to secure outside funding will not be considered as part of the hiring process.<\/p>\n Eligibility:<\/strong> Candidates must be enrolled in a U.S. law school through fall 2026 (i.e., not graduating before December 2026) and be available to commit to 10 weeks during summer 2026. Summer law clerks must work from the U.S. during their clerkship.<\/p>\n Each Earthjustice litigation team participates in clerk hiring; candidates may submit applications to whichever and however many litigation teams they are interested. Please be prepared to respond to our September follow-up e-mail, requesting your ranked choice of the teams for which you have applied. Do not<\/strong> include such rankings within your Jobvite application.<\/p>\n\t The Alaska Regional Office’s docket is focused on protecting the Alaska coastal rainforest, safeguarding America’s Arctic, and conserving the Bering Sea and Gulf of Alaska marine ecosystem. Our work also includes wildlife conservation, protection of lands and waters from mining activities, air and water quality enforcement, and national park and other public lands management. Our clients include national, regional, and local conservation organizations; Alaska Native tribal organizations; Alaskan communities; ecotourism businesses; and other organizations concerned about enforcing the laws to protect the environment. Both locations of the Alaska Office – Juneau and Anchorage – offer breathtaking scenery and outstanding access to wilderness and recreational opportunities. The long daylight hours make summer the ideal time to experience and appreciate Alaska.<\/p>\nLearn more about the Alaska Regional Office’s work.<\/a> The Biodiversity Defense Program fights to reshape our relationship to lands, water, and wildlife everywhere by confronting the major drivers of the decline in nature, including habitat destruction and over-exploitation of wildlife. The program’s work brings Earthjustice’s strategic, collaborative, and hard-hitting approach to environmental protection into new issue areas and geographies. Additionally, we defend key environmental policies, such as the Endangered Species Act’s crucial protection of habitat critical to the survival of species.<\/p>\nLearn more about the Biodiversity Defense Program.<\/a> Earthjustice’s California Regional Office works to promote clean energy and zero emission transportation policies; to rein in oil and gas extraction, particularly in locations that threaten frontline communities; to protect state residents and sensitive ecosystems from pesticides and other toxic substances; to preserve California’s lands and rich biodiversity; and to improve air quality statewide. Our attorneys bring lawsuits and pursue administrative advocacy to protect the environment and promote environmental justice under a mix of federal environmental laws such as the Clean Air Act, Clean Water Act, Endangered Species Act, and National Environmental Policy Act, as well as California statutes. The California Regional Office is seeking law clerks for summer to work alongside our attorneys and advocates in our San Francisco and Los Angeles offices.<\/p>\n Please note in your cover letter if you would prefer one of the two offices or are interested in both.<\/p>\nLearn more about the California Office’s work.<\/a> The Clean Energy Program works to accelerate the essential transition from fossil fuels to clean energy, to hold coal generators accountable for their pollution and protect communities from toxic coal waste, and to increase access to clean energy. The Clean Energy Program is deeply invested in fighting false climate solutions and opposing the dangerous rush to expand or prolong the life of gas generation and infrastructure in our state and federal energy regulatory advocacy. Our focus is the “fossil-to-clean fight” and ensuring that all communities benefit equitably from a clean energy transition.<\/p>\nLearn more about the Clean Energy Program’s work.<\/a> We work in deep partnership with frontline communities to eliminate environmental hazards and expand access to environmental benefits. Together with our community partners, we challenge harmful social and political systems while striving to improve the environmental health of neighborhoods across the country. Our work is rooted in community-led movements and powered by a broad spectrum of advocacy tools aimed at disrupting the status quo. We represent impacted communities in holding polluters accountable for threats to health, safety, and quality of life; closing dangerous regulatory loopholes; demanding transparency and access to information; and enforcing environmental laws at the local, state, and federal levels to ensure meaningful protections for all.<\/p>\nLearn more about the Community Partnerships Program<\/a> With approximately 700 springs, more than 1,260 miles of coastline (more than any other state in the continental United States), over 7,000 lakes and tens of thousands of miles of rivers and streams, water is the lifeblood of Florida. In 2023 alone, over 141 million people visited Florida to enjoy its beaches, fishing, attractions, and natural areas. But its beauty has also invited its exploitation and pollution by industry and development. That’s why for the last 35 years, Earthjustice has fought to protect Florida’s waters and wild places for all people to enjoy in federal, state and administrative courts. The Florida Office fights for public ownership and access to Florida’s waters, defends the public’s right to enjoy Florida’s beautiful places, stands with communities threatened by pollution, protects the Everglades, preserves wild lands and species, works to clean up our waterways and hold polluters accountable, and aims to move Florida to a clean energy future.<\/p>\nLearn more about the Florida Office’s work.<\/a> The oil and gas industry’s aggressive expansion of fossil fuel infrastructure escalates harm to communities and locks us into decades of future fossil fuel use at a time when we desperately need to reduce greenhouse grass emissions. Earthjustice’s Fossil Fuels program is confronting this massive build-out. We use litigation, administrative advocacy, and partnership to advance an end to U.S. oil and gas extraction and production, and stop new infrastructure (e.g., petrochemical facilities, export terminals and pipelines), focused in the U.S. Gulf Region and Appalachia.<\/p>\nLearn more about the Fossil Fuels Program.<\/a> Earthjustice’s Gulf Regional Office is building a team to support frontline communities as they work to protect the health and iconic ecosystems of the Gulf. Based in Houston, Texas, our Gulf office is working to deepen regional partnerships and build power to defend ecosystems, protect communities from toxic pollution, and stop large scale fossil fuel expansion at its source. The Gulf Regional Office covers Texas, Louisiana and Mississippi and can accommodate remote clerks in any of those three states.<\/p>\nLearn more about the Gulf Office’s work.<\/a> Drawing on deep experience in foreign, U.S. and international environmental, energy and human rights law, and foreign and international litigation, Earthjustice’s International Program works with partners in Africa, Indonesia, Australia, Latin America and elsewhere on domestic and international legal advocacy to reduce dependence on dirty fossil fuels and speed the transition to clean energy. International program staff represent and collaborate with public interest environmental organizations and communities to establish, strengthen, and enforce national and international legal protections for the environment, public health, and human rights.<\/p>\nLearn more about the International Program’s work.<\/a> Earthjustice opened an office in Honolulu in 1988 to protect natural and cultural resources throughout Hawai\u02bbi and the larger Pacific region. Earthjustice’s Mid-Pacific Regional Office has led campaigns to restore stream flows to communities and watersheds across the islands, protect Hawai\u02bbi’s imperiled species from harmful activities, hold the military and other government actors accountable for pollution, and transition the economy off fossil fuels and onto the clean energy grid of the future. Our attorneys file suit under national laws such as the Clean Water Act and the Endangered Species Act, and state laws such as the Hawai\u02bbi Environmental Policy Act. The Office also has a long history of enforcing environmental rights and traditional and customary Native Hawaiian rights that are enshrined in the Hawai\u02bbi State Constitution.<\/p>\n The Mid-Pacific Regional Office is looking for summer law clerks who have excellent research, writing, and oral advocacy skills; solid academic records; demonstrated commitment to the environment, community empowerment, and diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives; the ability to be a team player; and a strong work ethic, sense of initiative, and sound judgment. A sense of humor is also desired.<\/p>\nLearn more about the Mid-Pacific Office’s work.<\/a> The Midwest Office’s legal advocacy and litigation spans all three of Earthjustice’s program areas – healthy communities, climate and energy, and lands and wildlife. We fight proposed mines and pipeline projects that threaten the fishing and hunting rights of tribal communities and endanger the region’s treasures, including the Great Lakes and the pristine Boundary Waters. Second, we work with communities impacted by contaminated air, drinking water, waterways, and soil to fight for environmental justice and to develop safer and cleaner neighborhoods in which to live. Third, we are developing work that will promote healthier, more sustainable agriculture and combat climate change.<\/p>\nLearn more about the Midwest Office’s work.<\/a> The staff of the Northeast Regional Program’s work to address the serious health and environmental threats associated with climate change, toxic chemicals, and other sources of pollution. The Northeast Regional Program works to ensure that New York state and local authorities faithfully implement innovative new environmental laws including the 2022 Environmental Rights Amendment and the landmark 2019 Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act. In addition, we fight to protect drinking and surface waters from pollutants including PFAS in Cayuga Lake and cyanotoxins in Owasco Lake through administrative advocacy and state and federal litigation. The Northeast Office approaches many of its cases and projects with an environmental justice lens working with partners in frontline communities to help ensure that some of the most vulnerable residents in our region are no longer disproportionately burdened by pollution of their air and water.<\/p>\nLearn more about the Northeast Office’s work.<\/a> In the Northern Rockies, we are engaged in litigation focused on protecting and preserving the iconic wildlife species and wild lands of this incomparable region. The Northern Rockies office has played a leading and long-standing role as the last line of defense for the ecosystems encompassing Yellowstone and Glacier national parks, as well as the grizzly bears, wolves, bison and other species that depend upon the integrity of these spectacular areas.<\/p>\n We are equally engaged in the battle to combat global warming by challenging coal mining and coal-fired power plants, ensuring fair opportunities for development of renewable energy sources, and responding to a rapid gas development boom that is spreading and raising new environmental protection and human health issues across the Northern Rockies region.<\/p>\n The work of the Northern Rockies office also advocates for environmental interests held by Native American communities and organizations, including work to oppose mining on lands with extraordinary cultural and spiritual importance; to protect and restore native wildlife species of environmental and cultural importance to numerous Tribes, such as the grizzly bear and American bison; and to advance Tribal sovereignty, health, and environment interests in transitioning away from coal power.<\/p>\nLearn more about the Northern Rockies Office’s work.<\/a> The Northwest Office opened in 1987 to enable Earthjustice to take a more active role in preserving the unique natural resources and environment of the Pacific Northwest. Since that time, the Northwest office has undertaken campaigns to protect old-growth forests, promote salmon recovery, improve air and water quality, protect Puget Sound and the communities that depend on it, stop fossil-fuel infrastructure projects, protect farmworkers and their families from pesticides, ensure a just transition to a clean energy future, and respond to climate change, among other things. Although the primary focus of the Northwest office is representing environmental and community groups in Washington, Oregon, and Idaho, we often take cases with national and international scope.<\/p>\nLearn more about the Northwest Office’s work.<\/a> Earthjustice’s Oceans Program works to protect oceans and ocean wildlife from threats such as overfishing, oil and gas drilling, and habitat degradation.\u202fOur team currently consists of 10 full-time attorneys and a litigation paralegal. We litigate cases primarily in federal court and advocate to protect ocean resources in the United States. We also work to protect marine ecosystems and vulnerable species outside our borders by strengthening international provisions in U.S. fisheries management laws and in partnerships with advocates across the globe. Summer clerks will work on a mix of international and domestic ocean matters.<\/p>\nLearn more about the Oceans Program’s work.<\/a> The Office of General Counsel is responsible for giving timely risk mitigation, management, and compliance advice to Earthjustice Leadership, Program teams and staff, in the areas of corporate governance, contracts, conflicts, legal ethics, privacy, data management, corporate risk management, international compliance, lobbying, SLAPP suits, and human resources, among others. We work to develop and implement cross-cutting strategies with our internal clients that enable them to achieve their goals while minimizing organizational risks. We also collaborate with partners and other nonprofit organizations on common issues we face as a sector.<\/p>\n\n\t\t\t\t\tPuerto Rico Team Puerto Rico continues to suffer the consequences of a centralized, aging fossil-fuel system that jeopardizes the health and safety of its residents, who at the same time face the brutal consequences of more frequent and intensified hurricanes, wildfires, and floods due to climate change. But it doesn’t have to be this way. That’s why Earthjustice’s Puerto Rico team is working on behalf of environmental, labor, and civil society groups to accelerate the transition away from dirty fossil fuels in favor of a distributed renewable energy system that ensures access to clean energy and a brighter future for all Puerto Ricans.<\/p>\nThe Puerto Rico Team is a part of the Florida Regional Office. Learn more about the Florida Office’s work.<\/a> The Rocky Mountain Office’s work focuses on Colorado, Utah, and Arizona, and its cases primarily involve<\/p>\n 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 RMO coordinates summer events 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.<\/p>\n Learn more about the Rocky Mountain Office’s work.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\t\t\t\t\tSustainable Food and Farming Program Earthjustice’s Sustainable Food and Farming Program engages in litigation and advocacy to improve our nation’s food system, from crop selection and farming practices to food processing and sustainability. Working in partnership with communities, advocacy groups, scientists, and others, we fight for safe and healthy food, climate-friendly farming, reduced reliance on dangerous pesticides and chemical fertilizers, and animal farms – not animal factories. We take on cases with regional and national scope.<\/p>\nLearn more about the Sustainable Food and Farming Program.<\/a> Earthjustice’s Toxic Exposure & Health Program litigates in federal court and conducts administrative and legislative advocacy to ensure that all people have safe workplaces, neighborhoods, and schools; have access to safe drinking water and food; and live in homes that are free of hazardous chemicals. We partner with and represent groups that face the greatest exposure to and risks from hazardous chemicals, including the communities surrounding the facilities where those chemicals are manufactured, used, and released.<\/p>\nLearn more about the Toxic Exposure and Health Program.<\/a> The Tribal Partnerships Program works across Earthjustice’s regional offices and programs to develop cross-cutting strategies on behalf of our tribal and Indigenous partners and to provide added capacity and expertise to work on matters of concern to tribes and Indigenous communities. Tribal Partnerships attorneys litigate cases, collaborate and consult with program and regional office attorneys, conduct outreach with Indigenous communities, and work with Earthjustice’s other teams as needed.<\/p>\nLearn more about the Tribal Partnership Program.<\/a> Earthjustice’s Washington D.C. Regional Program works to protect community health and the environment from pollution. We use litigation, administrative advocacy, and partnership to advocate for more-protective national air quality standards, national safeguards against hazardous air pollutants, prevention of chemical disasters at industrial facilities, clean waterways, climate protection, and more – all with an eye toward advancing equity and justice.<\/p>\nLearn more about the Washington, D.C. Regional Office’s work.<\/a> Earthjustice employs a “team-centered” approach to hybrid work, where teams collaboratively shape their unique workflow, including what work location — virtual or in-office — is best for them and the tasks at hand.<\/p>\n\t 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.<\/p>\n\t Earthjustice will consider qualified applicants with a criminal history pursuant to the California Fair Chance Act, and any applicable local ordinance, such as the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Act, or the Los Angeles City Fair Chance Initiative. You do not need to disclose your criminal history or participate in a background check until a conditional job offer is made to you.<\/p>\n After making a conditional offer and running a background check, if Earthjustice is concerned about conviction that is directly related to the job, you will be given the chance to explain the circumstances surrounding the conviction, provide mitigating evidence, or challenge the accuracy of the background report.<\/p>\n\t Earthjustice is driven by a passion for justice, partnership, inclusion, and excellence. Our core values lead us to seek a broad range of perspectives and backgrounds to achieve our mission and to maintain an inclusive environment where all staff are valued and respected.<\/p>\n Our commitment to justice<\/a><\/p>\n\t As part of Green 2.0’s Transparency Report Card, Earthjustice is committed to ensuring pay equity<\/a> for people of color.<\/p>\n\t Earthjustice offers a competitive compensation plan, as well as a comprehensive benefits package<\/a>. We pay 100% of all health and welfare benefits premiums for the employee.<\/p>\n Our health coverage includes medical, dental, prescription, vision and alternative care. We are proud to offer a generous vacation, sick leave, and disability benefit package. Additional benefits include retirement plan, flexible spending account, company-sponsored life insurance, and more.<\/p>\n Earthjustice also offers six weeks of fully paid sabbatical leave, following 10 years of continuous employment.<\/p>\n\n
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Responsibilities<\/h2>\n
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How to Apply<\/h2>\n
Earthjustice 2026 Summer Law Clerk Litigation Teams<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\t\tAlaska Regional Office
Anchorage and Juneau<\/i><\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tExpand<\/i><\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\n\t\t\t\t\tBiodiversity Defense Program
Bozeman, MT; New York, NY; San Francisco, CA; Seattle, WA; Remote possible<\/i><\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tExpand<\/i><\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\n\t\t\t\t\tCalifornia Regional Office
Los Angeles or San Francisco<\/i><\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tExpand<\/i><\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\n\t\t\t\t\tClean Energy Program
Chicago, IL; New York, NY; Philadelphia, PA; San Francisco, CA; Remote possible<\/i><\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tExpand<\/i><\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\n\t\t\t\t\tCommunity Partnerships Program
Los Angeles, CA; New York, NY; Washington, D.C.; Remote possible<\/i><\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tExpand<\/i><\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\n\t\t\t\t\tFlorida Regional Office
Miami, Tallahassee, Remote possible<\/i><\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tExpand<\/i><\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\n\t\t\t\t\tFossil Fuels Program
New Orleans, LA<\/i><\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tExpand<\/i><\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\n\t\t\t\t\tGulf Regional Office
Houston, TX; New Orleans, LA; Remote possible (TX, LA, MS, subject to approval)<\/i><\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tExpand<\/i><\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\n\t\t\t\t\tInternational Program
San Francisco, CA<\/i><\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tExpand<\/i><\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\n\t\t\t\t\tMid-Pacific Regional Office
Honolulu, HI<\/i><\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tExpand<\/i><\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\n\t\t\t\t\tMidwest Regional Office
Chicago, IL<\/i><\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tExpand<\/i><\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\n\t\t\t\t\tNortheast Regional Office
New York, NY<\/i><\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tExpand<\/i><\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\n\t\t\t\t\tNorthern Rockies Regional Office
Bozeman, MT<\/i><\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tExpand<\/i><\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\n\t\t\t\t\tNorthwest Regional Office
Seattle, WA<\/i><\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tExpand<\/i><\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\n\t\t\t\t\tOceans Program
Seattle, WA; San Francisco, CA; or New York, NY<\/i><\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tExpand<\/i><\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\n\t\t\t\t\tOffice of General Counsel
San Francisco, CA; or Washington, D.C.<\/i><\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tExpand<\/i><\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t
Puerto Rico; Remote possible<\/i><\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tExpand<\/i><\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\n\t\t\t\t\tRocky Mountain Regional Office
Denver, CO<\/i><\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tExpand<\/i><\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\n
New York, NY or Washington, D.C.<\/i><\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tExpand<\/i><\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\n\t\t\t\t\tToxic Exposure and Health Program
New York, NY or Washington, D.C.<\/i><\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tExpand<\/i><\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\n\t\t\t\t\tTribal Partnerships Program
Any Earthjustice Office<\/i><\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tExpand<\/i><\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\n\t\t\t\t\tWashington, D.C. Regional Office
Washington, D.C.<\/i><\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tExpand<\/i><\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\n\tWorking at Earthjustice<\/h2>\n
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Hybrid Work<\/h2>\n
Earthjustice is an equal opportunity employer<\/h2>\n
Fair Chance Hiring<\/h2>\n
Our Values<\/h2>\n
Green 2.0 Pay Equity Pledge<\/h2>\n
Live Well, Work Well<\/h2>\n