Spring 2026 Legal Internship – Crosscutting Toxics & Drinking Water

Earthjustice’s Northeastern Regional Office and Healthy Communities Department are accepting applications for one part- or full-time legal intern for spring 2026 to work on a combination of cross-cutting toxics and drinking water issues. We are seeking law students who share a passion for justice and a healthy environment. This is a paid position, and 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 to combat climate change. We partner with thousands of groups to engage on the critical environmental issues of our time and bring about positive change. We are here because the earth needs a good lawyer.

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. Our headquarters are in San Francisco with offices in Anchorage, Bozeman, Chicago, Denver, Honolulu, Houston, Juneau, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, Philadelphia, Seattle, Tallahassee, and Washington, D.C.

The successful candidate will be part of the Northeastern Regional Office and will work primarily with the senior attorney who leads the organization’s drinking water work and a director in the Healthy Communities Department who leads the organization’s development of strategies on cross-cutting toxics issues. The intern’s work will focus on developing state and federal strategies designed to prevent exposure to highly toxic substances, such as PFAS and lead, in drinking water and other media, access to safe and affordable drinking water, increasing transparency and accountability related to toxic exposures in drinking water and other media, and ensuring that toxic exposures and lack of access to safe drinking water do not disproportionately impact communities of color and low-income communities.

Responsibilities:

Under the supervision of two attorneys, the legal intern may:

• Work with attorneys on development of legal strategies and theories, case development, and litigation.
• Work with attorneys to develop draft legislation and community engagement tools.
• Perform legal and factual research.
• Assist attorneys with preparing briefs and motions and meet with partners and expert consultants.
• Participate in moots of oral arguments and attend court proceedings.

Qualifications:

• Enrolled in law school as a 2L or 3L during spring 2026.
• Excellent writing, research, analytical and organizational skills.
• Initiative, creative thinking and the ability to work collegially with others.
• Interest in environmental protection or environmental justice is a plus.
• Commitment of at least 12 hours per week.

Compensation:

Interns at Earthjustice receive an hourly rate that is considered taxable income. The spring ’26 hourly rate for law students is $35.20.

To Apply:

Interested candidates should submit the following materials by 5:00pm PT on Wednesday, September 3, 2025 via Jobvite. Incomplete applications will not be considered. Applications will be reviewed beginning September 2 with offers extended no later than October 31.

• Resume.
• Cover letter – In one page, (1) Address why you are drawn to Earthjustice’s mission and this position, and whether there are particular legal, environmental, or social justice issues that inspire you; (2) Note the number of hours, or a reasonable estimate, you will be able to work each week; and (3) 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): (1) 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; and (2) Official or unofficial law school transcript.
• 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 jobs@earthjustice.org 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.

Earthjustice is driven by a passion for justice, inclusion, partnership, 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. As an equal opportunity employer, we are 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, gender expression, genetic information, or any other factor 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.

Apply Here

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