POSITIONS: Internships with the Sierra Club Environmental Law Program
OFFICES: Oakland, CA, Washington, D.C., and Denver, CO
TERMS: Fall 2021 (Oakland and D.C. ONLY), Spring 2022, and Summer 2022
HOURS: Spring/Fall: Full- or part-time during the semester for 14 weeks
CREDIT: Academic credit available, depending on your school’s policy

Applications are accepted on a rolling basis.

The Sierra Club is the nation’s leader in grassroots environmental litigation. Since Sierra Club v. Morton, the Sierra Club has used the courts to fight for environmental protection at the national, regional, and local levels, giving citizens the means and legal expertise to enforce our hard-won environmental laws and protect our water, air, and wilderness. The Sierra Club Environmental Law Program (ELP) develops and prosecutes the legal strategies for the Sierra Club’s nationwide grassroots campaigns, which focus on promoting smart energy solutions, building safe and healthy communities, and protecting the nation’s wild legacy. ELP leverages all of the Club’s tools of democracy by integrating legal advocacy with grassroots organizing, sophisticated communications, a state-of-the-art digital strategies team, and administrative lobbying. With the strength of our nation’s first, largest, and most powerful environmental organization, the whole truly is greater than the sum of its parts.

ELP attorneys are at the cutting edge of climate change litigation. We work with our allies to reduce the environmental and public health degradation that flows from the lifecycle of fossil fuel use, ranging from destructive mining and fracking to combustion to disposal. At the same time, we advocate for the expansion of energy efficiency and renewable energy solutions. In the past few years alone, we have achieved tremendous public health and climate change benefits for many communities, including in particular for those engaged in environmental justice struggles.

ELP seeks law students passionate about public interest environmental litigation to assist with our strategic lawsuits. Interns work on many aspects of litigation, including undertaking legal research, preparing written memoranda, and conducting factual investigation. During the course of the program, students typically work with several of the Club’s attorneys, thus gaining exposure to a wide range of litigation styles. Our interns are encouraged to participate during weekly legal team meetings where we discuss our dockets and strategy.

QUALIFICATIONS: We look for candidates with excellent writing, research, and analytical skills, as well as solid interpersonal skills. An environmental law background is preferable, but not a requirement. The Sierra Club’s vision is for its staff, volunteer leaders, members, and supporters to reflect the communities of our nation. The Sierra Club is committed to values of equity, inclusion, and justice to create a culture in which all people feel welcomed, respected, supported, and valued to fully participate. In your cover letter, please address how your background has prepared you to contribute to our commitment to advance equity, inclusion, and justice. Applicants who do not answer this prompt will not be considered. Find out more about equity, inclusion, and justice at the Sierra Club: sierraclub.org/equity.

TO APPLY: Please send a cover letter, resume, references, writing sample, and law school transcript to the appropriate application email address, based on your preferred office location. You may apply to more than one location. Please be aware that if Sierra Club’s COVID-19 policy continues to require ELP staff to work from home, we will host our internship programs remotely.

For the Oakland, CA office, please send your application to elp.applications.oak@sierraclub.org

For the Washington, D.C. office, please send your application to elp.applications.dc@sierraclub.org

For the Denver, CO office, please send your application to elp.applications.co@sierraclub.org

Clearly indicate in your cover letter the office(s) and term(s) to which you are applying, as well as any office preferences and funding needs. Please compile electronic applications into one pdf.

FOR MORE INFORMATION: http://www.sierraclub.org/environmental-law/