[Hiring] Environmental Law Intern @ELAW

Role Description

Use your legal training to support environmental justice advocates around the world.

Internship Overview:

• Location: Remote (U.S. and globally) or in-person at ELAW’s office in Eugene, Oregon USA.
• Timing: 10 weeks between late May and September 2027 (full-time, ~40 hours/week). We are open to considering a different timeframe to accommodate other academic schedules.
• Eligibility: Open to current second-year (2L) students enrolled in a Juris Doctor (J.D.) program or in their second year of an equivalent graduate-level legal education, and current students enrolled in a Master of Laws (LL.M.) program. International applicants with equivalent legal education are welcome to apply.
• Compensation: ELAW will supplement external funding to guarantee that all interns receive a total rate of $17.50 per hour for 10 weeks of full-time work (up to $7,000 total).

What You’ll Do

• Conduct legal research and draft memos on environmental, human rights, administrative law, legal doctrines and mechanisms, and procedural rights.
• Analyze and summarize innovative laws, legal trends, and court decisions.
• Assist with drafting briefs, regulatory analyses, or resource updates.
• Participate as a collaborative member of a legal team that supports interns through meaningful mentorship.
• Contribute directly to global legal efforts advancing environmental justice.

Who Thrives in This Internship

• Deeply committed to public interest law, environmental justice, and human rights.
• Curious, meticulous researchers who write clearly and think critically.
• Collaborative and communicative, but self-directed in managing time and projects.
• Adaptable and open-minded, eager to learn across legal systems and cultures.
• Multilingual or bring lived experience from frontline or underrepresented communities (preferred but not required).

What Success Looks Like

• Meaningful Legal Contribution: You complete high-quality research and writing that directly supports frontline legal partners.
• Growth in Legal Practice: You improve your ability to analyze complex legal issues across jurisdictions and write with clarity and advocacy in mind.
• Strong Mentorship Relationships: You build supportive, lasting connections with ELAW attorneys who care deeply about your growth.
• Clarity on Career Path: You leave with insight into your legal values, your place in the global environmental justice movement, and what comes next.
• Positive Community Impact: Your work contributes to legal tools that empower local leaders to defend their communities and ecosystems.

What Makes This Internship Unique

• Global Legal Exposure: Interns engage with legal frameworks and partners in Africa, Asia, Latin America, and beyond.
• Hands-On Experience: This is not a siloed research position—you’ll work on live issues and real-world advocacy.
• Movement-Aligned Mentorship: Interns receive clear supervision, collaborative feedback, and intentional support from multiple attorneys.
• A Mission-Driven Team: Our team is collaborative, inclusive, and grounded in shared values—not just expertise.
• Remote Flexibility with Real Connection: Whether remote or in Eugene, interns are included in meetings, team communications, and one-on-one check-ins.
• Career Trajectory: Former interns have gone on to become environmental litigators, public defenders, UN advocates, academic researchers, and more.

How to Apply

Please submit one PDF file that includes the following documents in this order:

• Cover letter (1 page) describing your interest in ELAW and this opportunity, what you hope to gain from the internship, and relevant experiences or skills;
• Resume or CV;
• Legal writing sample (10 pages max).

Apply by October 23, 2026. Note: We may send updates via BambooHR. Please monitor your inbox (including spam/junk folders) for messages from us.

Our Commitment to Equity

We actively seek interns from diverse backgrounds and encourage applications from those historically underrepresented in the legal field.

• We recognize that unpaid or underfunded internships create barriers for many students.
• ELAW offers fully remote, 10-week full-time internships compensated at $17.50 per hour (up to $7,000 total).
• We do not expect all candidates to follow the same academic or professional path.
• ELAW is committed to equity, inclusion, and justice in our work and in our workplace.