Law Clerkship, Summer 2024

About Us

Earthjustice is seeking summer law clerks who share a passion for justice and a healthy environment. Only students who are currently enrolled in law school are eligible to apply.

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 and supporters to engage 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 the best and brightest who share a passion for justice and a healthy environment. Our headquarters are in San Francisco with 15 additional offices across the U.S.

Earthjustice’s work is currently divided into three major areas:

  • Lands, Wildlife, and Oceans focuses on cases that protect endangered species, national forests, national parks, other public lands, water resources, and the oceans.
  • Healthy Communities focuses on cases that protect public health, prevent air and water pollution, and curb exposures to toxic chemicals, particularly in disproportionately impacted communities. Recently, our healthy communities work has also begun to promote sustainable food and agriculture and the rights of farm workers.
  • Climate and Energy focuses on cases that encourage clean energy and energy efficiency while challenging the reliance on coal, oil, and other dirty fuels.

Responsibilities

Summer law clerks have the opportunity to work with several attorneys on case development and litigation. Students may draft pleadings and briefs, do legal research, develop strategy and legal theories, gather evidence, and attend client meetings and court proceedings. The summer program also offers students seminars with attorneys in the office and with guest speakers on current environmental issues, as well as opportunities to interact with other local and regional groups active in the environmental community.

Compensation

The Earthjustice Summer Clerkship position includes a weekly stipend of $1,292, with the average clerkship lasting 10 weeks. The total stipend amount will be dependent on any external funding a clerk secures. Earthjustice will pay $1,292 a week, minus the total amount received from other sources and applicable taxes.

You are welcome to pursue outside funding. The ability to secure outside funding will not be considered as part of the hiring process.

How to Apply

We are no longer accepting applications for summer 2024 law clerkships. Any roles that remain open after Thanksgiving will be reposted in December. The application instructions and details below are there to be a reference point for those who want to know what was required of summer 2024 law clerkship applicants.

Law students who have a minimum of ten weeks to commit in the summer are eligible to apply. Interested candidates should submit the following materials for each office and/or program in which they are interested by September 4, 2023 via Jobvite. Incomplete applications will not be considered.

  • Resume
  • One-page cover letter that addresses
    • (1) aspects of your background that are relevant to the qualifications listed above; and
    • (2) why you are drawn to Earthjustice’s mission and whether there are particular legal, environmental, or justice issues that inspire you.
  • Additional documents: Select “Add Files” is located next to the “Cover Letter” button
    • Writing sample, preferably a legal brief or memorandum that primarily reflects your work.
    • Unofficial transcript
  • Finalists will be asked to submit two references.

Please note that each hiring team processes their own applications, so you will need to submit an application for each team that interests you. Identical applications for each team are fine, but a sentence or two in your cover letter on why you’re interested in that specific team is preferred. Additional information about our hiring process and tips for success can be found at https://earthjustice.org/about/jobs/hiring-process.

If you apply to more than one office or team, please be sure to respond to our September follow-up e-mail requesting your ranked choice of the Earthjustice teams. Please do not include your rankings within your Jobvite application.

If you’re having technical difficulties submitting your application, please reach out to jobs@earthjustice.org. No phone calls, drop-ins, or hard copies.

Earthjustice has the following offerings for summer 2024 law clerkships:

Working at Earthjustice

Hybrid Work

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.

Earthjustice is an equal opportunity employer

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.

Fair Chance Hiring

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.

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.

Our Values

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.

Our commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion

Green 2.0 Pay Equity Pledge

As part of Green 2.0’s Transparency Report Card, Earthjustice is committed to ensuring pay equity for people of color.

Live Well, Work Well

Earthjustice offers a competitive compensation plan, as well as a comprehensive benefits package. We pay 100% of all health and welfare benefits premiums for the employee.

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.

Earthjustice also offers six weeks of fully paid sabbatical leave, following 10 years of continuous employment.

As a 501(c)3 organization, Earthjustice is a qualifying employer for purposes of the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program.