Faculty Research Assistant-Maryland Law and Policy Fellowship

The University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science is seeking a Faculty Research Assistant for a one-year legal fellowship focused on environmental law and policy in Maryland. The role involves collaborating with legal experts and scientists on projects related to coastal law and policy. Candidates must have a J.D. or equivalent, with strong research and communication skills. The position is hybrid, requiring regular in-person work.
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Additional Job Details

Maryland Sea Grant (MDSG) and the Agriculture Law Education Initiative (ALEI) are excited to invite applications for a one-year legal fellowship. Please join our dynamic team of legal experts and scientists to work at the exciting interface of law, policy, and environmental research.

MDSG supports research, education, extension, and outreach on critical environmental issues in the Chesapeake and coastal bays and their watersheds. ALEI is comprised of legal specialists and other extension specialists who help agricultural producers, including aquaculture producers, understand and comply with state, federal, and local laws and regulations.

The Maryland Sea Grant legal fellow will help work on projects involving training and programming for government agencies, coastal industries, and coastal communities addressing coastal law and policy in Maryland and the Chesapeake Bay.

See our website for full details: https://www.mdsg.umd.edu/topics/maryland-law-and-policy-fellowship.

Required Qualifications:
• Applicants must have earned a J.D. or equivalent LL.M. for foreign-trained attorneys in the last three years.
• Interest in exploring environmental legal research relevant to under-resourced coastal communities.
• Enthusiasm for pursuing a career in the areas of natural resource management, protection, or stewardship, or public policy or law of marine and/or coastal environments.
• Excellent research, writing, and oral communication skills.
• Ability to work independently as well as within a team environment.
• Bar admission is not a requirement. We are happy to accept applicants who plan to take a bar exam in any jurisdiction this summer or sometime during the Fellowship.
• This position is hybrid with the expectation of regular, in-person work.

Required Application Materials:
• Resume (not to exceed 2 pages)
• Cover letter (not to exceed 1 page)
• Statement of personal, educational and career goals (not to exceed 1,000 words). The statement should emphasize the applicant’s abilities and the applicant’s expectation of the fellowship experiences in terms of career development. The statement should be clear on what intrigued the applicant to apply for this position, discuss experiences of translating difficult legal concepts to non-legal audiences and convey how the student’s experiences within and beyond academia (e.g., critical thinking skills, writing experiences, talking and working with people from different backgrounds and experiences, intuition, cultural experiences) may have prepared the applicant for this position. Strong writing and oral communication skills are important, and we encourage applicants to speak to these skills and/or highlight them in the Resume.
• Clear copies of all undergraduate and graduate student transcripts (unofficial are acceptable).
• A list of three references and their contact information

Salary
Fellows will be employees of the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science- MDSG. This position is full-time for one year with a non-negotiable annualized salary of $56,000 plus fringe benefits including healthcare options. This fellowship is eligible for a second-year renewal, contingent upon mutual agreement among the fellow and MDSG, and the availability of funding.

About UMCES:
The University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science (UMCES) is a premier research institution dedicated to advancing scientific understanding of the environment and applying that knowledge to address pressing environmental challenges. With a mission to conduct world-class research, educate future environmental leaders, and provide unbiased scientific information to inform public policy, the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science (UMCES) plays a vital role in protecting and restoring our natural resources. UMCES researchers work across a wide range of disciplines, from ecology and oceanography to environmental economics and social science, to understand complex environmental challenges facing Maryland, the nation, and the world.

Best Consideration Date: April 15, 2026

This position is expected to begin in September, 2026.

Open Until Filled: yes

Department
UMCES-Sea Grant College

Worker Sub-Type
Faculty Regular

Salary Range
Fellows will be employees of the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science- MDSG. This position is full-time for one year with a non-negotiable annualized salary of $56,000 plus fringe benefits including healthcare options. This fellowship

EEO Statement

The University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science is an equal opportunity employer. The Center’s policies, programs, and activities are in conformance with pertinent Federal and State laws and regulations on nondiscrimination regarding race, color, religion, age, national origin, sex, and disability. Inquiries regarding compliance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended; Title IX of the Educational Amendments; Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973; and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990; or related legal requirements should be directed to the Assistant Vice President of Human Resources, Center Administration, 2020 Horns Point Rd, Cambridge, MD 21613.