Fall 2025 Legal Externship – Community Partnerships Program

Earthjustice is seeking a legal extern for its Community Partnerships Program for Fall 2025. This position is open to law students who can work remotely or in a hybrid model. Responsibilities include case development, legal research, and assisting attorneys. Candidates must commit at least 18 hours per week and be eligible for academic credit. The externship is unpaid and aims to support communities facing environmental challenges.
Earthjustice’s Community Partnerships Program is accepting applications for one full- or part-time legal extern for fall 2025. We are seeking current law students who share a passion for justice and a healthy environment, and who are eligible to receive academic credit or fulfill a graduation requirement through this externship. 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; preserve magnificent places and wildlife; advance clean energy; and combat climate change. We partner with thousands of groups, supporters, individuals, and communities to engage in the critical environmental issues of our time and bring about positive change. We are guided by a passionate, ambitious vision for the future for people and our planet. We are here because the earth needs a good lawyer.

The Community Partnerships Program works hand-in-hand with frontline communities fighting for a safe, just, and healthy environment. Members of our staff are based in Los Angeles, New York, and Washington, D.C. Our Program supports communities facing pollution, toxins, hazardous waste, and other harms inflicted by various facilities including refineries, oil wells, incinerators, and waste treatment plants. We provide frontline communities with multifaceted support including litigation, legislative advocacy, policy analysis, and administrative challenges.

Responsibilities:

Under the supervision of a licensed attorney, the legal extern may:
• Work with attorneys and other professional staff on case development and litigation.
• Perform legal and factual research and develop case strategy and legal theories.
• Assist attorneys with preparing briefs, motions, and comment letters.
• Attend meetings with coalitions, clients, and experts.
• Participate in oral argument moots and attend court proceedings and conferences with opposing counsel.
• Work closely with attorneys and litigation assistants to complete cite checks as needed during periods of high workload volume.
Qualifications:
• Enrolled in law school as a 2L or 3L during fall 2025.
• Must be eligible to receive academic credit or fulfill a graduation requirement through this externship.
• Commitment of at least 18 hours per week. Full-time hours are 37.5 hours/week.
• Excellent writing, research, analytical and organizational skills.
• Strong work ethic, initiative, and ability to think creatively.
• Ability to work collegially with others and independently.
• Knowledge of environmental and administrative law is a plus.
Compensation:

Legal externs are unpaid and must receive academic credit or fulfill a graduation requirement for their work with Earthjustice.

To Apply:

Interested candidates should submit the following materials by 5:00pm PT on Friday, May 9, 2025 via Jobvite. Incomplete applications will not be considered. Applications will be reviewed beginning May 12 with offers extended no later than June 27.
• Resume.
• Cover letter - In one page, (1) Address why you want to work with the Community Partnerships Program and any information about yourself that is not apparent or fully explained in your resume; (2) Note the number of hours, or a reasonable estimate, you will be able to work each week; (3) Confirm that you can earn academic credit from your law school or that you will fulfill a graduation requirement through this externship; and (4) 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):
• 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.
• List of courses taken in law school.
• Finalists will be asked to provide 2 references from law professors or legal employers.

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.
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.

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.