1L Legal Intern

EDF internships provide high-quality experiences (including relevant projects and opportunities for networking) that form the foundation for any individual who is serious about pursuing an environmental career.

Location 

Hybrid out of an EDF office in Boulder, CO, or Washington, D.C, with option to be U.S. Remote.  

Term 

Summer 2027 (10 weeks) 

Hours 

Full-time (35 hr/week) 

Application Materials 

Interested applicants should attach their cover letter and resume to the EDF application, together with a writing sample and unofficial law school transcript. In your cover letter, please describe your interest in environmental law, policy, justice and relevant completed coursework. 

Priority review starting on December 18 until filled. Candidates are encouraged to apply by this date.

Program/Department Overview 

The U.S. Legal & Regulatory team envisions a world in which people from all backgrounds and experiences feel connected to the environmental challenges we face and are engaged in creating durable, equitable solutions. We are dedicated to achieving that vision in our work, helping achieve clean air and a stable climate for all. The U.S. Legal & Regulatory team works out of the Washington, D.C., Boulder, CO offices and remotely.  

Legal interns on the U.S. Legal & Regulatory team contribute meaningfully to the team’s work securing clean air and climate protections. We aim to make our interns’ experience relevant, challenging, and rewarding. Our interns have directly contributed to landmark cases over the years and have supported activities including U.S. Supreme Court litigation, D.C. Circuit litigation over greenhouse gas regulation under the Clean Air Act, major international agreements and guidelines regarding trans-boundary pollution control programs in the U.S./Mexico border region, and projects that work towards ensuring protections for low-income and vulnerable communities from air pollution. Interns have also contributed to energy regulatory advocacy seeking to prevent wasteful expansion of fossil fuel infrastructure and to facilitate the clean energy transition. 

Overall Function 

Legal interns will work on projects such as researching and writing legal and policy memos and other documents for federal court litigation, administrative litigation, national and state regulatory proceedings including before state public utility commissions, and various policy venues. 

Key Responsibilities 

Tasks may include but are not limited to: 

• Conduct legal and factual research on climate and clean air issues. 

• Contribute to litigation filings and administrative comments advocating for public health and environmental protections. 

• Assess the impacts of recent court decisions on EDF priorities. 

• Evaluate the health and environmental implications of pending legislation. 

• Draft public-facing documents such as fact sheets and blog posts about legal issues. 

• Represent EDF at public hearings before government agencies. 

• Provide other support to the team’s litigation efforts and regulatory advocacy. 

• Support environmental justice initiatives, particularly those related to addressing the disparate impacts of climate change. 

• Participate in advancing EDF’s organizational effectiveness and culture goals, so people from all backgrounds and experiences feel connected, included and empowered to address environmental and organizational challenges in ways that align with EDF values. 

Qualifications 

• Current 1L student at ABA-approved law school. 

• Interest in working on cutting-edge regional, national, and international climate and air quality issues. 

• Demonstrated interest or experience related to diversity, equity, and inclusion as it intersects with environmental law. 

• Excellent written and oral communication skills. 

• Must be well organized, motivated, and detail oriented. 

• Ability to multi-task, prioritize, and meet deadlines. 

• Ability to work in a team setting and have the ability to work independently when projects are due. 

• Demonstrated initiative and problem-solving skills. 

• Demonstrated self-awareness, cultural competency and inclusivity, and ability to work with colleagues and stakeholders across all cultures and backgrounds. 

Compensation 

This internship would involve total compensation for work paid at a rate competitive with leading non-profits a total of $10,000 at an hourly rate of $28.57 either by EDF or external funding through school. 

Learn more about internships at EDF -http://www.edf.org/environmental-careers/internships