Fall 2026 Legal Internship – Washington, DC Regional Office

Earthjustice

Posted 13 days ago

Internship

Washington, District of Columbia

Hybrid

Smart Summary

The legal intern will assist with case development and litigation-related projects under the supervision of a licensed attorney. Responsibilities include drafting legal documents, conducting research, analyzing policy questions, and attending client meetings or court proceedings.

Earthjustice is seeking a law student (2L or 3L) with excellent research, writing, and analytical skills for a Fall 2026 legal internship. The ideal candidate will have a strong work ethic, an interest in public interest law, and the ability to work independently and collegially, with knowledge of environmental and administrative law being a plus.

Must Have Skills for ATS

Legal research

Legal writing

Drafting pleadings

Drafting briefs

Case development

Litigation support

Regulatory analysis

Policy analysis

Westlaw

Environmental law

Administrative law

Public interest law

Social justice

Analytical skills

Organizational skills

Job Description

Earthjustice is the nation's leading environmental law organization. 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 are here because the Earth needs a good lawyer. Driven by a passion for justice, inclusion, partnership, and excellence, our core values lead us to seek a broad range of perspectives and backgrounds to achieve our mission and maintain an inclusive environment where all staff are valued and respected. Earthjustice’s Washington, DC Regional Office is accepting applications for one part-time legal intern for fall 2026. We are seeking law students who share a passion for justice and a healthy environment. This is a paid position, and the successful candidate may work remotely within the U.S. or on a hybrid schedule from our Washington, DC office. Earthjustice's Washington, DC Regional Office serves both as a regional office for issues arising in the mid-Atlantic states, and as a center for litigation on important national environmental issues. The DC office's docket currently includes litigation and advocacy to protect public health and the environment from air pollution; secure effective regulation and reduction of greenhouse gas emissions; protect streams, wetlands, and other waters from pollution and outright destruction;  advance energy efficiency; and promote a transition to zero-emission transportation systems to protect local communities’ health and well-being and combat climate change. Responsibilities: Under the supervision of a licensed attorney, the legal intern will work on case development and litigation-related projects. Interns might draft pleadings and briefs, conduct legal and factual research and draft memoranda, analyze caselaw, regulatory, and policy questions, develop strategy and legal theories, gather evidence, and attend client meetings and court proceedings. Qualifications:  
  • Enrolled in law school as a 2L or 3L during fall 2026.
  • Excellent writing, research, analytical and organizational skills.
  • Familiarity with legal research tools, including Westlaw.
  • 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.
  • Interest in public interest law and social justice.
  • Must commit to 20 hours/week for 11 weeks. 
Physical Requirements:  This role may require the ability to: 
  • Sit for extended periods with occasional standing and walking
  • Type, file, and/or handle office equipment
  • Lift and carry materials
  • Read documents, conduct computer work and document review 
Compensation: Interns at Earthjustice receive an hourly rate that is considered taxable income. The current hourly rate for law students is $35.20 and reflects our current fiscal year structure, which will refresh on July 1, 2026, subject to Board approval. To Apply: 
Interested candidates should submit the following materials by 5:00pm PT on Friday, May 15, 2026 via Jobvite. Incomplete applications will not be considered. Applications will be reviewed beginning May 18 with offers extended no later than July 8.       
  • Resume.
  • Cover letter – In one page, (1) Address why you want to work with the Washington, DC Regional Office and any information about yourself that is not apparent or fully explained in the resume; (2) Note the number of hours, or a reasonable estimate, you will be able to work each week and whether you can work on Eastern Time; and (3) 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): (1) 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; and (2) Official or unofficial law school transcript.
  • Finalists will be asked to submit 2 references, including one law professor or legal employer. 
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. Earthjustice is driven by a passion for justice, inclusion, partnership, and excellence. As an equal opportunity employer, we are 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, gender expression, genetic information or any other factor 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.

Earthjustice

Earthjustice is a non-profit public interest law organization dedicated to protecting the magnificent places, natural resources, and wildlife of this earth, and to defending the right of all people to a healthy environment. We fight, using the power of the law to preserve, protect, and promote a healthier, more sustainable world for everyone. Through far-reaching, big-impact litigation, we ensure that those who jeopardize the health of the planet are held accountable to the law. We work tenaciously to preserve our natural heritage, safeguard our health, and promote a clean energy future. At Earthjustice, we are driven by a passion for justice — for people and for the environment. As the premier nonprofit environmental law organization, we are uniquely qualified to deliver sweeping, on-the-ground results that make a real difference in our environment and our communities. We are here because the Earth needs a good lawyer. We hire the best and brightest who share our passion for justice and a healthy environment for all people.

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