Summer Law Clerk

Job Description

About Company

Earthjustice is a non-profit environmental law organization founded in 1971. Its core mission is to 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. Earthjustice is dedicated to taking on the biggest, most precedent-setting cases across the United States to achieve significant and lasting environmental protections. Their motto is “the earth needs a good lawyer.”

The Northwest Office, established in 1987, plays a crucial role in preserving the unique natural resources and environment of the Pacific Northwest. This office undertakes campaigns focused on a wide range of issues including:
• Protecting old-growth forests
• Promoting salmon recovery
• Improving air and water quality
• Protecting Puget Sound and its dependent communities
• Stopping fossil-fuel infrastructure projects
• Protecting farmworkers and their families from pesticides
• Ensuring a just transition to a clean energy future
• Responding to climate change

While its primary focus is representing environmental and community groups in Washington, Oregon, and Idaho, the Northwest office also handles cases with national and international scope.

About the Job

Position Title: Summer Law Clerk – Northwest Regional Program

Overview:
Earthjustice is seeking Summer Law Clerks to join its Northwest Regional Program. This position offers law students the opportunity to contribute to high-impact environmental litigation and gain practical legal experience within a leading environmental law organization. Clerks are expected to work proximate to or in an office where the program is located within the U.S.

Key Responsibilities:
Summer Law Clerks will work closely with attorneys and be actively involved in various aspects of legal work, including:
• Case Development: Participating in the initial stages of legal cases.
• Litigation Strategy: Contributing to the formulation of legal approaches and plans for ongoing cases.
• Drafting Legal Documents: Preparing pleadings, briefs, and other court documents.
• Legal Research: Conducting in-depth research to support legal arguments and strategies.
• Theory Development: Assisting in developing novel legal theories.
• Evidence Gathering: Supporting the collection and organization of evidence.
• Client Interactions: Attending client meetings.
• Court Proceedings: Observing and attending court proceedings.

Program Offerings:
Beyond day-to-day legal work, the summer law clerk program includes:
• Seminars: In-person and virtual sessions with attorneys and guest speakers focusing on current environmental issues.
• Networking: Opportunities to interact with other local and regional environmental groups.
• Professional Development: A job interview workshop to support future career paths.

Compensation:
• This is a paid position.
• The weekly stipend is $1,320.00.
• The final stipend amount provided by Earthjustice will be reduced by any external funding the student secures (e.g., from their law school’s summer funding program) and applicable taxes.
• The ability to secure outside funding will not be considered as part of the hiring process.

Duration:
• The clerkship is designed to be 10 weeks long.
• It requires full-time hours (37.5 hours/week) during Summer 2026.

Eligibility:
• Candidates must be currently enrolled in a U.S. law school through Fall 2026 (meaning they should not be graduating before December 2026).
• Must be available to commit to ten weeks during Summer 2026.
• Summer law clerks must work from the U.S. during their clerkship.

How to Apply:
• Application Deadline: 5:00 PM PT on September 1, 2025.
• Submission Method: Complete applications must be submitted via Jobvite. Incomplete applications will not be considered.
• Multiple Applications: Candidates are welcome to apply to whichever and however many litigation teams they are interested in.
• Team Ranking: After applying, candidates will receive a follow-up email requesting their ranked choice of the teams they applied for. Do not include rankings within the initial Jobvite application.
• Required Application Materials:
1. Resume.
2. Cover Letter addressing:
• Relevant background aspects not fully explained in the resume.
• Why the applicant is drawn to Earthjustice’s mission and the specific litigation teams applied for.
• Particular environmental or public interest issues that inspire the applicant.
• *(Tip: Tailoring the cover letter to specific teams is recommended.)• 3. Additional Documents (upload via “Add Files” in Jobvite):
• A recent legal writing sample (no more than 10 pages, primarily reflecting the applicant’s work, with a cover page indicating the extent of edits/feedback from others).
• Unofficial Transcript.
• References (for Finalists): Finalists will be asked to submit two references, which can include law school faculty, legal professional, clinical, or volunteer supervisors.
• Technical Support/Accommodations: For technical difficulties or accommodation needs during the hiring process, contact [email protected] (no phone calls, drop-ins, or hard copies).