2027 Oceans Clerkship

About the role

OCEANS PROGRAM Earthjustice’s Oceans Program works to protect oceans and ocean wildlife from threats such as overfishing, oil and gas drilling, and habitat degradation. Our team currently consists of 10 full-time attorneys, a litigation paralegal, and litigation assistant. We litigate cases primarily in federal court and advocate to protect ocean resources in the United States. We also work to protect marine ecosystems and vulnerable species outside our borders by strengthening international provisions in U.S. fisheries management laws and in partnerships with advocates across the globe.

Responsibilities

• Work with several attorneys on case development and litigation strategy.
• Draft pleadings and briefs.
• Do legal research.
• Develop strategy and legal theories.
• Gather evidence.
• Attend client meetings and court proceedings.

Compensation

Earthjustice summer law clerkships are paid positions. The total stipend amount will be dependent on any external funding a student secures, such as through their law school’s summer funding program. Earthjustice will provide a one-time stipend at the start of the clerkship in the amount of $1,382.00 per week, minus the total amount received from any other sources and applicable taxes. The summer law clerkship is designed to be 10 weeks long at full-time hours (37.5 hours/week).

How to Apply

• Candidates must be enrolled in a U.S. law school through fall 2027 (i.e., not graduating before December 2027) and be available to commit ten weeks during summer 2027.
• Summer law clerks must work from the U.S. during their clerkship.
• Interested candidates should submit their complete application via Jobvite by September 7, 2026. Incomplete applications will not be considered.
• Candidates may submit applications to whichever and however many litigation teams they are interested.
• Please be prepared to respond to our September follow-up e-mail, requesting your ranked choice of the teams for which you have applied.
• Do not include such rankings within your Jobvite application.

Application Materials

• Resume.
• A cover letter that addresses: (1) relevant aspects of your background that are not apparent or fully explained in your resume; (2) why you are drawn to Earthjustice’s mission and the litigation teams for which you are applying; and (3) whether there are particular environmental or public interest issues that inspire you.
• A recent legal writing sample 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.
• Unofficial transcript.

Resources

While identical applications for each team will be considered, we recommend tailoring your cover letter to describe why you are interested in that specific team. Additional information about our hiring process and tips for success can be found at https://earthjustice.org/about/jobs/hiring-process. If you experience any technical difficulties or require any accommodations throughout the hiring process, please contact us at [email protected].