About the role
Position
Summer 2027 Legal Intern
About NRDC
NRDC (the Natural Resources Defense Council) works to safeguard the Earth, its people, its plants and animals, and the natural systems on which all life depends. NRDC combines the power of more than 3 million members and online activists with the expertise of some 800 policy advocates, lawyers, scientists, and communication experts to confront the climate crisis, protect nature, ensure the rights of all people to clean air, clean water, and healthy communities.
As an international nonprofit environmental organization, NRDC is working to address the world's most urgent environmental challenges, and advance innovative, science-based, and enforceable solutions. Since our founding in 1970, NRDC has helped craft and deliver many of America's foundational environmental laws, including the Clean Air Act, Clean Water Act and Safe Drinking Water Act. Today, we continue to lead in advancing and defending strong environmental protections at the local, state, federal and international levels, as well as through the marketplace.
Our team works across the United States and around the world, from offices in Chicago, Los Angeles, New York City, San Francisco, and Washington, D.C., as well as in Beijing, and New Delhi (a subsidiary of NRDC India Pvt. Ltd.). Supported by our members and online activists, NRDC is driving impactful solutions that confront the climate crisis, defend nature and safeguard public health across Asia, Africa, and the Americas.
At NRDC, we believe lasting change happens when people bring their talent, passion, and expertise together for a common purpose: to build a cleaner, healthier, and more resilient world.
Position Summary
NRDC is seeking to hire a cohort of Summer Legal Interns to work on cases and projects with attorneys on core issue areas (Human Health, Equity & Justice, Climate & Energy, and Nature) with the lawyers associated to our San Francisco, Santa Monica, New York, Chicago and Washington, D.C. office(s).
This posting is specifically for:
- Full-time law students in their 2L year
- Part-time or dual-degree law students who have completed at least one year of coursework and who will not graduate before summer 2027
There will be a separate posting for 1L positions later this fall, details below.
Essential Functions
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the following essential functions:
NRDC's Summer Legal Interns gain exposure to and support the broad range of our legal and policy advocacy that we use to protect the environment and public health. Our interns play an active role on the front lines to protect our planet and the communities that depend upon it.
In past summers, intern projects have included:
- Researching and preparing legal memos in support of rule making proceedings, litigation case development, and active litigation
- Interviewing NRDC members and preparing standing declarations
- Helping draft and review portions of pleadings and review briefs
- Helping prepare comments to submit to administrative agencies or legislative bodies
- Helping craft proposed legislation to address environmental and public health problems
The above list of duties is not comprehensive but generally demonstrates the types of matters under this position's responsibility. Other duties may be assigned.
Qualifications
This internship is designed for current law school students. Prior experience in environmental law or with environmental issues is not required.
When assessing candidates for the summer internship, we look for:
- Strong legal writing, analytical, and oral communication skills
- Experience effectively working on a team
- Creativity and resourcefulness
- Commitment to public service, equity, or justice
- Growth mindset and openness to feedback
- Demonstrated ability to work with people across different social identities and backgrounds
- Record of academic and/or professional accomplishment
- Commitment to NRDC's values and mission
A successful candidate need not satisfy all of these criteria. Because a key…