Fall/Spring Intern - Connecticut - 2024/2025

Conservation Law Foundation (CLF), one of the nation’s leading environmental advocacy organizations, is seeking interns and externs for fall 2024 and spring 2025.  Externs earn academic credit for their work with CLF.  Interns must be able to secure external financial funding, which can come from work study, from their educational institution, or from another source. CLF is happy to work with applicants to help them navigate these requirements.  Remote and flexible work schedules are available to interns and externs.

Interns and externs work closely with CLF attorneys based out of the New Haven office on many aspects of environmental law and policy.  Work may include legal research and writing, drafting comment letters, testimony, and other filings, collaboration with partner organizations, and communications advocacy.  Interns and externs are encouraged to accompany attorneys to regulatory, adjudicatory, and legislative proceedings and to participate fully in CLF.

Any law or graduate student may apply.  For law students, preference is given to second- and third-year JD students or LLM students.  Applicants should have strong academic credentials, exceptional writing skills, and an interest in advocacy and environmental issues. CLF is a fast-paced organization and qualified interns and externs must demonstrate initiative and an ability to work well independently and collaboratively. 

Every day, CLF advocates stand up for New Englanders—in state houses, courts and board rooms, regulatory hearings and community gatherings—to forge innovative paths to environmental progress and economic prosperity for all in our region.  To that end, CLF works with communities of color, and also with communities that are economically or otherwise disadvantaged, which often suffer disproportionately the impacts of environmental degradation and frequently have access to fewer environmental benefits. CLF is committed to representing New England’s diversity in our staff, volunteers, boards, and membership, and to creating a positive, inclusive workplace culture where all can thrive. People of color are encouraged to apply.

Start and end dates are flexible, with a fall internship typically beginning the last week of August, and a spring internship typically beginning at the end of January. As hiring decisions are made on a rolling basis, applicants are strongly encouraged to apply as far in advance as possible.

A complete application consists of the following:

• Cover letter
• Resume
• Contact information for 1 reference
• Law school transcripts (unofficial transcripts are acceptable)
• Writing sample of at least five pages demonstrating legal analysis
• Your cover letter should state which term you are applying for: “[Fall or Spring] Legal Internship.”
• Your cover letter should indicate (i) whether you are seeking a full-time or part-time internship, (ii) whether you would be receiving academic credit or fulfilling an academic requirement with your internship, and (iii) the CLF office(s) that you are applying to.

Only online applications will be accepted.

CLF considers the health and safety of its staff members and their families, our guests, our visitors, and the community at large to be a top priority. All offers to work, intern, or volunteer with CLF are conditioned on the candidate complying with CLF’s mandatory COVID-19 vaccination policy.

Please address your application to Marc Gonzalez.