Full-Time Public Interest Environmental Law Fellow
Job Description
ELI is offering a two-year fellowship opportunity for Public Interest Environmental Law Fellows beginning September 2025 and concluding August 2027. Since 1999, ELI has annually awarded a prestigious law fellowship. The fellowship is an entry-level professional legal position. Past law fellows have gone on to judicial clerkships and environmental and human rights advocacy organizations, academia, federal agencies, and law firms.
ABOUT THE FELLOWSHIP
The Public Interest Law Fellow works closely with other ELI attorneys and professionals, including our U.S. and international partners, to advance environmental protection, the rule of law, and environmental justice. The work frequently requires considering how environmental protection is affected by other laws and policies that are related to environment and society — e.g., those governing energy, taxation, land use, human rights, and governance and administration.
QUALIFICATIONS
The fellowship hiring process is rigorous and highly competitive. Applicants must have a JD degree, top academic record, and superior legal research and writing skills. Law review or equivalent journal experience is preferred; foreign language skills are a plus.
The Environmental Law Institute is collaborative by nature, and you must be able to interact in a professional manner with people from diverse racial, ethnic, political, and socioeconomic backgrounds. We employ anti-racist practices and principles while striving to support ELI’s culture of diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice.
Other skills needed but not limited to include:
- Broad knowledge of and experience in environmental, energy, or natural resource law and policy
- Excellent skills in policy and legal research, analytical writing, communication, and problem-solving
- Proficiency with standard office software, including Microsoft Office
- Demonstrated ability to: represent ELI publicly in a manner consistent with our mission and values; contribute to projects effectively and efficiently while producing high quality deliverables; collaborate effectively with others; establish and adhere to deadlines; effectively manage multiple projects; and establish priorities with moderate supervision
- Skills in languages other than English and bringing diverse perspectives to ELI as a result of the applicant’s life experiences are appreciated.
- Ability to be on-site in our DC office 2 days a week.
ABOUT ELI
The Environmental Law Institute (ELI) is an environmental law, science, and policy center that makes law work for people, places, and the planet. We envision a healthy environment, prosperous economies, and vibrant communities founded on the rule of law. Our mission is to foster innovative, just, and practical law and policy solutions to enable leaders across borders and sectors to make environmental, economic, and social progress.
ELI’s Research and Policy experts develop innovative legal and governance solutions to challenges in areas such as climate change; environmental justice; natural resource management; land conservation and smart growth; biodiversity loss and habitat destruction; and air, water, and soil pollution. Together, ELI’s staff aims to:
- Build the skills and capacity of tomorrow’s leaders and institutions
- Research and analyze complex and pressing environmental challenges
- Promote and disseminate the best thinking through print and electronic media
- Work with partners to develop and implement laws, policies, and other means to protect the environment and society
- Convene people with diverse perspectives to build understanding through robust dialogue
For more information on ELI’s programs, visit https://www.eli.org/programs.
COMPENSATION
The annual salary for this position is $65,000. We also provide excellent benefits including:
- Health/Dental/Vision insurance
- Flexible Spending Account
- Employer paid life insurance & disability insurance
- Long Term Care insurance
- Pre-tax transportation benefit
- Fitness Incentive
- Paid Time Off
- 403(b) Retirement Savings Account with employer match
How to Apply
HOW TO APPLY To apply, submit an application package via ELI's online application system by visiting www.eli.org/employment. Note that your submission must contain the following uploaded documents (Word or PDF format), as follows:- Cover letter and resume combined into a single document;
- Law school transcript
- Identification of 3 professional references; and
- Writing sample of approximately 10 (but no more than 15) pages.
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