The Role
Paid summer legal internship for rising third-year law students supporting environmental litigation, policy advocacy, legislative research, case strategy, drafting, grassroots work, and special projects. Interns gain exposure to energy, transportation, air and water quality, and conservation matters while working with attorneys, agencies, legislators, and community members. The position is based in Chicago and requires strong academic, writing, analytical, and environmental advocacy credentials.
Summary Generated by Built In
The Environmental Law & Policy Center (ELPC) seeks to hire rising 3L law student interns for Summer 2027. Legal interns support ELPC’s state and federal litigation and policy work throughout the Midwest. ELPC is looking to hire 3 or 4 bright and hard-working law students who are passionate about protection of and advocacy for the environment.
These internships will be based at ELPC’s headquarters in Chicago, IL.
A summer at ELPC will give students broad-based experience working in the Midwest on energy and transportation policy, air and water quality, and protection of special places.
About ELPC:
The Environmental Law & Policy Center is the Midwest’s leading environmental legal advocacy organization. We drive transformational policy changes with national impacts.
We show that environmental progress and economic development can be achieved together by putting sustainability principles into practice. We advance climate solutions effectively by accelerating clean renewable energy alternatives to conventional power plants and advancing clean transportation solutions. We protect the Great Lakes and defend the Midwest’s wild and natural places, and we fight for safe, clean water and healthy clean air for all. We combine effective public interest litigation with strategic policy advocacy, sound science, and economic analysis. ELPC produces strong results for the environment in the courtrooms, boardrooms, and legislative hearing rooms across the pivotal Midwest states and in Washington D.C.
Responsibilities & Opportunities for Learning:
Must be currently enrolled in law school and possess a strong academic record, excellent writing and analytical skills, and a demonstrated interest in and commitment to public interest and environmental advocacy.
Special Requirements:
Occasional evening and weekend hours may be required during special events.
Internship remuneration:
This is a paid internship of $10,000 for 400 hours of work.
Application Process:
Please apply via our Careers site and include a cover letter.
Applications will be accepted until November 7, 2026. ELPC also accepts internship and fellowship applications through the Chicago-based Public Interest Law Initiative (PILI). Please review PILI's application requirements at www.pili-law.org
ELPC’s EEO Statement:
The Environmental Law & Policy Center is committed to diversity, equity and inclusion in the workplace and provides consideration for an employment relationship without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender expression, gender identity, genetic predisposition, national origin, ethnicity, disability, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local law.
These internships will be based at ELPC’s headquarters in Chicago, IL.
A summer at ELPC will give students broad-based experience working in the Midwest on energy and transportation policy, air and water quality, and protection of special places.
About ELPC:
The Environmental Law & Policy Center is the Midwest’s leading environmental legal advocacy organization. We drive transformational policy changes with national impacts.
We show that environmental progress and economic development can be achieved together by putting sustainability principles into practice. We advance climate solutions effectively by accelerating clean renewable energy alternatives to conventional power plants and advancing clean transportation solutions. We protect the Great Lakes and defend the Midwest’s wild and natural places, and we fight for safe, clean water and healthy clean air for all. We combine effective public interest litigation with strategic policy advocacy, sound science, and economic analysis. ELPC produces strong results for the environment in the courtrooms, boardrooms, and legislative hearing rooms across the pivotal Midwest states and in Washington D.C.
Responsibilities & Opportunities for Learning:
- Work with ELPC attorneys and other professional staff on ELPC policy, legislative and general advocacy issues, and federal and state court litigation.
- Job activities may include legal and legislative research, litigation and pre-litigation support, developing case strategies, legislative drafting, clean energy business development, grassroots advocacy work, and special projects.
- Interns may also be invited to attend meetings with state and federal agencies, legislators, and concerned citizens, and participate in depositions and other litigation activities.
- Interns have a great opportunity to gain broad exposure to various aspects of environmental litigation, commensurate with their interests and abilities.
Must be currently enrolled in law school and possess a strong academic record, excellent writing and analytical skills, and a demonstrated interest in and commitment to public interest and environmental advocacy.
Special Requirements:
Occasional evening and weekend hours may be required during special events.
Internship remuneration:
This is a paid internship of $10,000 for 400 hours of work.
Application Process:
Please apply via our Careers site and include a cover letter.
Applications will be accepted until November 7, 2026. ELPC also accepts internship and fellowship applications through the Chicago-based Public Interest Law Initiative (PILI). Please review PILI's application requirements at www.pili-law.org
ELPC’s EEO Statement:
The Environmental Law & Policy Center is committed to diversity, equity and inclusion in the workplace and provides consideration for an employment relationship without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender expression, gender identity, genetic predisposition, national origin, ethnicity, disability, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local law.
Skills Required
- Currently enrolled in law school
- Rising third-year law student
- Strong academic record
- Excellent writing and analytical skills
- Demonstrated interest in and commitment to public interest and environmental advocacy
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The Company
What We Do
The Environmental Law & Policy Center is the Midwest's leading environmental legal advocacy organization that combines public interest litigation with policy advocacy to protect natural resources, advance climate solutions, and promote environmental justice.
