Application Guide
How to Apply for Fall 2026 Legal Externship – Biodiversity Defense Program
at Earthjustice
🏢 About Earthjustice
Earthjustice is unique as the nation's leading environmental law organization that exclusively represents clients free of charge, using litigation and policy advocacy to protect the environment. They stand out for their mission-driven approach, focusing on high-impact legal battles against climate change and biodiversity loss, making it ideal for those wanting to practice law with tangible environmental impact.
About This Role
This legal externship in the Biodiversity Defense Program involves supporting litigation and policy work addressing major drivers of biodiversity loss like habitat destruction and wildlife over-exploitation. You'll contribute to intersectional environmental cases, potentially working remotely or hybrid, gaining hands-on experience in environmental law while helping build partnerships across Earthjustice's regional offices.
💡 A Day in the Life
A typical day might involve conducting legal research on habitat destruction cases, drafting memos on wildlife protection statutes, and participating in virtual meetings with team members across different Earthjustice offices. You could be analyzing environmental impact statements, supporting brief preparation for ongoing litigation, or researching policy approaches to combat biodiversity loss through legal channels.
🚀 Application Tools
🎯 Who Earthjustice Is Looking For
- A law student passionate about environmental justice and biodiversity conservation, eligible to receive academic credit or fulfill graduation requirements through this externship
- Someone with demonstrated interest in environmental law through coursework, clinics, or prior experience with habitat protection or wildlife conservation issues
- A collaborative individual who values Earthjustice's core values of justice, inclusion, partnership, and excellence, and can work effectively in remote or hybrid settings
- A detail-oriented researcher and writer capable of supporting complex litigation on intersectional environmental issues
📝 Tips for Applying to Earthjustice
Explicitly mention your eligibility for academic credit or graduation requirement fulfillment in your application materials
Highlight any specific experience with biodiversity, habitat protection, or wildlife conservation in your resume, even if from coursework or volunteer work
Research and reference Earthjustice's Biodiversity Defense Program's current cases or focus areas in your cover letter
Demonstrate understanding of Earthjustice's partnership-driven approach by mentioning collaborative experiences in your background
If applying for remote work, emphasize your ability to work independently and communicate effectively in virtual settings
✉️ What to Emphasize in Your Cover Letter
["Your specific passion for biodiversity defense and how it aligns with Earthjustice's mission to combat the biggest drivers of biodiversity loss", "Examples of how you've demonstrated Earthjustice's core values (justice, inclusion, partnership, excellence) in academic or professional settings", 'Your understanding of the intersectional nature of biodiversity work and ability to contribute to complex environmental litigation', "Why you're drawn to Earthjustice specifically versus other environmental law organizations"]
Generate Cover Letter →🔍 Research Before Applying
To stand out, make sure you've researched:
- → Earthjustice's current Biodiversity Defense Program cases and their legal strategies
- → The organization's recent victories and ongoing litigation related to habitat protection and wildlife conservation
- → Earthjustice's partnership model and how they collaborate with other organizations and communities
- → The specific regional offices (Bozeman, Denver, New York, San Francisco, Seattle) and their focus areas if considering hybrid work
💬 Prepare for These Interview Topics
Based on this role, you may be asked about:
⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Submitting a generic environmental law application without specific references to biodiversity or Earthjustice's unique approach
- Failing to address your eligibility for academic credit or graduation requirement fulfillment
- Overemphasizing general environmental passion without demonstrating specific knowledge of biodiversity legal issues
📅 Application Timeline
This position is open until filled. However, we recommend applying as soon as possible as roles at mission-driven organizations tend to fill quickly.
Typical hiring timeline:
Application Review
1-2 weeks
Initial Screening
Phone call or written assessment
Interviews
1-2 rounds, usually virtual
Offer
Congratulations!