Application Guide

How to Apply for Summer 2026 Internal Communications Internship

at Earthjustice

🏢 About Earthjustice

Earthjustice is unique as the premier nonprofit environmental law organization, using the power of the courts to enforce and strengthen environmental laws rather than lobbying legislators. Working here means contributing directly to landmark legal battles that protect communities, wildlife, and the planet from climate change and pollution. It's ideal for someone who wants their communications work to serve a clear, urgent mission of environmental justice.

About This Role

This internship focuses on maintaining and improving Earthjustice's internal knowledge hub, 'Atlas,' by drafting guidance for content creators, posting updated policies, and organizing departmental information. It's impactful because clear internal communication ensures that hundreds of staff across the organization can effectively collaborate on legal campaigns, from attorneys to campaigners, supporting Earthjustice's mission to win cases that protect the environment.

💡 A Day in the Life

A typical day might start by reviewing updates from the Internal Communications Program Manager, then drafting clear guidance documents for Atlas content creators or posting revised policies to ensure all staff have access to the latest information. You could spend time collaborating with department representatives to collect and organize team details for the platform, followed by ad-hoc tasks like updating fields on Atlas to keep the internal resource accurate and user-friendly for Earthjustice's distributed remote team.

🚀 Application Tools

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Interview Prep

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🎯 Who Earthjustice Is Looking For

  • A current sophomore or junior (as of fall 2026) majoring in communications, English, journalism, or a related liberal arts field, with coursework or projects demonstrating strong writing and editing skills.
  • Someone who can translate complex policies into clear, accessible guidance documents and has meticulous attention to detail—vital for maintaining accurate internal resources that staff rely on daily.
  • A collaborative team player who actively demonstrates Earthjustice's core values, particularly Inclusion and Partnership, through experience in group projects, clubs, or volunteer work focused on equity or environmental issues.
  • A candidate with practical experience using MS Office Suite (especially Word and SharePoint-like platforms) to organize and present information, not just basic familiarity.

📝 Tips for Applying to Earthjustice

1

In your resume, include a specific example of a time you created or managed content for an internal platform, wiki, or shared drive (e.g., for a student club, class project, or previous internship), highlighting your role in making information accessible.

2

Tailor your application materials to show how your communication skills serve a mission—mention any environmental advocacy, social justice work, or relevant coursework (e.g., technical writing, environmental studies) that aligns with Earthjustice's focus.

3

Research 'Atlas' (likely Earthjustice's intranet/knowledge base) and in your cover letter, suggest one idea for improving internal communications or knowledge sharing based on your research of similar platforms.

4

Demonstrate your 'collaborative spirit' by describing a team-based project where you coordinated with peers to achieve a shared goal, emphasizing how you ensured clear communication within the team.

5

Proofread meticulously for consistency in formatting and detail—since the role involves posting policies and guidance, any errors in your application could signal poor attention to detail, a key requirement.

✉️ What to Emphasize in Your Cover Letter

["Explain why Earthjustice's mission resonates with you personally, linking it to your academic or extracurricular interests in environmental justice, law, or communications for social good.", 'Provide a concrete example of your writing or editing skills, such as drafting a guide, policy summary, or organizational content, and how it improved clarity or accessibility for an audience.', 'Highlight your ability to work collaboratively in a team-based environment, referencing a specific project where you contributed to shared goals and navigated group dynamics successfully.', "Express your understanding of the role's focus on internal communications and how maintaining tools like 'Atlas' supports Earthjustice's legal and advocacy work by keeping staff informed and aligned."]

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🔍 Research Before Applying

To stand out, make sure you've researched:

  • → Explore Earthjustice's recent legal cases and campaigns on their website to understand their strategic priorities and how internal communications might support these efforts (e.g., cases on climate, clean water, or environmental justice).
  • → Look into Earthjustice's organizational structure and departments to get a sense of who the 'Atlas' users might be (e.g., legal, policy, communications teams) and what information they might need.
  • → Review Earthjustice's public communications (blog posts, press releases, social media) to grasp their tone and messaging style, which may inform internal guidance you'd help create.
  • → Learn about common internal communication tools or knowledge bases (like SharePoint or Confluence) to discuss best practices for user-friendly content management in an interview.

💬 Prepare for These Interview Topics

Based on this role, you may be asked about:

1 Describe a time you had to explain a complex policy or procedure in simple, clear language for a broad audience. How did you ensure it was understandable and actionable?
2 How would you approach collecting and organizing information from different departments to post on a platform like Atlas? What steps would you take to ensure accuracy and consistency?
3 Earthjustice values Inclusion and Partnership. Share an experience where you collaborated with a diverse team and how you contributed to an inclusive environment.
4 What interests you about internal communications specifically, and how do you see it supporting Earthjustice's external legal battles and environmental goals?
5 This role involves ad-hoc updates to Atlas fields. How do you prioritize and manage multiple tasks with varying deadlines, especially when details matter?
Practice Interview Questions →

⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid

  • Submitting a generic cover letter that doesn't mention Earthjustice's mission or the specific internal communications focus of the role—this shows lack of research and genuine interest.
  • Overlooking the detail-oriented nature of the job by having typos, inconsistent formatting, or vague bullet points in your application materials, which contradicts the 'excellent attention to detail' requirement.
  • Failing to provide examples of collaboration or teamwork in your resume or interview, as the role emphasizes a 'collaborative spirit' for working with peers in a team-based environment at Earthjustice.

📅 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:

1

Application Review

1-2 weeks

2

Initial Screening

Phone call or written assessment

3

Interviews

1-2 rounds, usually virtual

✓

Offer

Congratulations!

Ready to Apply?

Good luck with your application to Earthjustice!

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