Application Guide

How to Apply for Summer 2026 Public Affairs & Communications Internship (Graduate)

at Earthjustice

🏢 About Earthjustice

Earthjustice is unique as the premier nonprofit environmental law organization that uses litigation and legal advocacy to protect the environment and fight climate change. Unlike typical legal firms, they operate as the 'law firm for the environment,' representing clients free of charge and taking on precedent-setting cases that shape national policy. Someone might want to work here to contribute directly to high-impact environmental justice campaigns and collaborate with top legal and communications experts in the field.

About This Role

This internship involves supporting national communication campaigns for Earthjustice's legal battles, including tracking SCOTUS decisions, compiling media lists, conducting outreach, and drafting press releases. It's impactful because you'll help amplify critical environmental cases to the public and media, directly influencing public perception and policy debates around climate and justice issues. You'll work cross-functionally with communications teams, coalitions, and legal experts to advance Earthjustice's mission.

💡 A Day in the Life

A typical day might start by monitoring news and SCOTUS updates for environmental cases, then collaborating with the communications team to draft a press release for an ongoing litigation. In the afternoon, you could compile a targeted media list for a campaign, conduct outreach to journalists, and join a cross-departmental meeting with legal experts to align messaging. The role blends independent research with team-based strategy, all focused on amplifying Earthjustice's legal victories and advocacy efforts.

🚀 Application Tools

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Interview Prep

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🎯 Who Earthjustice Is Looking For

  • A graduate communications student (enrolled spring 2026 through fall 2026) with a demonstrated passion for environmental justice, evidenced by coursework, projects, or volunteer work related to climate or social justice communications.
  • Someone with strong writing samples that showcase ability to distill complex legal or policy issues (like SCOTUS decisions) into clear, compelling narratives for public audiences.
  • A detail-oriented collaborator who can navigate MS Office Suite and new tools efficiently, with experience or interest in media monitoring, list-building, or campaign support in advocacy settings.
  • A candidate whose values align with Earthjustice's core principles—Justice, Excellence, Inclusion, Partnership—and can provide examples of working inclusively in team or coalition environments.

📝 Tips for Applying to Earthjustice

1

Tailor your resume to highlight any experience with environmental or justice-focused communications, such as writing press releases, managing social media for advocacy groups, or analyzing media coverage of legal issues.

2

In your application, explicitly mention your graduate program enrollment dates (spring 2026 through fall 2026) to confirm eligibility, as this is a strict requirement.

3

Research and reference a recent Earthjustice case or campaign (e.g., their work on clean air or biodiversity) to show genuine interest and understanding of their specific legal battles.

4

Prepare a writing sample that demonstrates ability to communicate complex topics—consider drafting a mock press release on an environmental issue or summarizing a recent SCOTUS decision in plain language.

5

Emphasize any experience with tools beyond MS Office that are relevant to communications or media outreach (e.g., Cision, Meltwater, or social media analytics platforms), even if basic, to show adaptability.

✉️ What to Emphasize in Your Cover Letter

["Your commitment to Earthjustice's values—provide a brief example of how you've embodied Justice, Excellence, Inclusion, or Partnership in past academic or work settings.", 'Specific skills relevant to the role, such as experience with media list compilation, press release drafting, or tracking legal/policy developments, tied to environmental or social justice contexts.', "Why you're passionate about using communications to support environmental law and climate action, linking it to your graduate studies and career goals.", 'How your collaborative style aligns with working across departments and with coalitions, mentioning any team or partnership experiences.']

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🔍 Research Before Applying

To stand out, make sure you've researched:

  • → Review Earthjustice's recent legal cases and campaigns on their website, focusing on ones related to communications or public affairs (e.g., their 'Beyond Coal' campaign or SCOTUS involvement).
  • → Explore their organizational values (Justice, Excellence, Inclusion, Partnership) and how they're implemented—look for blog posts, annual reports, or staff interviews that detail these in practice.
  • → Study the Public Affairs & Communications Team's work by checking Earthjustice's press releases, social media channels, and media coverage to understand their tone, target audiences, and key messages.
  • → Research the broader environmental communications landscape, including groups Earthjustice partners with (e.g., Sierra Club, NRDC) to understand coalition dynamics and industry trends.

💬 Prepare for These Interview Topics

Based on this role, you may be asked about:

1 How would you approach compiling a media list for a campaign on a recent Earthjustice case, and what criteria would you use to prioritize outlets?
2 Describe a time you had to communicate a complex issue (like a legal decision) to a general audience—what strategies did you use?
3 How do you stay updated on high-priority issues like SCOTUS decisions, and how would you apply that to this role?
4 Can you discuss an example of working in a partnership or coalition setting, and how you navigated different perspectives to achieve a common goal?
5 What does environmental justice mean to you, and how have you demonstrated commitment to it in your academic or personal life?
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⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid

  • Submitting a generic cover letter that doesn't mention Earthjustice's specific mission, cases, or values—this role requires demonstrated passion for environmental law.
  • Failing to provide concrete examples of written communication skills or attention to detail, such as typos in application materials or vague descriptions of past work.
  • Overlooking the enrollment requirement—not clearly stating your graduate program status for spring 2026 through fall 2026 could lead to immediate disqualification.

📅 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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