Application Guide
How to Apply for Summer 2026 Public Affairs & Communications Internship (Undergraduate)
at Earthjustice
🏢 About Earthjustice
Earthjustice is unique as the nation's premier nonprofit environmental law organization, using litigation and legal advocacy as its primary tools to protect the environment and combat climate change. Unlike many advocacy groups, Earthjustice focuses exclusively on the power of the law to create lasting, systemic change, representing clients free of charge and taking on precedent-setting cases that shape environmental policy for decades.
About This Role
This internship involves supporting strategic communications campaigns that amplify Earthjustice's legal victories and environmental advocacy, directly contributing to public awareness and policy influence. You'll translate complex legal and environmental issues into compelling narratives through press materials and media tracking, helping shape the public conversation on climate and energy at a critical moment.
💡 A Day in the Life
A typical day might start with reviewing morning news alerts on climate and energy developments, then drafting a media advisory for an upcoming Earthjustice legal filing. In the afternoon, you could join a virtual meeting with the communications team to brainstorm campaign messaging, followed by updating a media tracking report on narrative trends around renewable energy policies. The day often ends with collaborating on a reporter pitch or op-ed draft, ensuring it aligns with Earthjustice's legal arguments and values.
🚀 Application Tools
🎯 Who Earthjustice Is Looking For
- A current undergraduate (sophomore, junior, or senior in fall 2026) with demonstrated writing samples showing ability to distill complex environmental or policy topics for public audiences
- Someone who actively follows climate/energy news and can articulate specific narrative trends or media opportunities in this space (e.g., coverage of EPA rulings, renewable energy transitions, or environmental justice cases)
- A detail-oriented collaborator who can point to experiences working across teams or with external partners, reflecting Earthjustice's 'Partnership' value
- A candidate whose academic or extracurricular background shows concrete alignment with Earthjustice's values—for example, through environmental justice advocacy, DEI initiatives, or excellence in research/writing
📝 Tips for Applying to Earthjustice
Tailor your resume to highlight any experience with media tracking, press materials, or campaign support—even from student clubs, coursework, or volunteer roles—and explicitly connect it to environmental/climate issues
In your application materials, reference specific Earthjustice cases or campaigns (e.g., their work on clean air standards, protecting public lands, or environmental justice lawsuits) to show genuine familiarity with their legal strategy
Demonstrate your 'comfort navigating new tools' by mentioning specific software or platforms you've learned quickly (e.g., media monitoring tools like Meltwater or Cision, CMS platforms, or design tools like Canva)
Showcase your commitment to inclusion and justice by describing how you've incorporated equity perspectives into past work or projects, as Earthjustice prioritizes these values in its advocacy
If you have writing samples, include ones that mirror the role's deliverables—such as a press release, op-ed, or media briefing—preferably on environmental, climate, or social justice topics
✉️ What to Emphasize in Your Cover Letter
["Explain why Earthjustice's legal-focused approach to environmental protection resonates with you, and how your skills in communications can advance their mission", 'Provide a specific example of your ability to track and analyze media narratives, ideally related to climate, energy, or environmental policy', "Highlight a past collaboration or partnership experience that aligns with Earthjustice's teamwork ethos, especially if it involved cross-functional or coalition work", "Connect your personal or academic journey to Earthjustice's values—e.g., describe how you've pursued excellence in communication or fostered inclusion in previous roles"]
Generate Cover Letter →🔍 Research Before Applying
To stand out, make sure you've researched:
- → Review Earthjustice's recent legal cases and campaigns on their website, focusing on areas like climate change, clean energy, or environmental justice to understand their strategic priorities
- → Explore their 'Our Values' page to grasp how Justice, Excellence, Inclusion, and Partnership manifest in their work—note specific initiatives or language they use
- → Follow Earthjustice's social media (especially Twitter/X and LinkedIn) and press releases to see how they communicate victories and issues in real-time
- → Look into the Public Affairs & Communications team's work by searching for Earthjustice in environmental news outlets (e.g., E&E News, Grist, The Guardian's climate section) to see their media footprint
💬 Prepare for These Interview Topics
Based on this role, you may be asked about:
⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Submitting generic application materials that don't mention Earthjustice's specific mission, cases, or values—this role requires passion for their legal advocacy approach
- Overlooking the remote nature of the internship; failing to demonstrate experience with virtual collaboration tools or self-directed work in a distributed team
- Providing writing samples or examples unrelated to communications, media, or environmental topics—the role is highly writing- and research-intensive
📅 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!