The Western Environmental Law Center (WELC) is a leading nonprofit public interest environmental law firm with a 28-year legacy of success using the power of the law to safeguard the public lands, wildlife, and communities of the Western U.S. in the face of a changing climate.  We envision a thriving, resilient Western U.S., abundant with protected public lands and wildlife, powered by renewable energy, defended by communities rooted in an ethic of conservation, and committed to equity, inclusion, and justice.  We achieve this vision with steady, strategic, and bold legal advocacy that turns the wheels of power at all levels of government.

We are accepting applications from law students currently in their second year of law school (2L) for summer 2022 legal internship positions in these WELC office locations: Helena, Montana and Seattle, Washington.  We are looking for bright and motivated individuals committed to public interest environmental law and to WELC’s mission and advocacy.  These are temporary, full-time, non-exempt, hourly positions with a compensation of $22.50 per hour.  Benefits are not included.  These temporary positions will begin late May 2022 and last for a period of 10 weeks at 40 hours per week.

Under the supervision of a staff attorney in the office location in which they are hired, the selected interns will assist our attorneys with case development and strategy, conduct legal research, and draft pleadings, briefs, and other legal documents.  These positions might be remote-only work opportunities.  A decision on an in-person work experience for these positions will not be made until late spring 2022, and will be based on current state public health orders, and CDC guidelines and safety recommendations in place at that time.  If any portion of the internship period is determined as being safe to conduct in-person, we will assist the selected applicants in finding free or inexpensive local housing for any such period.

We strongly encourage people of color, persons with disabilities, women, and LGBTQ+ candidates to apply.  To apply, please email the following as PDF attachments to :

(1) cover letter; (2) resume; (3) unofficial transcript; (4) short writing sample of 3-5 pages; and

(5) a list of three references.

Please indicate the following in your cover letter: (1) the WELC office location to which you are applying (if you wish to apply for both locations, please specify your order of preference); and (2) your anticipated dates of availability for the summer position.

Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis until the positions have been filled.  Applications received by Friday, March 4, 2022 will be given first consideration.  Incomplete applications will not be considered.  Interviews will be conducted by phone or video conference.

WELC is an Equal Opportunity Employer.  Our programs and employment are open to all.  We value diversity and do not permit any discrimination against applicants, employees, or volunteers on the basis of race, color, ethnicity, national origin, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, veteran status, medical condition, genetic information, or disability, or any other status protected by applicable law or statute in any of our policies or programs.

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