Intern Civil Rights Activist Jobs in Washington, DC

Position: U.S. Climate Resilience & Environmental Justice Legal Intern
Location: Based in Washington D.C., with remote work available anywhere in the U.S
Reports to: U.S. Climate Resilience & Environmental Justice Project Attorneys
Pay: Unpaid. ERI is unable to provide a salary, stipend, or housing assistance, but will work with you to arrange course credit or a stipend through your school
Prerequisite: This internship is only available to law students who can receive course credit for their internship from their law school.
Starts: Fall 2026
Application Deadline: Rolling until August 20, 2026
EarthRights International, a nongovernmental, nonprofit organization that combines the power of law and the power of people in defense of human rights and the environment, is seeking spring legal interns for our U.S. Climate Resilience & Environmental Justice Project (CREJP).
Description: EarthRights' U.S. Climate Resilience & Environmental Justice Fall Legal Interns are law students able to work full-time or part-time for at least 10-12 weeks during the fall semester. Law students may be J.D. or LL.M. students, but must have at least one year of U.S. legal training by the time of the internship.
For over two decades, EarthRights has worked alongside marginalized communities globally to use innovative legal strategies to hold entities accountable for disregarding human rights and the environment. Our expertise is in supporting community struggles against powerful entities, aligning litigation strategies with community accountability goals to shift power dynamics and challenging systems of impunity.
EarthRights recently launched the U.S. Climate Resilience & Environmental Justice Project (CREJP) to support marginalized communities on the frontlines of climate change and environmental harms to build resilience and hold government, companies, and financial institutions accountable. Currently, we are working with Black and Indigenous communities across the U.S. facing climate-forced displacement, toxic industrial pollution, lack of water
access, and other vulnerabilities. An expansive range of legal and advocacy tools are available to advance community resilience, from corporate accountability to environmental protection to civil rights, and more. We work closely with our community partners to identify and use appropriate tools - including litigation, non-judicial mechanisms, campaigning, policy advocacy, and media strategies - to achieve their goals.
CREJP Legal Interns participate in a structured educational internship designed to provide hands-on learning and professional development in community-centered lawyering and advocacy. Under close supervision and mentorship from experienced attorneys and staff, interns engage in projects that emphasize skill-building rather than routine staff work. Intern activities may include legal research and writing, factual research, observing and supporting advocacy strategy development, and participating in meetings with community leaders and civil society partners.
Interns work closely with members of the CREJP team and other EarthRights International attorneys as part of a supervised learning experience that complements their academic coursework and career interests. Interns do not independently represent EarthRights or perform work that would otherwise be assigned to regular staff.
Requirements:

• A demonstrated commitment to using the U.S. legal system to serve frontline communities and/or to support environmental justice communities
• Excellent legal research and writing skills
• Strong interpersonal skills and ability to work in teams and coalitions
• Ability to handle sensitive client relationships and protect the confidentiality of our work and our communications

Additional desired qualifications include:

• A background or experience in environmental law, civil rights law, corporate accountability, and/or Indigenous peoples' rights
• Experience working with environmental justice communities, Indigenous communities, or grassroots organizations
• Independent and creative thinking
• A positive attitude

Application Procedures:
The deadline for applications for Fall 2026 is August 20, 2026. Applications may be considered on a rolling basis but students are encouraged to submit their applications as early as possible.
Students interested in the position of CREJP Legal Intern should submit a cover letter, resume, a short (10 pages or less) legal writing sample, and contact information for two references, at least one of whom should be familiar with the applicant's legal abilities.
Due to the volume of applications, EarthRights is unable to interview every applicant. We typically conduct phone interviews and/or virtual interviews.
EarthRights International is an equal opportunity employer that does not discriminate in its hiring practices, and actively encourages people of color, women, people with disabilities, and LGBTQI people to apply.
For more information on the work of EarthRights International visit www.earthrights.org