Water Rights Attorney Jobs in Illinois (NOW HIRING)

Earthjustice is the nation's leading environmental law organization. We wield the power of law and the strength of partnership to protect people’s health, preserve magnificent places and wildlife, advance clean energy, and combat climate change. We are here because the Earth needs a good lawyer.

Driven by a passion for justice, inclusion, partnership, and excellence, our core values lead us to seek a broad range of perspectives and backgrounds to achieve our mission and maintain an inclusive environment where all staff are valued and respected.

Earthjustice’s Midwest Regional Office is accepting applications for one part-time legal intern for spring 2027. We are seeking law students who share a passion for justice and a healthy environment. This is a paid position, and the successful candidate may work remotely within the U.S. or on a hybrid schedule from Earthjustice’s Chicago, IL office.

The Midwest Regional Office fights proposed mines and pipeline projects that threaten the fishing and hunting rights of tribal communities and endanger the region’s treasures, including the Great Lakes and the pristine Boundary Waters. On those and other projects, they work in partnership with communities impacted by contaminated air, drinking water, waterways, and soil to fight for environmental justice and to develop safer and cleaner neighborhoods in which to live. The team is also developing work that will promote healthier, more sustainable agriculture and combat climate change. The legal intern will gain hands-on experience in public interest litigation while deepening their understanding of environmental justice, tribal treaty rights, clean water protection, climate and energy issues, and other environmental challenges facing Midwest communities.

Responsibilities:

Under the supervision of an attorney, the legal intern will support active litigation and advocacy across the Midwest region by conducting legal research, drafting legal memoranda and briefs, helping develop case strategy, and supporting work with tribal nations, community organizations, and partner groups.

Qualifications:

• Enrolled in law school as a 2L or 3L during spring 2027.
• Excellent writing, research, analytical and organizational skills.
• Familiarity with legal research tools, including Westlaw.
• Strong work ethic, initiative, and ability to think creatively.
• Ability to work collegially with others and independently.
• Knowledge of environmental and administrative law is a plus.
• Interest in public interest law and social justice.
• Must commit to 16-20 hours/week for 10-12 weeks.

Compensation:

Interns at Earthjustice receive an hourly rate that is considered taxable income. The spring 2027 hourly rate for law students is $36.86.

To Apply:

• Interested candidates should submit the following materials by Friday, September 18 at 5:00pm PT via Jobvite. Incomplete applications will not be considered. Applications will be reviewed beginning September 21 with offers extended no later than November 13.
• Resume.
• Cover letter – In one page, (1) Address why you want to work with the Midwest Regional Office and any information about yourself that is not apparent or fully explained in the resume; (2) Note the number of hours, or a reasonable estimate, you will be able to work each week; and (3) Indicate any applicable deadlines or requirements that are relevant to your submission or ability to accept an offer.
• Additional Documents (select “Add Files” in Jobvite): (1) Recent writing sample, preferably a legal brief or memorandum of no more than 10 pages that primarily reflects your work. Please include a cover page indicating the extent to which your writing sample reflects edits and feedback from others as well as whether artificial intelligence was used in the drafting or editing of your writing sample; and (2) Official or unofficial law school transcript.
• Finalists will be asked to submit 2 references (law professors or legal supervisors).

Information about our hiring process and tips for success can be found at https://earthjustice.org/about/jobs/hiring-process. Please reach out to jobs@earthjustice.org if you are having technical difficulties submitting your application. No phone calls, drop-ins, or hard copies. Earthjustice only considers applications submitted for current openings via Jobvite. Unsolicited resumes or resumes for posted positions that are not submitted via Jobvite will not be reviewed or retained.

As an equal opportunity employer, we are committed to employment practices that ensure that employees and applicants for employment are provided with equal opportunities without regard to race, color, national origin, ancestry, sex, age, religion, physical or mental disability, medical condition, veteran status, marital status, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, genetic information or any other factor that is not related to the position.

For positions located within the City and County of San Francisco: Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records. For positions located within the City of Los Angeles: We will consider qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with the Los Angeles Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring.