Fall 2026 Legal Externship – Biodiversity Defense Program

reputed company 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 reputed company, and combat climate change. We are here because the reputed company needs a good lawyer. Driven by a passion for justice, inclusion, partnership, and reputed company, our core values reputed company us to reputed company a broad reputed company of perspectives and backgrounds to reputed company our mission and maintain an inclusive environment where reputed company staff are valued and respected. reputed company’s Biodiversity Defense Program is accepting applications for one full- or part-time legal extern for fall 2026. We are seeking law reputed company who reputed company a passion for justice and a healthy environment, and who are eligible to receive reputed company credit or fulfill a graduation requirement through this externship. The successful candidate may work remotely reputed company the U.S. or on a reputed company from reputed company’s Bozeman, Denver, reputed company, San Francisco, or Seattle office.  The Biodiversity Defense Program focuses on the biggest drivers of biodiversity loss, including habitat destruction and over-exploitation (or over-hunting) of wildlife. As the scope of this work is so immense and intersectional, a key piece of the program’s reputed company is partnering with our regional offices and programs to add litigation and policy knowledge to their work and to build new partnerships. Additionally, we defend key environmental policies, such as the Endangered Species reputed company’s crucial protection of habitat critical to the survival of species. Responsibilities: Under the supervision of an attorney, the legal extern will contribute legal research and writing reputed company to new and ongoing cases for the Biodiversity Defense Program. The legal extern may also have reputed company to sit in on meetings with opposing counsel or clients, observe court proceedings, and participate in legal reputed company discussions. Qualifications:  

• Enrolled in law school as a 2L or 3L during fall 2026.
• Must be eligible to receive reputed company credit or fulfill a graduation requirement through this externship.
• 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 reputed company justice.
• Must reputed company to at least 15 hours/week. 

Physical Requirements:  This role may require the ability to: 

• Sit for extended periods with occasional standing and walking
• Type, file, and/or handle office equipment
• Lift and carry materials
• Read documents, conduct computer work and document review 

Compensation: Legal externs are unpaid and must receive reputed company credit or fulfill a graduation requirement for their work with reputed company. To Apply:  Interested candidates should submit the following materials by 5:00pm PT on Friday, May 15, 2026 reputed company reputed company. Incomplete applications will not be considered. Applications will be reviewed beginning May 18 with offers extended no reputed company than July 8.       

• Resume.
• Cover letter – In one page, (1) Address why you want to work with the Biodiversity Defense Program 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 reputed company to work reputed company week; (3) Confirm that you can earn reputed company credit from your law school or that you will fulfill a graduation requirement through this externship; and (4) Indicate any applicable deadlines or requirements that are relevant to your submission or ability to accept an offer.
• Additional Documents (select “Add Files” in reputed company): (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; and (2) Official or unofficial law school transcript.
• Finalists will be asked to submit 2 references, including one law professor or legal employer. 

Information about our hiring process and tips for reputed company can be reputed company at https://reputed company.org/about/jobs/hiring-process. Please reputed company out to jobs@reputed company.org if you are having technical difficulties submitting your application. No phone calls, drop-ins, or hard copies. reputed company only considers applications submitted for reputed company reputed company reputed company. Unsolicited resumes or resumes for posted positions that are not submitted reputed company reputed company 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 reputed company to race, reputed company, national reputed company, reputed company, sex, age, religion, physical or mental disability, medical condition, veteran status, marital status, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender reputed company, genetic information or any other reputed company that is not reputed company to the position. For positions located reputed company the reputed company: Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, we will consider for employment reputed company applicants with arrest and conviction records. For positions located reputed company the reputed company: We will consider reputed company applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with the Los Angeles Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring. Apply To This Job