Fall 2026 Litigation Intern

NRDC (the Natural Resources Defense Council) works to safeguard the Earth its people its plants and animals and the natural systems on which all life depends. NRDC combines the power of more than 3 million members and online activists with the expertise of some 800 policy advocates lawyers scientists and communication experts to confront the climate crisis protect nature ensure the rights of all people to clean air clean water and healthy communities. As an international nonprofit environmental organization NRDC is working to address the worlds most urgent environmental challenges and advance innovative science-based and enforceable solutions.

Since our founding in 1970 NRDC has helped craft and deliver many of Americas foundational environmental laws including the Clean Air Act Clean Water Act and Safe Drinking Water Act. Today we continue to lead in advancing and defending strong environmental protections at the local state federal and international levels as well as through the marketplace. Our team works across the United States and around the world from offices in Chicago Los Angeles New York City San Francisco and Washington D.C. as well as in Beijing and New Delhi (a subsidiary of NRDC India Pvt. Ltd.).

Supported by our members and online activists NRDC is driving impactful solutions that confront the climate crisis defend nature and safeguard public health acrossAsia Africa and the Americas. At NRDC we believe lasting change happens when people bring their talent passion and expertise together for a common purpose: to build a cleaner healthier and more resilient world. Learn more at

NRDC is seeking a class of Fall Litigation Internsto work with the lawyers associated with ourChicago San Franciscoand Washington D.C. office(s).

The Litigation Team is a group of approximately 40 lawyers paralegals and other operations staff who pursue litigation across a broad range of environmental and public health issues in collaboration with and on behalf of communities most impacted by environmental injustices (including Black indigenous and people of color and low-income and rural communities). Over the past five years we have litigated cases against the federal government to prevent climate pollution challenge agency approvals of toxic chemicals and pesticides resist the suspension of clean water safeguards oppose offshore drilling and seismic exploration for oil and gas defend national monuments and protect energy efficiency standards among other matters. We also bring enforcement cases against corporate and governmental entities whose violations harm human health and the environmentincluding to protect the people of Newark New Jersey and Flint Michigan from lead in drinking water; to remediate toxic pollution in the Penobscot River in Maine; to abate mold in New York City public housing for residents with asthma; and to halt air pollution from a coal-fired power plant in Illinois.

Litigationinternsplay an active role on the frontlines to protect our planet and the communities that depend on it. Our interns do concrete work in support of our litigation including substantive writing and research and collaborate with NRDCLitigationattorneys.

This internship is a paid position with a total stipend of $4000 for 140 hours of work. Interns may choose one of the following scheduling options:

1. 7 weeks at 20 hours per week
2. 10 weeks at 14 hours per week
3. 14 weeks at 10 hours per week

Start and end dates and other scheduling details are negotiable but we look for a minimum time commitment of two days (14 hours) a week over the course of an academic term. The posting will remain open until May 8 2026. Offers will be made on a rolling basis; we strongly encourage you to apply early in our review period.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

To perform this job successfully an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. Reasonableaccommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform thefollowingessential functions:

NRDCsFall LitigationInterns gain exposure to and support the broad range of our legal and policy advocacy that we use to protect the environment and public health. Our interns play an active roleonthe frontlines to protect our planet and the communities that depend upon the past intern projects have included:

• Researching and preparing legal memos in support of rulemaking proceedings

• Litigation case development and active litigation and rulemaking proceedings

• Interviewing NRDC members and preparing standing declarations

• Helping draft and review portions of pleadings and review briefs

• Helping prepare comments tosubmitto administrative agencies or legislative bodies

• Helping craft proposed legislation to address environmental and public health problems

Theabove list of duties is not comprehensive butgenerally demonstratesthe types of matters under this positions responsibility. Other duties may be assigned.

REQUIREMENTS

MinimumEducation& Experience:

This internship is designed for law schoolstudentswho will beintheirsecond(2L)or third year(3L)of a J.D. program orinan LLMprogramduringfall 2026.In assessing candidates we look for:

• Strong legal writinganalytical and oral communicationskills;

• Experience effectively working on ateam;

• Creativity andresourcefulness;

• Commitment to public service equity andjustice;

• Growth mindset and openness tofeedback;

• Demonstrated ability to work with people across different social identities andbackgrounds

• Record of academic and/or professionalaccomplishment.

• Commitment to NRDCs missionvalues and DEI principles

A successful candidatedoes not need tosatisfyall ofthese criteria.In particular becausea key purpose of oursemesterlegal intern program is to help our interns learn and develop new legal skills we welcome applicants who have room to grow as legal writers researchers and communicators.

Applications for2026 Fall Litigation Internships can be submitted online at will need to electronicallysubmita cover letter transcript resume contact information for two references and a legal writing sample (samples fromalegal research & writing class are fine).

In your cover letterplease:

• Indicateallthe NRDC offices to which you are applying and order of preference among the offices

• Let us know how you learned about theposition

• Describe why you are interested in learning more about environmental law and advocacy.

You may address your cover letterto Hiring Manager.

Thedeadline toapply isMay 8th 2026. Offers will be made on a rolling basis; we strongly encourage you to apply early in our review period.

If you have questions about the application process or requirements email us at.Please specify that you are applying for theFall 2026 Litigation Team TermInternship(LTTI) program.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this position. The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of this position within thedescribed work environment.

Frequently:Perform desk-based computer tasks

Frequently:Ability to interact and communicate with employees and others as necessary

Frequently: Attendplanned meetings and collaborate with management and coworkers

Occasionally:Ability to attend events and activitiesin the office or offsite

Work issometimesperformed primarily inoffice.The noise level in the work environment is usually quiet in office settings and moderate in other situations.Hours of employment may sometimes require working flexible and/or longer hours including nights and weekends whennecessitatedby projects.The job includeswork-related situations such as those involving challenging important urgent time-sensitive or multiple matters.

NRDC is committed to advancing diversity equity and inclusion bothin our workand in our workplace. We believe that celebrating and actively welcoming diverse voices and perspectives is essential to solving the planets most pressing environmental problems and we encourage applications from candidates whose identities have been historically under-represented in the environmental movement.

We are an equal opportunity employer and do not discriminate in hiring or employmenton the basis ofrace color religion gender gender identity or expression marital status sexual orientation national origin citizenship age disability veteran status or any other characteristic protected by federal state or local law.Pursuant tothe San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

The incumbent will not qualify as an employee fellow volunteer or independent contractor of NRDC nor will the incumbent be guaranteed employment at the end of the internship term.

Our offices are open and weareoperatingin a hybrid model. We askNRDCersto come into the office and spend meaningful time there in collaboration with their colleagues. We call this purposeful presence.

As a science-based organization NRDC aims to do our part to helpcontainthe COVID-19 public health crisis. For the sake of health safety and equity we ask that people be vaccinated unless they have an approved medical or religious accommodation or other exemptionin accordance withstate and local law. We consider a person to be vaccinated two weeks after receiving one full course of a CDC-approved vaccine.In accordance withstate or local law new hires will be asked to attest to vaccination. Those wishing to do so may request medical or religious accommodations or other exemptions. NRDCtreats all vaccination-related data confidentially in keeping with local state and federal laws.

If you experience technical problems while applying or if you are a person with a disability and needassistanceapplying online please reach out to iCIMS Customer Care at 1-.

For more about NRDC visit.