Remote Paid Legal Internship at ELAW, Eugene: Apply by October 23!

ELAW offers paid summer 2027 legal internships, remotely worldwide or in Eugene, Oregon. Apply by 23 October 2026.

About ELAW

Environmental Law Alliance Worldwide (ELAW) is an international NGO registered in Oregon as a nonprofit. It supports a global network of public interest lawyers and scientists working to protect communities and ecosystems through law. Its work combines legal, scientific, security, and organisational expertise to advance environmental justice.

About the Opportunity

ELAW is recruiting for its Environmental Law Intern and Defending Defenders Law Intern programmes for summer 2027. A separate Science Internship is also available. The programmes offer mentorship, collaboration with international advocates, and work on environmental justice issues.

Mode and Location

Internships may be undertaken remotely from the United States or globally, or in person at the office in Eugene, Oregon, USA. Applicants should state their preferred working arrangement.

Duration and Working Hours

The internships run for ten weeks between late May and September 2027, full-time at approximately 40 hours per week. Alternative timeframes may be considered to accommodate academic schedules and should be explained in the application.

Stipend

ELAW supplements external funding to guarantee total compensation of $17.50 per hour for ten weeks of full-time work, up to $7,000 in total. Applicants are encouraged to seek school grants or external scholarships; financial aid status is not considered in selection.

Deadline

Applications close on 23 October 2026.

Eligibility Criteria

• Law programmes: current second-year J.D. students, students in their second year of equivalent graduate-level legal education, or current LL.M. students. International applicants with equivalent legal education are welcome and should explain their preparation for the role.
• Science programme: students enrolled in, or who have recently completed, graduate-level environmental science studies. International applicants with equivalent education may apply.
• Environmental Law and Science internships involve communication in English; suitable evidence of proficiency will be discussed with applicants from non-English-speaking countries.
• The Defending Defenders team communicates in English or Spanish. Spanish or French proficiency is a welcome asset.

Roles & Responsibilities

Environmental Law

Research environmental, human rights, and administrative law; draft legal memos; analyse laws and court decisions; and support briefs, regulatory analyses, and legal resources.

Defending Defenders

Research protections for environmental defenders across human rights, civil, criminal, and corporate accountability law; prepare memos and legal resources; and observe strategic meetings with local lawyer partners.

Science

Research scientific topics, summarise peer-reviewed studies, and prepare environmental science memos supporting submissions to courts and administrative agencies.

Contact

Phone: +1 541 687 8454.

Application Procedure

Apply through the relevant programme listing. Submit one PDF containing, in order: a one-page cover letter explaining your interest, learning goals, relevant experience and skills; your resume or CV; and a legal writing sample of no more than ten pages, as requested in the listings.

Submit by 23 October 2026 and monitor your inbox, including spam or junk folders, for updates from BambooHR.