Work With Us
The Climate Science Legal Defense Fund (CSLDF) provides legal assistance and education to members of the scientific community, and climate scientists in particular. We defend researchers and other experts who share their knowledge, inform the public, and advocate to address climate change and other pressing environmental problems.
CSLDF is currently seeking applications for a 2023 Legal Extern. See details below.
2023 Legal Externship
Who Can Participate: 3Ls with superb research and writing skills.
Description: The Climate Science Legal Defense Fund is a non-profit organization based in New York City. Established in 2011, our mission is to protect the scientific endeavor. We represent scientists—with a particular focus on climate and environmental scientists—who are targeted, silenced, harassed, or otherwise attacked because of the work they do. In addition, we perform significant educational outreach to scientists to help them understand their legal rights and responsibilities, and we proactively work to help ensure the enactment of strong legal protections for science and to promote science-based policy—at both the federal and state level.
Working closely with CSLDF attorneys, the law student will conduct legal research and writing. Projects may include drafting legal memoranda, sections of briefs and motions, policy position papers and reports, and educational materials on legal issues for a scientific audience. The student may potentially also participate in client and witness interviews.
This is an excellent opportunity to hone your legal research and writing skills, and to learn about the intersection of law, science, and policy.
Current matriculation in an ABA-accredited law school, preferably in an environmental law program, is required. We will place preference on students who have demonstrated superb legal research and writing skills through, for example, participation in a law review journal.
This position can be fully remote, or the law student can use a workspace in our office at 475 Riverside Drive in Manhattan. We have a flexible, friendly work environment. Please let us know what flexibility looks like to you.
Time Commitment: 8-20 hours/week or as otherwise agreed upon by CSLDF and the law student prior to their hiring.
New York Bar Pro Bono: This work is likely to be considered “qualifying pro bono work” for purposes of the New York State Board of Law Examiners’ mandatory 50-hour pro bono requirement.
To express interest: Please email a resume / CV, short legal writing sample (5 pages maximum), and cover letter detailing your interest in CSLDF and this position to Rachael Lyle-Thompson at lawyer@csldf.org. Thank you for considering CSLDF.