The Environmental Law Institute invites applications for the Jim Rubin International Fellowship.
The Fellowship Program empowers rising environmental lawyers to tackle complex environmental problems. It reduces financial barriers, provides mentorship and fosters leadership and creativity so fellows can conduct research, that engages and informs the public and policy-makers. The fellowship is based in Washington, D.C.
Fellows will have opportunity to conduct legal research, analysis, writing, and editing on a focused project and explore a wide variety of ongoing and time-limited research projects at ELI. Fellows will be fully integrated into ELI’s research and policy team, and as such will be expected to be onsite in the office on a daily basis
Up to two fellowships per year are available. Each will be for up to three months and will consist of:
- Mentorship from ELI’s senior staff;
- Opportunities to participate in educational workshops, seminars, and conferences offered by ELI;
- High-level networking opportunities; and
- A desk at ELI’s office in Washington, D.C.
Fellows are eligible for a one-time travel and accommodation stipend (up to $5,000), but the fellowship is otherwise unpaid.
ELIGIBILITY AND SELECTION
- Received a legal degree (LL.B, JD, SJD, or LLM equivalent) prior to start of fellowship
- Preference will be given to candidates from developing countries
- Ability to communicate in English in an office environment
- Legally authorized to travel to and volunteer in the United States for the entire duration of the fellowship. For information on authorization requirements, visit the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services website (https://www.uscis.gov/ ). Please note that ELI is unable to sponsor visas for fellowship applicants.
Successful applicants will be environmental lawyers in the early stages of their career who show promise as leaders. They embody Jim Rubin’s dedication to environmental protection law and policy, community engagement, and access to justice. They will be committed to research excellence and possess the ability to bring clarity to complex issues.
Candidates should be:
- Early in their career
- Interested in building thought- and practical-leadership skills
- Show promise and a commitment to excellence
- Possess superior research, writing, and interpersonal communication skills
- Have a strong desire to gain knowledge of the environmental field
- Be focused, independent, reliable, and meticulous
APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS AND DEADLINES
Fellowship applications for summer/fall 2020 are now open. Dates and length are flexible. The application deadline for 2020 summer/fall fellows is April 17, 2020. Submit an application package via ELI’s online application system. Simply click the Apply button to get started. Note that your submission must contain the following uploaded documents (Word or PDF format), as follows:
- Cover letter (2-4 pages).
The cover letter should address:
1) what you hope to get out of the fellowship and how will it help you advance your career;
2) why you want to be a fellow at ELI;
3) ideas for research projects, either particular areas of research/issues you’d like to work on while at ELI or (an) ongoing ELI project(s) you’d like to contribute to; and
4) preferred dates (summer/fall 2020). - Resume
- Analytical writing sample (3-5 pages). The writing sample may be an excerpt from a longer work.
- Three references
For more information, please contact: law [at] eli.org
ELI is an equal opportunity employer firmly committed to achieving an inclusive, diverse workforce that values every individual. We firmly believe that hiring individuals with varying perspectives and backgrounds contributes to our success as an organization, and we strive to create an environment that fosters inclusiveness. As such, minority candidates and candidates from traditionally underrepresented groups are encouraged to apply.
