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 world’s 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 America’s 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 across Asia, 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.org 

Position Summary

NRDC and Yale Law School are hiring an Environmental Justice Legal Fellow for a two-year fellowship starting in August 2027. For the first year, through August 2028, the Fellow will work at NRDC within its Environment, Equity & Justice Center (EEJC) to provide legal support with and for environmental justice communities across the United States, including but not limited to scoping, shaping, and advancing litigation, as well as legal, policy, and coalition-building strategies to redress environmental harms and secure environmental benefits in environmental justice communities. The Fellow will work closely with, and be supervised by, experienced NRDC attorneys. The Fellow will also collaborate with community-based partners and environmental justice groups externally and with other NRDC Departments internally. The Fellow will be affiliated with one of NRDC’s major domestic offices (New York, Washington, D.C., or Santa Monica), depending on the Fellow’s preference and NRDC’s needs. During this year, the fellow may be expected to occasionally travel to other NRDC U.S.-based offices.

For the second year (August 2028 through August 2029), the Fellow will work at Yale Law School in New Haven, Connecticut, as a clinical legal fellow with the Environmental Justice Law and Advocacy (EJLA) Clinic, part of the law school’s Jerome N. Frank Legal Services Organization. Working with EJLA’s director, Professor Stephanie Safdi, the Fellow will supervise student attorneys in representing community-based organizations, Tribal Nations, residents groups, and non-profit coalitions to advance environmental justice and intersectional concerns such as Tribal sovereignty, environmental protection, public health, civil rights, and participatory environmental governance. Clinic cases may include matters undertaken in partnership with NRDC that the Fellow has worked on during the first year of the Fellowship. In addition to student supervision, the Fellow will participate in clinical teaching, case intake and docket development, and support environmental law and justice programming within Yale Law School and interdisciplinary offerings with other university programs. The fellowship will include engagement in scholarly activities at the law school and trainings in clinical pedagogy and practice through Yale’s clinical program. The fellow will be expected to be in person on Yale’s campus in New Haven, CT, at least three days per week.

The Fellow will be employed by the institution where they are based for the year, and will be subject to that institution’s applicable employment policies, including policies regarding benefits, hybrid work, and other HR matters. While at NRDC, the fellow is part of the bargaining unit represented by The Washington Baltimore News Guild (WBNG / The Newsguild-CWA Local 32035).

This position will be open to applications through EOD Monday October 5, 2026.

In the first year, this position will work within EEJC to:

• Develop relationships with communities and work with them to identify opportunities to partner or collaborate; actively engage in existing coalitions and partnerships.
• Create project plans, track timelines, and determine key deliverables and milestones, while managing workflows and collaboration across multiple staff members.
• Facilitate and co-facilitate meetings, including creating agendas, taking notes, and capturing takeaways/next steps; follow up with responsible parties to ensure accountability.
• Screen and develop potential new litigation, including conducting factual investigations and legal and policy research.
• Write briefs, motions, memoranda, Public Records Act and Freedom of Information Act requests, and other legal filings.
• Review environmental documents and draft comments under the California Environmental Quality Act and National Environmental Policy Act to identify deficiencies in environmental review, build the administrative record, and exhaust issues for potential litigation.
• Provide legal and policy research, as well as updates around environmental justice issues to members of the team and to partners.
• Facilitate and engage in communication and follow-up with clients and partner organizations.
• Represent NRDC at hearings, conferences, coalition meetings, and venues with decisionmakers.
• Advocate for the adoption or passage of critical legislation, city ordinances, and government regulations.
• Under the guidance of the Associate Director, supervise and delegate projects to interns and volunteers.

In the second year, this position supports the Yale Environmental Justice Law and Advocacy Clinic and related programming at Yale Law School as a clinical legal fellow. Specific responsibilities include:

• Supervising student attorneys in representation of clinic clients.
• Partnering with the clinic’s director in shaping clinic seminar syllabi to support student learning and representations.
• Co-teaching substantive and skills-based classes as part of the clinic’s seminar for new students and its advanced seminar for returning students.
• Assisting in the clinic’s intake process, in needs assessments, and in shaping the clinic docket.
• Supervising summer interns during the law school’s summer break and covering cases during school holidays.
• Representing clients on matters in early stages of development or secondary matters not staffed by clinic student attorneys.
• Participating in clinical faculty meetings and trainings for new clinicians and contributing to development and enrichment of clinical programming in the law school.
• Collaborating in development and operation of interdisciplinary environmental law and justice programming across the law school and university.

The above list of duties is not comprehensive but generally demonstrates the types of matters under this position’s responsibility. Other duties may be assigned. 

Education & Experience:

• Juris Doctorate within the past three years, as of the start date of the fellowship, from any accredited law school.
• Admission to the Bar in the jurisdiction where the Fellow will be based during the first year of the fellowship, or willingness to complete the requirements for admission to that Bar.

Skills, Abilities, Competencies:

• Strong legal writing, research, and analytical skills.
• Strong oral and written communication skills.
• Strong academic and professional record.
• Ability to contribute effectively as a member of a team and collaborate across a large organization.
• Demonstrated competency in working with people with different social identities than their own (including race, gender, sexual identity or orientation, age, class, and disability).
• Creativity and resourcefulness.
• Commitment to NRDC’s mission, values, and DEI principles.
• Comfort interpreting scientific and technical concepts.
• Capacity to work hard, efficiently, and independently.
• Demonstrated interest in fields of environmental law and justice, Indigenous rights and sovereignty, and/or civil rights.
• Interest in mentoring students in advocacy related to environmental law and justice and in cultivation of legal practice skills.

Preferred:

• Experience in creative and community-driven advocacy.
• Prior legal experience such as through substantial clinical practice, a judicial clerkship, or other practice experience.
• Prior mentorship or teaching experience.
• Interest in scholarship and clinical teaching.
• Knowledge of environmental, civil rights, and administrative law.

NRDC is committed to advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion, both in our work and in our workplace. We believe that celebrating and actively welcoming diverse voices and perspectives is essential to solving the planet's 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 employment on the basis of race, 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 to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.  

We offer competitive salaries, excellent benefits, and a supportive working environment. Salary is based on a nonprofit scale and is commensurate with skills and experience. Internal equity will be reviewed and considered to determine a final offer. For this position, the salary range is $94,500 to $105,000.  

NRDC Perks & Benefits 

Not only do we care about taking care of our planet, we care about taking care of you. When you join our team, we invest in your total well-being. Here is a small glimpse on how we plan to support you: 

• Time to Unplug & Recharge: Enjoy a generous time-off policy, highlighted by a company-wide year-end Rest & Recharge Week to reset for the new year. 
• Family First: Generous family leave policy beyond federal requirements for all NRDCers. 
• For your Future: Matching 403b whether you contribute or not. 
• Hybrid Policy: The freedom to balance your time around your needs that means, 8 days per month in-office. In-office day requirements can be met with off-site work events such as retreats, conferences, and other work-related travel. 
• Wellbeing: Premium Comprehensive healthcare and mental health programs. 

Yale Equal Employment Opportunity Statement 

The University is committed to basing judgments concerning the admission, education, and employment of individuals upon their qualifications and abilities and seeks to attract to its faculty, staff, and student body qualified persons from a broad range of backgrounds and perspectives.

Additionally, in accordance with this Policy and as delineated by federal and Connecticut law, Yale does not discriminate in admissions, educational programs, or employment against any individual on account of that individual’s sex; sexual orientation; gender identity or expression; pregnancy, childbirth or related conditions; race; color; national or ethnic origin; religion; age; disability; protected veteran status, or other protected classes as set forth in federal and Connecticut law.

To apply, visit www.nrdc.org/careers and upload your résumé and cover letter. Please mention where you saw this posting and upload any additional materials that showcase your abilities. Due to the high volume of applications, we will contact only those candidates we would like to interview. Please no phone calls, emails, or in-person résumé drop-offs. 

If you experience technical problems while applying or if you are a person with a disability and need assistance applying online, please reach out to iCIMS Customer Care at 1-800-889-4422. 

For more about NRDC, visit www.nrdc.org.