Legal Internships and Externships with EPA's Environmental Appeals Board
The Environmental Appeals Board (EAB) is an appellate tribunal established by regulation to hear administrative appeals under all major environmental statutes that EPA administers. Located in Washington, DC, the EAB’s caseload consists primarily of appeals from permit decisions and administrative civil penalty decisions, as well as petitions for reimbursement of costs incurred in complying with cleanup orders issued under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980 (CERCLA). Private parties may appeal an EAB decision in federal court. The Judges on the EAB sit in panels of three and make decisions by majority vote. Seven counsel and two administrative professionals provide support to the Judges. Learn more about the EAB.
Who Should Apply?
The Board seeks legal interns to assist both the Environmental Appeals Judges and Counsel to the Board to conduct legal research, analyze applicable law and the administrative record, draft legal memoranda, and prepare final decisions. In addition to excellent legal research, writing, and analytical skills, the Board considers, among other things, an applicant’s interest in environmental law, administrative law, public interest law, or appellate litigation. The Board will consider applications from first- and second-year law students for the summer; second-year and third-year students are eligible to work in the fall and winter/spring semesters. Students must have U.S. citizenship.
Are the Positions Paid? Are there Benefits?
These positions are unpaid. Students may work as academic (for credit) interns, under a variety of public service or law-school-sponsored fellowships, or as unpaid law clerks or externs. A Metro transit subsidy is available.
What Dates Would I Work?
Start and end dates are negotiable. Summer positions are full-time only and require a commitment of at least eight weeks. Fall and winter/spring positions may be full-time/semester-in-practice (40 hours per week) or part-time (at least 15 hours per week) and require a commitment of at least ten weeks.
How Do I Apply?
Applicants should email as one PDF file by the appropriate deadline:
- A cover letter,
- Resume,
- Writing sample,
- Unofficial law school transcript, and
- Three references whom the EAB may contact upon receipt of your application. At least one reference must be a current or former supervisor (or someone familiar with the quality, complexity and scope of your work).
Deadlines are June 30 for Fall positions; October 15 for Winter/Spring positions; and January 15 for Summer positions.
Email transmission of application materials is preferred; please include your full name in the subject line.
Contact
Nivea Berrios-Colon
Counsel to the Board
(202) 233-0122
EAB_Interns@epa.gov
Susan Gardinier Kimball
Counsel to the Board
(202) 233-0122
EAB_Interns@epa.gov