Gas-to-Clean Legal Intern

Environmental Defense Fund (edf.org), a leading international nonprofit organization, creates transformational solutions to the most serious environmental problems. EDF links science, economics, law and innovative private-sector partnerships. Connect with us on EDF Voices, Twitter and Facebook.

Are you interested in exploring a career at an internationally-recognized environmental organization? By joining EDF as an Intern, you too can be part of a vibrant workplace that welcomes diverse perspectives, talents and contributions, where innovation and a focus on results are a way of life. EDF’s Internship Program welcomes intellectually hungry leaders to join us, advance our work, and cultivate the skills and relationships needed for a successful career working for the environment. Alumni of our Internship Program have gone on to important leadership positions, most notably our own President, Fred Krupp. Could you be the next Fred Krupp?

EDF offers internships and fellowships for students and recent graduates in a variety of programs and departments throughout the organization. The ultimate goal of our internship and fellowship program is to provide high-quality experiences (including relevant projects and opportunities for networking) that form the foundation for any individual who is serious about pursuing an environmental career.

Reports to

Natalie Karas

Senior Regulatory Attorney, Oil & Gas

Overall Function

EDF has a long history of achieving environmental goals through market-based mechanisms and incentives to protect public health and the environment, at the state level and nationally. Within our Oil & Gas Program, EDF’s Gas-to-Clean project is helping provide a pathway for clean energy integration by refining energy market rules to direct capital investment for infrastructure designed to accelerate the trend to a more dynamic, responsive and renewable energy system. A key strategic priority is to ensure that natural gas infrastructure like power plants and interstate pipelines are not deployed in a manner that locks-in carbon emissions and locks out clean energy. The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (“FERC”) and many state public utility commissions are exploring market refinements to better harmonize natural gas and electricity market designs which presents an opportunity to better guide the transition from coal to gas to clean energy—a crucial element of making sure natural gas use contributes to climate solutions. EDF’s Washington DC Office seeks a highly qualified and deeply motivated 2L law student to help advance these goals.

Key Responsibilities

Tasks will include but are not limited to:

• Perform legal and economic research regarding market refinements to enhance coordination between the wholesale natural gas and electric markets.  
• Assist with researching and writing legal and policy documents for administrative litigation, national and state regulatory proceedings, and various policy venues.
• Help advance advocacy strategies affecting utilities throughout the US with active involvement of senior EDF legal, policy, economics, scientific and technical staff and external experts and company partners.

Qualifications

• Demonstrated interest in energy and administrative law.
• Experience before the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission or state public service commissions is a plus.

• Excellent written and oral communication skills.
• Must be well organized, motivated, and detail-oriented.
• Ability to multi-task, prioritize and meet deadlines.
• Ability to work in a team setting and have the ability to work independently when projects are due.
• Demonstrate initiative and problem solving skills.

Location

Washington, DC

Term

10 weeks during the summer 

Hours

Full-time (35 hours/week)

Application Materials

Please apply by submitting your résumé, references, law school transcripts, writing sample, and a cover letter. In your cover letter, please describe your interests in energy law and policy and any relevant completed course work.  

Due to the volume of employment applications and queries received, EDF is unable to respond to each application individually. Applicants will be contacted directly if selected as a candidate.

Environmental Defense Fund is an equal opportunity employer where an applicant’s qualifications are considered without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other basis prohibited by law.