Environmental and Natural Resources Law Clinic Toxics Fellowship

​​​​Fellowship Description

The Environmental and Natural Resources Law Clinic (ENRLC) is pleased to invite eligible candidates to apply for a two-year Clinic Fellow position from June 1, 2017 through May 31, 2019. The fellowship combines the opportunity to obtain an LLM degree in Environmental Law from one of the leading environmental law programs in the nation with the opportunity to work with experienced environmental practitioners and students in a clinical setting focused on public interest work. The fellowship includes a full tuition waiver and a stipend of approximately $35,000 to cover living expenses.

In addition to pursuing the LLM degree, the Clinic Fellow is expected to work part-time (at least 20 hours per week) in the ENRLC. The Fellow will take a lead role in managing a project designed to provide assistance to communities faced with toxic pollution problems throughout northern New England. This project, the Partnership for Justice, is a joint effort between the ENRLC and Toxics Action Center, a non-profit organization that assists community groups throughout northern New England with organization, outreach, media, and strategy development. The ENRLC's primary role is to engage in comprehensive legal analysis, provide sound legal advice to community groups, and help them navigate the regulatory processes applicable to their situation. In appropriate instances, the Fellow may also lay the groundwork for litigation, although this fellowship is not necessarily a litigation-oriented position. The Clinic Fellow will work closely with the ENRLC Director and other clinic faculty and staff to represent clients and supervise student clinicians. The Fellow's responsibilities will include, but are not limited to:

  • Working with and supervising student clinicians to provide legal assistance to help community groups in northern New England, including analyzing the maze of federal and state environmental laws, regulations, and administrative processes that apply to proposed industrial projects, contaminated site cleanups, and other pollution-related projects;
  • Communicating with Toxics Action Center and community groups to provide legal counseling and advice in person or through other means, including at night and on weekends;
  • Managing the partnership between ENRLC and Toxics Action Center, including taking a lead role in administrative, contracting, and grant funding reporting duties;
  • Working with the ENRLC Director to support and promote the project, including planning for future funding for the project;
  • Working with Toxics Action Center to identify local counsel for community groups when necessary and to expand the list of experts, scientists, engineers and attorneys who will provide their services to community groups for free or at a reduced rate in the region;
  • Supporting a referral system by which individuals and groups who contact the ENRLC for legal assistance in addressing toxic pollution in New England are referred to Toxics Action Center for community organizing assistance; and
  • Participating in the day-to-day life of the ENRLC, including weekly staff meetings, seminars, and strategy sessions.
The Fellow may also choose to participate in a teaching practicum for academic credit in which s/he assists Clinic faculty in teaching student clinicians. The teaching practicum offers opportunities to teach in both a traditional classroom setting for the clinic's weekly seminar class and in a clinical role as a supervising attorney to help guide and mentor students in their work on clinic cases and projects.

Fellowship Requirements

  • JD from an ABA accredited law school
  • Minimum of two years of prior legal experience, including experience practicing environmental law
  • Strong legal research and writing, interpersonal, and communication skills
  • Demonstrated commitment to environmental conservation and public interest law preferred, and experience with environmental justice issues is particularly helpful
  • Admission to the LLM in Environmental Law program at Vermont Law School (application for LLM admission can occur concurrently with application for Clinic Fellow position and the same references can be used for both applications)
  • Admission to Vermont Bar (can be obtained within first year of Clinic Fellow position)
  • Willingness to travel regionally and work with clients at night and on weekends

HOW TO APPLY

Applications must include:

  • Cover letter describing applicant’s interest in the position and relevant experience
  • Resume
  • Two writing samples
  • At least three references
    • ​Two references can be used from the admission application
    • One reference specific to the fellowship​
  • Law school transcript
In addition to the above materials, you must also apply for the LLM in Environmental Law (on-campus only). Applications for LLM admission can occur concurrently with application for Clinic Fellow position and the same references can be used for both applications. Apply for LLM online here​.

Fellowship Deadline

Applications must be submitted by March 15, 2017 to admiss@vermontlaw.edu​ and must include a clear reference to the fellowship. Electronic submissions are preferred. If unable to send electronically, please send all physical application materials to:

Vermont Law School Office of Admissions
ENRLC LLM Fellowship
PO Box 96
South Royalton, VT 05068

DECISION​ PROCESS

​​​Fellowship candidates will be forwarded to the ENRLC shortly after the deadline. Fellowship offer​s will be made by May 1. Finalists will be expected to respond within three business days. The fellowship term begins on June 1.​

More Information
For more information, please send an email with "ENRLC Fellowship" in the subject line to admiss@vermontlaw.edu or call the Office of Admissions:

Toll free: 888-277-5985
Phone: 802-831-1239

Environmental and Natural Resources Law Clinic

  1. To provide a high quality, skills-based educational experience for law students to learn how to become competent, ethical attorneys with expertise in the field of environmental and natural resources law;
  2. ​To ensure that laws protecting health and the environment are properly interpreted, implemented, and enforced to prevent and abate environmental problems, and to conserve, and restore natural resources for the benefit of this and future generations; and
  3. To provide pro bono representation for individuals and organizations who would not otherwise have access to legal services.

LLM in Environmental Law

The LLM in Environmental Law​ degree is designed for a select group of post-JD candidates seeking to specialize in the practice of environmental law, or pursue careers in teaching, research, or public policy. Candidates include recent law school graduates and practicing lawyers who wish to develop an environmental law specialty. A minimum of 30 academic credits is required to complete the program. For the ENRLC Clinic Fellow, this thirty-credit program is spread over two years. Vermont Law School's environmental law curriculum includes more than fifty courses in environmental law and policy.
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