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NRDC is a non-profit environmental advocacy organization. We use law, science, and the support of 3.1 million members and online activists to protect the planet's wildlife and wild places and to ensure the rights of all people to clean air, clean water, and healthy communities. NRDC was founded in 1970 and our people helped write some of America's bedrock environmental laws, including the Clean Water Act and many of the implementing regulations. Today, our team of more than 700 lawyers, scientists, economists, policy advocates, communications experts, and others work across the United States and the globe from our offices in Beijing; Bozeman, Montana; Chicago; New Delhi; New York; San Francisco; Santa Monica; and Washington, D.C.
NRDC is seeking an In-House Legal intern to work with the Office of General Counsel team.
Position SummaryThe Office of General Counsel (“OGC”) is the in-house legal function for NRDC, the NRDC Action Fund, and the Beijing Representative Office. OGC also advises NRDC’s affiliate, NRDC India Private Limited. It consists of 11 attorneys and administrators and is responsible for providing high-quality legal and risk management advice to its clients. OGC attorneys handle challenging and diverse portfolios covering a wide range of legal issues, including nonprofit law, corporate governance, lobbying and political law, contracts and negotiations, international, and labor and employment matters.
The In-House Legal intern will have the opportunity to contribute on OGC’s full portfolio, gaining experience and exposure to all aspects of in-house legal operations. The intern will partner with multiple members of OGC staff to respond to client requests and move OGC’s long-term projects forward. This work includes legal research, reviewing organizational and advocacy materials, and drafting legal memoranda and responses to clients. In addition to responding to day-to-day matters, interns will have the opportunity to assume lead responsibility for at least one major project over the course of the summer.
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Please note this position does not include work on NRDC’s environmental litigation or advocacy portfolio. In-house interns will have the opportunity to join trainings and briefings with other NRDC legal interns, but this position is focused on in-house legal operations.
Some job responsibilities may include:
- Conduct legal research on issues related to nonprofit law, corporate governance, lobbying, international law, labor and employment matters, and contracts.
- Work with OGC attorneys and administrators to respond to client requests across different NRDC departments.
- Assist in negotiations and the preparation of contracts and agreements.
- Support risk assessments and recommend measures to mitigate potential legal exposure.
- Gain exposure to the day-to-day workings of an in-house legal team through mentorship and hands-on learning.
- Build an understanding of legal issues in the context of nonprofit advocacy and operations.
Required:
- Commitment to NRDC’s mission and values.
- Completion of at least one (1) year of law school by the time of the internship.
- Solid writing, research, and oral communications skills.
- High degree of professional ethics and integrity.
- Interest in in-house client counseling and legal operations
Preferred:
Substantive knowledge or interest in one or more elements of OGC’s portfolio, including but not limited to contract/procurement policy, corporate governance, lobbying and election law, AI and technology, legal ethics, and risk management.
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.
This is a paid internship opportunity of $10,000 for 10-weeks.
Our offices are open and we are operating in a hybrid model. We offer NRDCers flexibility, and we ask them to come into the office and spend meaningful time there in collaboration with their colleagues. We call this purposeful presence.
As a science-based organization, NRDC aims to do our part to help contain the COVID-19 public health crisis. For the sake of health, safety, and equity, we ask that people be vaccinated unless they have an approved medical or religious accommodation or other exemption in accordance with state and local law. We consider a person to be vaccinated two weeks after receiving one full course of a CDC-approved vaccine. In accordance with state or local law, new hires will be asked to attest to vaccination, those wishing to do so may request medical or religious accommodations or other exemptions via NRDC Employee Relations. NRDC treats all vaccine-related data confidentially, in keeping with local, state, and federal laws.
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.
