Author: Bruce Huber

For each of its three years, this project recruits a cohort of 9-12 doctoral students, postdocs, and law students to work in small interdisciplinary teams of 3-4 spanning the natural sciences, engineering, social sciences, humanities, and law. 

In the first half of each year, following introductory sessions on interdisciplinarity, fellows will undergo training in Technology Ethics, Responsible Innovation (RI), and the IDEA Center’s Commercialization Engine process, including material drawn from the ESTEEM Graduate Program. As you work through the Responsible Innovation literature from your unique disciplinary perspective, you will also critique and contribute new ideas and insights to this emerging area, eventually arriving at your own working approach to RI. 

In the second half of each year, you will be connected to a real-world commercialization project through Notre Dame’s technology transfer and incubation hub, the IDEA Center. 

You will then apply your insights into Responsible Innovation as an analyst on an actual innovation project. Your consulting will provide a valuable service to that project while also serving as a practical test of your ideas. In the final phase of each year, you will write up your recommendations for the innovation project, and, optionally, your overall findings from this experience for possible publication. 

More information here.

Pace University’s Elisabeth Haub School of Law will hire an Environmental Law Graduate Fellow for the 2021-22 academic year. The Environmental Law Graduate Fellow works with environmental faculty and staff undertaking research, including supporting the National Environmental Law Moot Court Competition, developing and implementing new projects, and other duties as assigned. Fellows earn an LLM in Environmental Law while working part time within the Pace Environmental Law Program. They receive a full tuition waiver as well as a modest stipend to help cover living costs. Full details on the position, and information on how to apply, can be found here. Note that applicants must apply concurrently to the Environmental LLM program at the Elisabeth Haub School of Law to be considered for a fellowship. Applications are due by April 30, 2021.

The University of Florida Center for Coastal Solutions (CSS) and Florida Sea Grant (FSG) are pleased to announce a new year-long (12-month) coastal policy analyst opportunity to advance the development and implementation of science-based coastal policy in Florida. Prospective applicants with questions about the application process should reach out via email to Sharlynn Sweeney at sharlynn@ufl.edu. Questions about the substantive requirements of the position should be addressed to Professor Thomas T. Ankersen at the University of Florida College of Law at ankersen@law.ufl.edu. You can also view the position details on the UF jobs webpage.

NRDC is hiring a Legal Fellow for a two-year fellowship starting in September 2021. The Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) is one of the nation’s leading environmental action organizations. For the first year, through August 2022, the Fellow will work at NRDC. During that time, the Fellow will focus on litigation or policy efforts to redress environmental and public health harms, such as air and water pollution, climate change, threats to endangered species, environmental injustice, and exposure to toxic chemicals. For the second year (September 2022 through August 2023), the Fellow will work at Yale in New Haven, Connecticut, providing support for environmental law clinics, dual degree students, and events and activities relating to environmental law and policy. Complete details are available here.

Summary: Commissioner Allison Clements is hiring a legal intern for her office at the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC). The position is full-time and will run for a minimum of 8 weeks between May and August 2021. We will consider shorter periods of time, on a case-by-case basis, if the applicant is interested in splitting their summer with another organization. Although the position is unpaid, our office will support an application for course credit or public interest funding through the applicant’s law school.

Major duties of this position include:

·         Reviewing and analyzing Commission orders

·         Preparing memos summarizing legal issues arising under the Federal Power Act, Natural Gas Act, and National Environmental Policy Act of 2005

·         Working on the Commissioner’s speeches and separate statements

·         Assist with other projects as assigned

Who May be considered:

1^st and 2^nd year law students

How to Apply:

Applicants should submit a resume, a transcript, a writing sample, and a list of three references. Applicants in their first year of law school should also include an undergraduate transcript. Applications should be submitted to Alexander.DeTaboada@ferc.gov with the subject line “2021 Summer Internship Application.” We will consider applications on a rolling basis. 

Additional Information: U.S. Citizenship is required. Volunteers will undergo a background investigation. Additionally, Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, FERC is currently operating in a 100% remote environment, which includes this position. Students will be able to telework from their current location.

It’s true. The ABA’s Section of Energy, Environment & Resources (SEER) is open to law students and offers a number of opportunities. Strongly recommended.

… will be held in-person in San Antonio, TX, in late May 2021. Application deadline is March 3, 2021. All travel, lodging, and expenses are covered by the program. Details are here.

The Institute for Energy Law of The Center for American and International Law has recently announced its 2021 Hartrick Scholar writing competition.  All eligible students are invited to participate. There is a $2,500 cash prize.

The general subject for this year’s competition is any topic related to energy development. This includes, for example, topics concerning oil and gas law, alternative energy resources, energy regulation, and environmental regulation of the energy industries.

The article can be any work prepared by the student while enrolled in law school and can include prior works prepared for a law journal or a law school course, so long as the submitted version complies with the submission guidelines. The Hartrick Scholar Judging Committee will select one or more outstanding submissions that they deem worthy of recognition.

The submission deadline is March 1, 2021. More details here (scroll down the page).

Here is the full list:

• Constitutional Law Writing Competition
  Entry Deadline: May 31, 2021
  Award: First place: $1,000 cash prize

• Endangered Species Writing Competition
  Entry Deadline: May 31, 2021
  Award: First place: $1,000 cash prize, second place: $750 cash prize, third place: $500 cash prize
• Energy Law Writing Competition
  Entry Deadline: May 31, 2021
  Award: First place: $1,000 cash prize, second place: $750 cash prize, third place: $500 cash prize
• Environmental Transactions and Brownfields / Superfund and Natural Resources Damages Litigation Writing Competition
  Entry Deadline: May 31, 2021
  Award: First place: $1,000 cash prize
• Forest Law Writing Competition
  Entry Deadline: May 31, 2021
  Award: First place: $1,000 cash prize
• International Environmental and Resources Law  Writing Competition
  Entry Deadline: May 31, 2021
  Award: First place: $1,000 cash prize
• Public Land and Resources Writing Competition
  Entry Deadline: May 31, 2021
  Award: First place: $1,000 cash prize
• Waste and Resource Recovery Writing Competition
  Entry Deadline: May 31, 2021
  Award: First place: $1,000 cash prize

Entries are due on May 31 and can cover any energy-related topic. Three cash prizes are available for the best papers— $1,000 for first place, $750 for second, and $500 for third.

Here’s a link to the full rules and submission information: https://www.americanbar.org/content/dam/aba/administrative/environment_energy_resources/writing_competitions/2021/energy-law-rules.pdf