Closing Date: 20th January, 2026
Description:
The Southern Environmental Law Center is now accepting applications for the Glynn D. Key 1L Summer Fellowship, a paid legal internship opportunity for first-year law students for the summer of 2026. Applications are due by January 20, 2026.The Southern Environmental Law Center is one of the nation's most powerful defenders of the environment, rooted in the South. SELC takes on the toughest environmental challenges in court, in government, and in our communities to protect our region's air, water, climate, wildlife, lands, and people. This fellowship honors the legacy of Glynn D. Key, a trailblazing lawyer and environmental justice advocate who broke racial and gender barriers throughout her career, serving in many prominent roles, including as a respected member of SELC's Board of Trustees. Learn more about her remarkable career below.
Primary Responsibilities:
The Glynn D. Key 1L Summer Fellowship provides first-year law students with a unique opportunity to join a highly successful, nationally recognized organization that is effectively addressing some of the most pressing and challenging environmental issues throughout the South and the nation. Fellows will address critical environmental challenges such as climate change, environmental justice, clean energy, healthy air, transportation and land use, clean water, wetlands and coasts, and forest protection.
Fellows Will Engage in a Variety of Projects, Such As:
- Completing a project with a distinct environmental justice component.
- Conducting legal research and analysis on federal and state environmental statutes and regulations.
Fellowship Participants May Also:
- Attend hearings, strategy sessions, client meetings, site visits, and depositions.
- Engage in environmental policy discussions with government officials and community groups.
Fellows also attend internal legal team meetings, specialized training sessions, and group outings such as hikes or canoe trips. For more information on SELC's docket and priorities, visit our website.
Mentorship:
- In addition to the guidance and support provided by SELC attorneys throughout the summer, each Fellow will be paired with a SELC attorney for a year-long mentorship that begins prior to the start of the internship. Through check-ins, personalized advice, and meaningful engagement, the mentorship program is designed to help Fellows maximize their potential by fostering academic, professional, and leadership growth throughout law school and into their early careers.
- Logistics:
- Locations: Chapel Hill, NC and Charlottesville, VA
- Work Model: SELC offers a hybrid work model, requiring a minimum of three days per week in the office, with additional days as needed to support program work.
- Duration: 10 weeks (40 hours per week), beginning May 26, 2026.
- Compensation: $9,000 for the summer ($900 per week for 10 weeks). SELC does not reduce this amount for additional funding received by interns.
Qualifications:
We value the diverse paths and backgrounds that lead applicants to pursue this position, and we expect candidates to offer a variety of the following attributes and experiences:
- First-year law student in good standing at an ABA-accredited law school.
- Strong academic record, demonstrated through undergraduate, law school, or other postgraduate coursework.
- Excellent legal research and writing skills.
- Interest in environmental justice or the intersection of environmental law and racial justice. Commitment to a career in public interest is a plus.
- Experience or commitment to working with communities of color and other vulnerable communities.
- Ability to manage multiple assignments, communicate effectively with colleagues, and incorporate feedback.
- Demonstrated commitment to promoting equity and inclusion within their communities and/or the legal profession. We are particularly interested in candidates whose life experiences have shaped their commitment to alleviating and preventing disproportionate burdens on communities of color and lower-wealth communities.
- A genuine interest in and commitment to helping SELC create and foster a more diverse, inclusive, and equitable workplace. You engage in ongoing learning and are eager to contribute to our organizational efforts in this area.
To Apply:
Applicants must submit the following materials via the online application portal by January 20, 2026:
- Cover letter (Please indicate the office locations you are interested in applying to, ranked in order of preference)
- Resume
- Writing sample
- Undergraduate transcript
- Law school transcript (You are encouraged to apply as soon as possible and email a PDF copy of your first-semester grades to hiring@selc.org once they become available)
- Names and contact information for three academic or professional references
- A one-page statement of interest describing your experience or interest in working with historically marginalized communities or addressing environmental injustices. If you have relevant experience, highlight how you engaged with historically marginalized communities, incorporated their input, and worked toward solutions. If not, you may discuss your interest in this work, including personal, academic, or volunteer experiences that have shaped your commitment to environmental justice or your interest in working with communities at the intersection of environmental law and racial justice.
If you need an accommodation or have any questions or concerns about this posting or the structure of the internship program, please contact hiring@selc.org.