Overview
The Wilderness Society (TWS) is seeking two current second-year law students for a paid summer 2026 law clerk position. Open to law students of all backgrounds with a demonstrated commitment to diversity and inclusion in the conservation/environmental movement and/or legal community. The position is part of TWS’s legal team, which focuses on leveraging law and policy to defend and protect important landscapes and wildlands, ensure the benefits of public lands are shared equitably, and strengthen bedrock conservation laws and policies.
To Apply: please send a cover letter that describes the unique experiences or perspectives you would bring to TWS, resume, transcript, a short writing sample (no more than 5 pages), and 2-3 references through the online application system. Applications must be received by 10/13/2025 at 5 pm PDT. We hope to fill the positions by December.
Location: This position is available to be done remotely (or in office where there is a TWS office in the following states: AK, AZ, CA, CO, CT, DC, ID, IL, MD, ME, MN, MT, NC, NM, NV, NY, OH, OR, PA, SC, TX, VA, WA, WI, WY.
About the Organization:
As an organization, we aspire to be inclusive in the work that we do, and in the kind of organization we are. Internally this means working as a team that listens to different points of view, recognizes the contributions of every employee, and empowers each employee to bring their whole selves to work every day. Externally this means ensuring that public lands are inclusive and welcoming, so that our shared wildlands can help people and nature to thrive. We are committed to equity throughout our work, which we define as our commitment to realizing the promise of our public lands and ensuring that all can share in their universal benefits. We aspire to be campaign-oriented, collaborative, innovative, transparent, and supportive of staff and law clerks – our greatest asset.
The Megan Dickie Wilderness Leadership Fund:
The position is funded by the Megan Dickie Wilderness Leadership Fund. The fund was created in 2017 to honor and sustain Megan Dickie’s passion for wilderness, dedication to inspiring others to protect wild places, and commitment to expanding the cadre of public lands advocates. Megan was a talented TWS attorney and policy expert who passed away unexpectedly at the age of 35. The fund is designed to provide career-building opportunities for law students of all backgrounds, expanding our reach and shaping new leaders for the future of conservation.
Clerkship Overview:
The law clerk(s) will be part of TWS’s legal team and assist with applying public land law and policy to protect and defend important conservation policies and place-based decisions for our shared public lands. The clerk(s) will conduct legal and policy research and analysis that will help advance conservation campaigns and legal strategies.
Compensation is $22/hour. This is a full-time position (40 hours/week) for 10 weeks.
TWS will reimburse clerks for reasonable business expenses, including travel expenses to visit a TWS office location to meet staff in person and have an opportunity to visit federal public lands.
Ideal candidates will excel at conducting legal and policy research, analyzing complex legal questions, and concisely reporting their findings. It is helpful but not needed to have some familiarity with administrative law, agency rulemaking, and the policies/practices of the executive and legislative branches of government.
About The Wilderness Society
Company Overview
The Wilderness Society (TWS) is a leading conservation organization working to protect America’s wild places and public lands for the health of local communities, wildlife, and climate. Founded in 1935, and now with more than one million members and supporters, The Wilderness Society has led the effort to permanently protect 111 million acres of wilderness and to ensure the sound management of America’s public lands. TWS is scaling up its work to develop solutions to the challenges of climate change, the loss of biodiversity, and deep inequities with access to the benefits of nature. TWS is working to achieve four major collective impact results: protecting 30 percent of America’s lands and waters by 2030, transitioning off of fossil fuel development on public lands to well-sited renewable energy, securing equitable access to public lands and their benefits, and building a critical mass of support for conservation of public lands.