Great Lakes Legal Fellow

About the position Founded in 1936, the National Wildlife Federation (NWF) is America's largest and most trusted grassroots conservation organization with fifty-two state/territorial affiliates and more than six million members and supporters, including hunters, anglers, gardeners, birders, hikers, campers, paddlers, and outdoor enthusiasts of all stripes. NWF's mission is to unite all Americans to ensure wildlife thrive in our rapidly changing world through programming focused on conserving wildlife, restoring habitats and waterways, expanding outdoor opportunities, connecting children with nature, and addressing the causes and consequences of climate change. To support our mission, we are seeking a full-time attorney for a two-year legal fellowship (with the possibility of a third year) at our Great Lakes Regional Center in Ann Arbor, MI. The Great Lakes Regional Center (GLRC) works to protect the Great Lakes and their neighboring watersheds across a six-state area to build a resilient future for the people, wildlife, and communities that depend on this precious ecosystem. The GRLC advocates for stronger policies which restore critical habitats and ensure environmental justice for all focusing on Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, and Wisconsin. The GLRC works on many campaigns, including campaigns to shutdown Line 5 and other energy pipelines, protect against invasive species, regulate ballast water, reduce harmful algal blooms, ensure water affordability, and protect against PFAS pollution. This Great Lakes Legal Fellowship is designed to increase the legal capacity for the GLRC while also providing a law school graduate or early career attorney significant training and mentorship to build a strong foundation in environmental law practice. The fellow will work on a variety of legal areas, including: water pollution, civil rights in the context of pollution and natural resources management, utility ratemaking, wildlife management, the public trust doctrine, land use & zoning, and public lands. The fellow will be an integral member of our GLRC team and will work directly with NWF's state affiliate organizations and its external partner organizations. The position reports to the Senior Attorney for the GLRC, who also directs the Environmental Law & Sustainability Clinic of the University of Michigan Law School.

Responsibilities

• Support the GLRC senior attorney
• Provide a legal perspective to each of the GLRC's issue campaigns
• Co-lead any NWF GLRC litigation effort
• Serve as one of the client contacts whenever an outside law firm represents NWF on a matter pertaining to the GLRC
• Submit comments to administrative agencies and legislative committees
• Draft legislation and advise staff members on the implications of proposed bills and regulations
• Contribute legal analysis to NWF reports
• Make presentations to the GLRC staff on significant developments in the law that may impact the organization
• Work with appropriate NWF staff members to identify and support our affiliates' legal capacity needs
• Help to recruit and mentor summer legal interns
• Collaborate with other NWF attorneys on projects that impact the GLRC
• Other duties as appropriate

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree
• Juris doctorate degree (either present at time of application or to be issued by the summer of 2026)
• A license to practice law in Michigan (that the applicant either possesses at time of application or can obtain within one year of the start date)
• Commitment to collaboration, strategic thinking, interpersonal relationship building, teamwork, technology, diplomacy, and diversity & equity
• Self-motivation and willingness to do administrative tasks
• A commitment to the conservation legacy and overall mission of the National Wildlife Federation

Nice-to-haves

• Judicial clerkship (that the applicant either completed or is completing at time of application)
• One completed semester in a law school clinic
• Familiarity with administrative law
• Familiarity with climate, energy, environmental, or natural resources law
• Educational or work background pertaining to an environmental or natural resources science such as ecology, wildlife biology, hydrogeology, environmental engineering, public health, or a similar field

Benefits

• Paid time off: Vacation that starts off at three weeks accrual based on a full-time schedule, unlimited wellbeing (this time can be used for physical, spiritual, emotional, cultural, religious or financial wellbeing for yourself, a partner, or family member - including pets), and 11 holidays
• We close down for a paid winter break between December 25 to January 1 to recognize end of-year stress, and time for reflection, rejuvenation, and spending time with family.
• Up to 16 weeks of fully paid Family and Medical Leave
• Low-cost health, dental, and vision insurance options - all outpatient mental health is covered at in-network rates
• Therapist available at no cost
• Pet insurance and discount perk program
• Annual wellbeing allowance
• Retirement plan with immediate match and vesting
• Annual year end retirement contribution
• Tuition Reimbursement
• Adoption and Surrogacy assistance
• Pet adoption stipend
• Student Loan management

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