Environmental Law Fellowship

About
The Virginia State Bar (VSB) Environmental Law Fellowship is awarded to future attorneys interested in the practice of environmental law in the Commonwealth of Virginia. To this end, the Board of Governors of the VSB Environmental Law Section will award a $2,000 fellowship to an outstanding first- or second-year law student who has committed to working full-time, no less than 300 hours over a ten-week period, at a public interest environmental practice during the summer of 2024, or divide the fellowship between two students working full-time for a minimum of 5 weeks each. The Fellow(s) will also have the opportunity to submit an article on an environmental topic or an interview for potential publication in the VSB Environmental Law Section monthly Oyster newsletter.

Eligibility and Fellowship Award Criteria
Eligibility. To be eligible for the Fellowship students must: (1) be currently enrolled as a 1L or 2L J.D. candidate at an ABA-accredited law school; and (2) have accepted an offer to work at a public interest environmental practice in Virginia during the summer of 2024. Students committed to working full time, no less than 300 hours over a ten-week period, will receive priority in selection, but students committed to working a minimum of 5 weeks (35 hours a week) are also eligible for a partial fellowship.

The ideal recipient would work at a public interest environmental practice in Virginia; however, we are also willing to accept applicants that are current Virginia residents who will work at an out of state public interest environmental practice.

Fellowship Award Criteria. The Fellowship will be awarded based on a record of excellent academic achievement and a demonstrated interest in, and commitment to, public service, particularly in practice in environmental law.

Application Requirements
The following materials must be submitted electronically to the VSB Board of Governors of the Environmental Law Section at vsbsections@vsb.org no later than April 15, 2024 at 5:00 p.m.:

• A completed Fellowship Application Form.
• A résumé that includes information about the student's education and work/internship/public service experience.
• An essay no longer than 1 page (single-spaced, at least 11-point font) that addresses the student's interest in, and commitment to, a career in environmental law or in public servicegenerally.
• An official or unofficial law school transcript created by the applicant's lawschool.

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