Jobs and Internships at the Sabin Center
The Sabin Center for Climate Change Law at Columbia Law School, offers a variety of job and internship opportunities for students (undergraduates and graduates), recent law graduates and environmental/climate-focused lawyers. If you're interested in the current vacancies, please check out the opportunities below.
Jobs
The Sabin Center for Climate Change Law seeks a Climate Law Fellow to be hired at the postdoctoral research scholar level to contribute to Center’s work on issues related to climate change law and regulation. This is a one-year appointment starting September 2025, with an option for a second year.
You can learn more about the Sabin Center here.
Responsibilities
Under the supervision of Michael Gerrard, Faculty Director, and Michael Burger, Executive Director, the incumbent will:
- conduct independent research and publish white papers, articles, and other materials on topics related to climate change mitigation and adaptation, including in the areas of energy, environmental, and land use law;
- contribute to the development and implementation of advocacy strategies around climate change mitigation and adaptation;
- contribute to programs and projects that engage in active law and policy contexts, including the Center’s engagement in regulatory proceedings concerning climate change mitigate and adaption;
- contribute to the conceptualization, management and implementation of the Center’s web resources, including various databases tracking developments in federal, state, and local climate change law;
- help organize conferences, seminars, and collaborative publications;
- assist with oversight of interns and volunteers, among other projects.
Minimum Qualifications
- J.D., J.D. equivalent, or LLM from an ABA approved Law School
- Strong academic qualifications and a demonstrated interest in climate justice and equity, and/or in environmental, natural resources or energy law and policy, will be expected.
Preferred Qualifications:
- 0-3 years of professional legal experience with a government agency (including through a clerkship), NGO, law firm, financial institution, or law school center.
Columbia University is an Equal Opportunity Employer / Disability / Veteran.
Hiring Salary Range
$77,500-$85,000
The salary of the finalist selected for this role will be set based on a variety of factors, including, but not limited to, departmental budgets, qualifications, experience, education, licenses, specialty, and training. The above hiring range represents the University’s good faith and reasonable estimate of the range of possible compensation at the time of posting.
Application Instructions and Deadline
Applicants are requested to submit a cover letter and CV to [email protected] by the deadline of January 15, 2025.
Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.
The Sabin Center seeks a Renewable Energy Legal Defense Initiative (RELDI) fellow to be hired at the postdoctoral research scholar level.
Launched in 2019, RELDI adds legal firepower to the advocacy strategies employed by renewable energy advocates, and aids individuals, community groups, and advocacy organizations by providing them pro bono representation in courtrooms, before state utility commissions, in local zoning boards, and in other administrative contexts, to press for the rapid development of utility- and community-scale renewable energy.
The goal of RELDI is twofold: First, to use strategic litigation and administrative advocacy to establish factual and legal precedent that can be employed and replicated in the many similar siting battles taking place across the country. Second, to empower individuals and organizations to defend utility- and community-scale renewable energy projects against siting challenges, support progressive energy policies in court and administrative settings, and fight undue restrictions on renewable energy development. These twinned goals serve the purpose of increasing the quantity of clean energy being generated and used to power our electric grids; light, heat and cool our homes; move people from place to place; and manufacture our goods and services.
Responsibilities
The incumbent will work with the Center’s Faculty Director and Executive Director, and with current RELDI staff, to provide thought leadership, applied research, peer learning, and other outputs that will assist advocates and researchers seeking to strategically engage with the planning for and siting of utility- and community scale renewable energy facilities and related infrastructure. Successful performance will require generating original research and communicating research findings clearly and through a variety of media and formats to a range of audiences in a manner that maximizes impact.
In particular, the incumbent will:
- Conduct independent research and write about issues related to siting utility- and community-scale renewable energy projects, including those in communities that may not have equal access to clean energy;
- Contribute to the conceptualization, management, and implementation of online resources for researchers, advocates, and others working to advance renewable energy projects; and Work with the Sabin Center’s Faculty Director, Executive Director, RELDI staff, and others inside and outside the Columbia community to convene, coordinate, and synthesize a diverse range of research and communications activities related to siting battles and the energy transition;
- Identify, track, and engage in relevant regulatory proceedings, including by drafting comment letters and other documents; and
- Develop presentations and trainings for a variety of audiences and help organize conferences, seminars, workshops, and other events.
This is a one-year position, with the possibility of renewal contingent on funding.
You can learn more about the Sabin Center here.
Minimum Qualifications
- J.D., J.D equivalent, or LLM
- 0-3 years of professional legal experience with a government agency (including through a clerkship), NGO, law firm, financial institution, or law school center.
- Strong academic qualifications and a demonstrated interest in climate justice and equity, and/or in environmental, natural resources or energy law and policy, will be expected.
Columbia University is an Equal Opportunity Employer / Disability / Veteran.
Hiring Salary Range
$78,000-$83,000
The salary of the finalist selected for this role will be set based on a variety of factors, including, but not limited to, departmental budgets, qualifications, experience, education, licenses, specialty, and training. The above hiring range represents the University’s good faith and reasonable estimate of the range of possible compensation at the time of posting.
Application Instructions and Deadline
Applicants are requested to submit a cover letter and CV to [email protected] by November 29, 2024. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.
We are no longer accepting applications for this position.
The Sabin Center for Climate Change Law seeks a Climate Justice Fellow to be hired at the postdoctoral research scholar level to contribute to Center’s work on issues related to climate justice and equity. This is a one-year appointment starting September 2024, with an option for a second year.
You can learn more about the Sabin Center here. More information about the Center’s environmental justice work is available here.
Responsibilities
Under the supervision of Michael Gerrard, Faculty Director, and Michael Burger, Executive Director, the incumbent will
- conduct independent research and publish white papers, articles, and other materials on a wide variety of issues related to climate change law, with a special focus on issues related to climate justice and equity;
- contribute to the development and implementation of strategies to advance climate justice and equity;
- contribute to programs and projects that engage in active law and policy contexts, including relevant regulatory proceedings addressing issues of climate justice and equity;
- contribute to conceptualization, management and implementation of the Center’s web resources, including various databases tracking developments in federal, state, and local climate change law;
- help organize conferences, seminars, and collaborative publications;
- assist with oversight of interns and volunteers, among other projects.
Minimum Qualifications
- J.D., J.D equivalent, or LLM
- Strong academic qualifications and a demonstrated interest in climate justice and equity, and/or in environmental, natural resources or energy law and policy, will be expected.
Preferred Qualifications:
- 1-3 years of professional legal experience with a government agency (including through a clerkship), NGO, law firm, financial institution, or law school center.
Columbia University is an Equal Opportunity Employer / Disability / Veteran.
Hiring Salary Range
$72,500-$80,000
The salary of the finalist selected for this role will be set based on a variety of factors, including, but not limited to, departmental budgets, qualifications, experience, education, licenses, specialty, and training. The above hiring range represents the University’s good faith and reasonable estimate of the range of possible compensation at the time of posting.
Application Instructions and Deadline
We are no longer accepting applications for this position.
Visiting Scholars
In order to recognize and enhance work in the field of climate law the Sabin Center on occasion sponsors researchers and scholars who have applied for and been accepted to Columbia Law Schools Visiting Scholars Program. Applicants interested in Center sponsorship may email the Faculty Director or Executive Director to notify them of their interest in sponsorship.
Internships
The Sabin Center for Climate Change Law is seeking a dedicated and detail-oriented law student to serve as a part-time Research Assistant (RA) to support the Sabin Center's work in the area of global climate change litigation. The RA will work on various projects related to the Peer Review Network of Climate Change Litigation and other key initiatives. This is a part-time position requiring approximately 10 hours per week over the spring semester and will provide hands-on experience in cutting-edge climate litigation research and activities.
While this is an unpaid position, CLS legal interns can qualify for pro-bono credit.
Key Responsibilities:
1. Peer Review Network of Climate Change Litigation:
- Assist in managing the network, including coordinating communication with rapporteurs.
- Reach out to rapporteurs who have not been actively engaged, encouraging participation.
- Seek new rapporteurs from under-represented regions, especially in Africa and the Middle East.
- Collaborate with rapporteurs on the submission of blog posts and organizing webinars.
- Help organize and participate in bi-monthly meetings, preparing agendas and materials for discussion.
2. International Court of Justice (ICJ) Advisory Opinion on Climate Change:
- Assist with compiling summaries of pleadings submitted to the ICJ regarding the advisory opinion on climate change.
- Support the preparation of materials for publication.
3. General Support:
- Perform research and provide administrative assistance for ad hoc projects as needed.
This role offers a unique opportunity to contribute to impactful climate litigation research at a global level, while engaging with leading legal experts and institutions.
Qualifications:
- Current law student
- Strong research, writing, and communication skills.
- Interest in climate change law, international law, or climate justice.
- Ability to work independently, manage multiple tasks, and meet deadlines.
How to apply
Please submit a cover letter and resume to Dr. Maria Antonia Tigre, Director, Global Climate Litigation at [email protected] by Friday, January 10, 2025.
Description:
The Sabin Center for Climate Change Law is seeking an intern to assist with a variety of communications-related tasks. The intern will work under the supervision of the Sabin Center’s communications associate, Tiffany Challe, and Deputy Director, Romany Webb. Among other things, the intern will help to create a weekly social media plan, develop posts and other content for social media,, track and record media mentions, assist with management of the new Climate Law Blog and will assist in maintaining and updating the press list.
Skills desired: Social media competence (Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, Facebook); basic knowledge of Wordpress and DRUPAL platforms; familiarity with and keen interest in climate change concepts and terminology; experience with Mailchimp; experience with graphic design and/or video editing.
Type of student desired: Undergraduate or graduate
This is a part-time unpaid internship and will last from September to December 2024. The selected candidate will work up to 20 hours a week.
How to apply: Please check back early next year for another climate communications internship opportunity.
Law Students
The Sabin Center for Climate Change Law at Columbia Law School is seeking several current law students to serve as interns for summer 2024. Legal interns work with Center’s Faculty Director Michael Gerrard, Executive Director Michael Burger, and current fellows on a wide range of cutting-edge climate change, energy, and environmental law topics. Past summer legal interns have conducted research on the international and U.S. regulation of GHG emissions from shipping, contributed to papers on atmospheric methane removal, and conducted litigation research relating to state-level anti-ESG laws, among many other projects. Internships are full time for 8-10 weeks. Although the Center cannot provide direct funding for summer legal internships, CLS legal interns are able to qualify for CLS non-profit summer funding. Non-CLS students may also apply for the summer internship program.
How to Apply: Please check back next year for summer internship announcements.