MELP and LLM Externships

An integral part of the MELP program, the LLM program, and the joint degree program is gaining real world experience through externships. Our students explore environmental law, science, and policy in a wide variety of settings both locally and worldwide. Activities may include counseling, drafting regulations and legislation, preparing legal memoranda, drafting or commenting on environmental or land use plans, and fieldwork related to wetlands, endangered species, and other natural resource management and preservation issues.

Student Resources:

Download the MELP/LLM Externship Handbook.(.pdf)
Download the MELP/ LLM Externship Contract Form. (.pdf)
Download the MELP/ LLM Student Evaluation Form. (.pdf)
Download the Sample Learning Plan. (.pdf)

Recent master’s degree students earned credit while working as interns for the following organizations:

American Wind Energy Association
Center for Biological Diversity
Embassy of Canada–Environment and Energy Section
Executive Office of the President of the United States
Food and Water Watch
Marine Fish Conservation Network
Navajo Nation Department of Justice
NOAA Office of the General Counsel for International Law
The Greater Yellowstone Coalition
The Nature Conservancy
United Nations Environment Program
United States Department of the Interior, Office of the Solicitor
Vermont Department of Agriculture
Woodrow Wilson Center for Scholars, Environmental Change and Security Program
Worldwatch Institute

Students interested in First Nations environmental law might pursue externships at intertribal organizations such as the National Tribal Environmental Council or the National Congress of American Indians.

Students design their own MELP Externships with the advice and consent of a Faculty Supervisor. Each internship is carefully defined in a contract with the sponsoring organization. Contract Forms are completed by the student in accordance with the guidelines for MELP and LLM Externships in the Academic Regulations. Externship Contracts must meet the approval of the Externship Director of the Environmental Law Center and the faculty member supervising the internship.