The American Bar Association (ABA) Section of Environment, Energy, and Resources is pleased to announce the sponsorship of the Diversity Fellowships in Environmental Law for the summer of 2010.

The ABA Diversity Fellowships in Environmental Law program is designed to encourage students who bring diversity to the environmental bar to pursue careers in environmental law. The program is open to first and second year law students and third year night students only.

The Fellowship:

• $5,000 summer stipend (8-10 week internship) for work on legal matters at the U.S. Department of Justice or the U.S. Department of the Interior working on endangered species related natural resource issues.
• Participation in meetings of the American Bar Association’s relevant committees.
• Assignment of a mentor from the American Bar Association.

Eligibility:

• First or second year law students (and third year night students).
• Members of economically or socially disadvantaged or other underrepresented groups, including, among others, age, ability/disability, sexual orientation, cultural, linguistic, or geographic backgrounds.

Fellowship Criteria:

•  Interest in environmental issues.
•  Academic record (undergraduate and law school).
•  Outstanding personal qualities and leadership abilities.

Application Requirements:

•  A completed application form.
•  A resume.
•  An undergraduate transcript.
•  A law school transcript (except for first year law students).
•  A two-page essay describing applicant’s interest in environmental issues and specifically endangered species issues and reasons for wanting to participate in the Fellowship.
• Two (2) references, including one (1) law school professor.

The Application: Please provide detailed answers to questions and required attachments specified in the application. The ABA Section of Environment, Energy, and Resources will maintain all information received from applicants in confidence but will share the information with the cosponsoring state entity and prospective employers. The Application is available in Adobe PDF or Microsoft Word format.

Selection Criteria: Fellowships in Environmental Law will be awarded primarily upon the applicant’s essay, transcript, resume, and application. Members of the selection committee will personally conduct a phone interview the most competitive candidates, to determine who will ultimately be selected to participate in the Fellowship.

Instructions: Please return completed applications along with the required documents to ABA Section of Environment, Energy, and Resources, c/o Julie Connell, Program Assistant, 321 N. Clark St., Chicago, IL 60654. Applications should be either typed or handwritten in block letters. Completed applications and all related documents must be postmarked by or emailed no later than February 26, 2010. Successful applicants shall be contacted within three to four weeks of application deadlines.

Deadline: Completed applications and related documents must be postmarked by February 26, 2010.

For More Information Contact: Julie Connell, ABA Section Environment, Energy, and Resources, 321 N. Clark St., Chicago, IL 60654, (312) 988-5724, Fax: (312) 988-5572, ConnellJ@staff.abanet.org.