Law Clerk

Position Description

The New Mexico Environmental Law Center’s (NMELC) mission is to work with frontline communities to protect our air, land, and water in the fight for environmental justice through legal services, policy development, advocacy, and public education. NMELC is a nonprofit public interest law center that provides free and low-cost legal services on environmental matters across the state. We are seeking applications for a Law Clerk dedicated to NMELC’s mission of working with communities to advance environmental justice and human rights. We work in partnership with community organizations, coalitions and other stakeholders to disrupt the systemic polluting of low-income communities of color and help to advance community health and sustainability.

APPLICATION DEADLINE: May 22, 2026

Job Title: Law Clerk

Hourly Rate: $23 to $27 per hour (DOE)

Start Date: June 2026

eports to: Executive Director & Legal Staff

Job Summary

As a Law Clerk, you will work directly with NMELC’s Legal team to provide support on legal, policy, and other case-related matters. Your work and research will primarily focus on environmental justice matters related to uranium mining reclamation, data center development, air quality issues, water rights transfers, public and environmental health impacts, among others.

JOB LOCATION: Albuquerque/Santa Fe, New Mexico

NMELC follows a hybrid work plan (in office and remote). Applicants must live in or be in the process of relocating to New Mexico.

COMPENSATION: This is an hourly contract position. NMELC is willing to work with current law students in figuring out a part-time schedule during the academic year and a full-time schedule in the summer as needed.

Duties And Responsibilities

• Working under the supervision of our legal team, the law clerk will provide direct support focused on our most active cases
• Support with case and policy research as needed and directed by legal team
• Support with legal writing - e.g. briefs, filings, analyses, responses, etc.
• As needed and directed, attend and participate in staff, legal, and client meetings
• As needed and directed, attend community meetings and/or meetings with stakeholders, government agencies, etc.

Preferred Qualifications

• Knowledge of environmental law, environmental justice, civil rights law, and social justice issues.
• Bilingual (especially Spanish and/or Indigenous Languages).
• Experience working with LGBTQ+, frontline, colonias, rural, and Black, Indigenous, People of Color (BIPOC) communities.
• Familiar with and committed to the Jemez Principles of Democratic Organizing and the EJ Principles
• Experience working in coalitions of community-based and advocacy organizations.

Education And Experience

• Completed or currently enrolled at an accredited law school as a 2L, 3L either part-time or full-time.
• Have completed an undergraduate degree - B.A. or B.S. or equivalent.
• Environmental justice/social justice education, background, and/or experience.

Learn more at https://nmelc.org/employment/