Jim Rubin International Fellowship 2026

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The Environmental Law Institute invites applications for the Jim Rubin International Fellowship.

About the Fellowship

The Fellowship Program empowers rising environmental lawyers to tackle complex environmental problems. It reduces financial barriers, provides mentorship, and fosters leadership and creativity so fellows can conduct research that engages and informs the public and policymakers. The Fellowship is based in Washington, D.C.

Fellows will have the opportunity to conduct legal research, analysis, writing, and editing on a focused project and explore a wide variety of ongoing and short-term research projects at ELI. Fellows will be fully integrated into ELI’s research and policy team, and as such will be expected to work on-site in ELI’s office.

Up to two volunteer fellowships will be available for 2026 for a duration of up to three months. Fellowships will consist of:

Mentorship from ELI senior staff;
Opportunities to participate in educational workshops, seminars, and conferences offered by ELI;
High-level networking opportunities; and
A desk at ELI’s office in Washington, D.C.

Each volunteer Fellow is eligible for a one-time travel and accommodation stipend (up to $7,500).

About ELI

ELI, a non-profit organization based in Washington, D.C., is a leading center of environmental research, policy analysis, technical assistance, and training. Founded at the beginning of the modern environmental era five decades ago, ELI has played a pivotal role in the evolution of environmental law. Today, ELI is an internationally recognized independent research and education organization whose interdisciplinary staff of lawyers and scientists works to develop creative solutions to critical problems in environmental law, policy, and management worldwide. Support for the Institute’s research and training programs comes from a mix of private foundations, government agencies, and international organizations.

Eligibility and Selection

Completion of a legal degree (LLB, JD, SJD, or LLM equivalent) prior to start of fellowship.
Ability to communicate in English in a professional environment.
experience working on environmental law.
International experience with NGOs, government, academia, or other organizations.

Legally authorized to travel to and volunteer in the United States for the entire duration of the fellowship. For information on authorization requirements, visit the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services website (https://www.uscis.gov/). Please note that ELI is unable to sponsor visas for fellowship applicants or provide guidance on the process.

Successful applicants will be environmental lawyers in the early stages of their career who show promise as leaders. They embody Jim Rubin’s dedication to environmental protection law and policy, community engagement, and access to justice around the globe. They will be committed to research excellence and possess the ability to bring clarity to complex issues.

Candidates should be:

Early in their career.
Interested in building analytical, writing, and interpersonal communication skills.
Strongly desire to gain knowledge of the environmental field in an international context.
Focused, independent, reliable, and meticulous.

Application Instructions and Deadlines

Fellowship applications for 2026 are now open and the application deadline is March 9, 2026. The fellowship duration, as well as start/end dates, are flexible. To submit an application package via ELI’s online application system, visit https://www.eli.org/employment. Note that your submission must contain the following uploaded documents (Word or PDF format), as follows:

Cover letter (2 pages maximum). The cover letter should address:
What you hope to get out of the Fellowship and how will it help you advance your career;
Why you want to be a Fellow at ELI;
Ideas for research projects – either particular areas of research/issues you’d like to work on while at ELI or (an) ongoing ELI project(s) you’d like to contribute to; and
Preferred dates.
Resume.
Analytical writing sample (3-5 pages). The writing sample may be an excerpt from a longer work.
Three references.

ELI is an equal opportunity employer committed to achieving an inclusive, diverse workforce that values every individual. We firmly believe that hiring individuals with varying perspectives and backgrounds contributes to our success as an organization, and we strive to create an environment that fosters inclusiveness. If you are unable to complete this application due to a disability, contact this employer at opportunities@eli.org or 202-939-3815 to discuss an accommodation or an alternative application process.

Unless otherwise specified, roles at ELI operate in a clerical office setting. While performing the responsibilities of this role a Fellow will be required to spend multiple hours in a stationary position using computers, attending meetings, and occasionally moving around the office environment to access office equipment such as printers or fax machines, files, and supplies. An Fellow in this position will need sufficient language skills to effectively and professionally communicate with others. If you are unable to complete this application due to a disability, contact opportunities@eli.org or 202-939-3800 to ask for an accommodation or an alternative application process.

When you apply, please indicate that you are responding to the posting on jobshiringnearme.org Job Board.

Application Instructions and Deadlines

Cover letter (2 pages maximum). The cover letter should address:
What you hope to get out of the Fellowship and how will it help you advance your career;
Why you want to be a Fellow at ELI;
Ideas for research projects – either particular areas of research/issues you’d like to work on while at ELI or (an) ongoing ELI project(s) you’d like to contribute to; and
Preferred dates.
Resume.
Analytical writing sample (3-5 pages). The writing sample may be an excerpt from a longer work.
Three references.

When you apply, please indicate that you are responding to the posting on jobshiringnearme.org Job Board.

To help us track our recruitment effort, please indicate in your cover/motivation letter where (environmentaljob.net) you saw this job posting.

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