About Ocean Conservancy

Ocean Conservancy works to protect the ocean from today’s greatest global challenges. Together with our partners, we create evidence-based solutions for a healthy ocean and the wildlife and communities that depend on it.

Position Summary

We are currently seeking a legal intern to serve as our Dana Wolfe Memorial Legal Intern during summer 2025. This is a 40 hours per week working internship for rising second- or third-year law students spanning approximately 10 to 12 weeks. Interns may work from Ocean Conservancy’s offices in St. Petersburg, Florida, or may work remotely from select states.

Dana Wolfe epitomized hard work, dedication and commitment to Ocean Conservancy during her time as an integral part of our legal team (2005-2013). Following her death in 2013, Ocean Conservancy created an internship in her memory.

Ocean Conservancy’s legal affairs program provides expertise to ensure the development and implementation of effective policies focused on protecting ocean ecosystems. Ocean Conservancy’s strong legal expertise has resulted in meaningful protections for fish and marine wildlife.

Primary Responsibilities

This position will provide the legal intern with a broad array of experience on environmental and marine legal issues. Work will focus on marine conservation issues nationwide and may include programmatic topics such as water quality regulation, marine debris interventions, offshore wind, offshore oil and gas, climate change, fish conservation, or protection of the Arctic Ocean or the Florida environment.

The intern will research and analyze applicable ocean conservation and management laws, regulations, and policies to support program work. The intern will also track legislative changes and trends, draft legal memos, and aid in the legal guidance of the organization as a whole.

The legal intern can expect to work on or drive projects designed to enhance the Ocean Conservancy legal team. The intern will obtain practical in-house counsel and policy experience within a nonprofit environmental legal department.

Required Skills/Qualifications/Experience

Experience or course work on environmental and administrative law preferred.
Ideal candidates are able to work in a fast-paced environment with minimal supervision and be able to handle multiple projects and tasks simultaneously.
The preferred candidate is detail oriented, creative, articulate, personable and self-confident with good interpersonal, organizational, researching and communication skills.
Working effectively as part of a team and the ability to prioritize and multitask are critical to success.
Candidates must be dependable and reliable in meeting target deliverables according to schedule and expectations.
Candidates should have excellent research, analytic, writing and communication skills, along with experience in Microsoft Word, Excel and Outlook applications.
Candidates must be enrolled in an accredited law school pursuing a juris doctor degree.

Compensation

Ocean Conservancy is committed to equity in its pay practices and posts expected hiring ranges for each of its positions. This full-time, short-term, non-exempt position pays a rate of $25 an hour.

TO APPLY

If you think you’d be a great fit for the job and are interested in joining Ocean Conservancy’s team, please apply here.

Please include cover letter and resume in your application.

HYBRID WORK ENVIRONMENT

Ocean Conservancy embraces a hybrid work environment, which allows our staff the flexibility to work virtually and in-person while building strong connections across the institution.

Equal Opportunity Employer

Ocean Conservancy provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws.

This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.

We encourage applicants who have a diverse level and range of relevant skills and experiences to apply. A 100% match is not required. We want to support employees’ career growth and in return, our employees help Ocean Conservancy grow into a stronger, more inclusive organization.

If you are a person with a disability and need help applying, please contact us at jobs@oceanconservancy.org.

Ocean Conservancy

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