The Office of General Counsel within the Department of Environmental Protection accepts legal interns year-round.
- This page, Legal Internships at MassDEP, is offered by
- Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection
Legal Internships at MassDEP
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MassDEP Legal Intern Program
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The Office of General Counsel (“OGC”) within the Department of Environmental Protection ("MassDEP") accepts legal interns year-round.
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As part of MassDEP's diversity effort and equal opportunity policies, we encourage applications from individuals of different racial, cultural, economic and ethnic backgrounds regardless of their sexual orientation, gender identity, or disability status.
MassDEP is the primary state environmental regulatory agency of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. It enforces state laws regulating wetlands, waterways, public and private drinking water supplies, septic systems, air quality, asbestos, recycling, disposal of solid and hazardous waste and cleanup of contaminated hazardous waste sites, and the agency is recognized as a national leader on critical issues such as climate change and emerging contaminants. MassDEP is also tasked with addressing the challenges of environmental justice and the legacy of disparate environmental impacts on vulnerable communities; this mandate is reflected in the Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs (“EEA”) Environmental Justice Policy (the “EJ Policy).
Attorneys at MassDEP develop new and revised laws, regulations, policies and guidance documents, give advice to program staff, litigate adjudicatory appeals of permits, and represent the agency in pursuing enforcement actions. Several attorneys in OGC coordinate a legal intern program for law students. Law students will participate in an immersive program which includes working on diverse legal questions on the cutting-edge of environmental law. Intern coordinators are also happy to provide feedback to law schools on interns’ performance, when requested.
MassDEP's OGC typically accepts three to five interns per semester. Applicants must be a current law student and may apply for a position starting their 1L summer. MassDEP does not offer internships to first-year law students during the fall and spring semesters.
Generally, OGC internship positions are unpaid, although paid positions may be available through the MassDEP Michelle Waters-Ekanem Internship Program. When available, these paid legal internship roles will be posted on MassCareers.gov. Students may also secure outside funding and/or receive school credit during their internship. The internship may also be used to complete a law school’s pro-bono requirements. Please inquire with the internship coordinators if you have questions about funding and/or school credit.
How to apply
To apply to be a legal intern with MassDEP's Office of General Counsel, law students should:
- Complete the MassDEP Legal Internship Application
- Upload a Cover Letter
- Upload a Resume
- Upload a writing sample of 3-5 double spaced pages
- Optional application materials: transcript, references, any additional information you would like to share with the intern coordinators
Students may submit their applications online at the link provided and in accordance with the following schedule.
| Internship Term | Application Submittal | Selection Process |
|---|---|---|
| Fall Semester (August-December) | April 1st – June 15th | By end of June |
| Spring Semester (January-April) | September 1st – November 15th | By end of November |
| Summer Semester (June-August) | December 1st – March 15th | By end of March |
* Please note that MassDEP OGC reviews applications and conducts interviews on a rolling basis.
More info
OGC encourages law students with an interest in environmental law, environmental justice, or environmental protection to apply. Courses in environmental law and administrative law are beneficial but not a requirement. OGC looks for candidates who show dedication, an ability to engage in critical thought, good writing, independence, and professional courtesy.
Minimum hours
37.5 hours per week in the summer. Approximately 12 to 15 hours per week during the academic year, or full-time (37.5 hours per week) if on a co-op.
Locations
MassDEP’s main office is located at 100 Cambridge Street in Boston. MassDEP’s four regional offices are in Lakeville (Southeast Regional Office), Worcester (Central Regional Office), Woburn (Northeast Regional Office), and Springfield (Western Regional Office).
MassDEP's Legal Internship Program is headquartered out of the Boston Office, but MassDEP can accommodate fully-remote/telework and hybrid work schedules.
Intern projects
Intern coordinators assign each intern somewhere between one and five projects at a time. Many projects involve research and writing. Others may involve making oral presentations to OGC attorneys or other program staff. Interns may also be asked to handle portions of administrative appeals under an attorney’s supervision. The attorney submitting the assignment directly oversees these projects, and interns and attorneys work closely together.
MassDEP seeks intern input as to what type of project they find interesting, and MassDEP attempts to accommodate interns’ requests to the extent possible. MassDEP also encourages students to discuss their interests when applying for the program.
Legal practice groups, litigation events & other meetings
OGC encourages interns to attend as many OGC events as possible, including litigation hearings and internal staff meetings.