Law Clerks

Clinical Law Clerks and Summer Advocates

Midwest Environmental Advocates runs two programs for law students, our Summer Advocate Program and our Semester Clinical Law Clerk Program. Law Clerks and Summer Advocates develop valuable skills in client interviewing, legal research and writing, and community organizing.

Join us for an externship Q&A pizza lunch on April 8, 2013 at noon, UW Law 7200 Lubar Commons. Please RSVP on Facebook. Download the April 8 Open House event flier or the externship information sheet.

To apply, send a cover letter, resume, and five page writing sample via email to Jimmy Parra (jparra(at)midwestadvocates.org) or by post to:

Midwest Environmental Advocates
612 W. Main Street, Suite 302
Madison, WI 53703

MEA also accepts a limited number of non-law students for volunteer positions. For more information email Kelly Forman (advocate(at)midwestadvocates.org).

Summer Advocate Program

Midwest Environmental Advocates accepts up to four law students from across the country for in depth work at our offices in Madison and Milwaukee from May until August. Summer Advocates work full time for 10-12 weeks. While we have funding available, students are encouraged to seek grants to supplement or enhance their funding.

 

Summer Advocates work closely with staff attorneys on case development and litigation. Students may draft pleadings, briefs, and other legal documents; conduct legal research and prepare memoranda; develop strategy and legal theories; gather evidence; and attend meetings with clients, conferences with opposing counsel, and any court proceedings. Summer Advocates will also have the opportunity to conduct intakes of potential clients, interact with other counsel and experts, and attend press conferences and government meetings.

 

Students from The University of Wisconsin Law School are not normally eligible to participate in the Summer Advocate Program.  Instead, they are encouraged to apply for the Semester Clinical Program.

 

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Semester Clinical Program for UW-Madison Law Students

Midwest Environmental Advocates offers a unique experience for Wisconsin law students to get an in-depth look at all aspects of environmental law practice and nonprofit legal work. Our clinical program includes two parts, the seminar and the externship.

Our weekly seminars are intended to provide students with a varied and in-depth look at all aspects of the practice of environmental law. Topics have included legal issues in citizen suits, using the Clean Water Act, the inner workings of the Department of Natural Resources, environmental justice, working effectively with citizens’ groups and lobbying. Seminars are taught by a combination of Midwest Environmental Advocates staff and outside experts, including some non-lawyers, who provide unique perspectives on environmental law. Guest speakers have included local environmental attorneys in private practice, a former Secretary of the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources and a former Public Intervenor, among others.

Our externship provides the opportunity for students to gain a practical knowledge of the workings of environmental law and hone their skills on real issues and cases. Working as law clerks in Midwest Environmental Advocates offices in Madison and Milwaukee, students are involved at all levels of environmental litigation from researching new topics in environmental protection to helping prepare briefs in ongoing litigation. We strive to provide students with the opportunity to see environmental law 'in action'. Past activities have included delivering public comments at legislative hearings, meeting with community members to build grassroots coalitions and documenting environmental violations ‘in the field.’

Taken in place of regular classes, students are awarded seven credits on a pass/fail basis for the semester. Based on the standard university requirement for internship hours, students work 315 hours in the semester, including the seminars. Weekly seminars are analogous to law school seminars and usually include readings.

Midwest Environmental Advocates also offers a less intensive semester clinical program for Marquette law students, administered in coordination with the Marquette Law School. Contact Midwest Environmental Advocates for more details.

2013 Spring Semester Law Clerks

Erin Clark

Erin is originally from Denver, CO, but has also lived and worked in New England and Southern California. She is currently a third year law student at the University of Wisconsin Law School, focusing on real estate, land use, and environmental law. Having worked as an urban planner for the City of Pasadena, CA before entering law school, she hopes to combine her interest and expertise in municipal government and land use planning with the law. Her work this semester with MEA includes reviewing and commenting on proposed rule changes by Wisconsin administrative agencies that could impact environmental protection and enforcement.

Laura Campbell

Laura is from Deerfield, Wisconsin and is a third year law student at University of Wisconsin Law School. Her undergraduate studies in social and environmental justice lead to her interest in environmental law. Her experience as a clerk at Midwest Environmental Advocates has served to cement this passion.