Legal Intern

Salary : $43.80 - $53.24 Hourly

Location : San Francisco, CA

Job Type : Internship

Remote Employment : Flexible / Hybrid

Job Number : RS25 - 10 / 16 LEGAL

Department : Legal

Opening Date : 10 / 16 / 2025

Closing Date : 12 / 2 / 2025 5 : 00 PM Pacific

Description

Join an agency committed to creating a healthy breathing environment for every Bay Area resident while protecting and improving public health, air quality, and the global climate!

The Bay Area Air District (Air District) is a regional government agency, committed to achieving clean air to protect the public's health and the environment. The Air District accomplishes this goal through regulation of industrial facilities and various outreach and incentive programs designed to encourage clean air choices.

The Air District's jurisdiction encompasses all of seven counties - Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Clara and Napa, and portions of two others - southwestern Solano and southern Sonoma.

At the Air District, we take pride in our commitment to fostering a workplace that values diversity and promotes cultural awareness. We prioritize employee engagement by providing a collaborative and inclusive environment that encourages active participation and open dialogue. Additionally, we believe in pay equity and strive to create an equitable compensation structure. With a strong emphasis on work-life balance, we understand the importance of supporting our employees' well-being both inside and outside the workplace. Join us in a dynamic and inclusive culture where your contributions are celebrated, and your growth is nurtured.

The Air District recognizes and values the contributions of every employee and works to sustain an environment where everyone is respected. We incorporate the principles of diversity, equity and inclusion within our decision-making strategies, policies, procedures, regulations, funding initiatives, public outreach, planning, and hiring.

The Air District is accepting applications for the position of Legal Intern in the Legal Office. This is a temporary, exempt position, not to exceed 10-12 weeks in Summer 2026. There are two (2) vacancies.

About the Division

The Legal Division provides a wide array of legal services to support the entire Air District, including prosecuting violations of air laws; advising on legal compliance with the Brown Act, California Environmental Quality Act, AB 617, and other federal, State and local laws; supporting rulemakings by developing regulatory language and advising on compliance with rulemaking requirements; supporting the permitting program; reviewing records under the Public Records Act; researching legal issues; and staying abreast of current legal developments in air quality throughout California and nationwide. The Division utilizes a variety of tools to resolve enforcement actions, such as abatement orders, civil enforcement, and coordinating with other enforcement agencies, like local district attorneys or the state Attorney General. For cases in environmental justice communities, Air District staff can directly engage with community members when determining the appropriate legal remedies, including high enough penalties to reach deterrence-based outcomes and ensure the community benefits from the related funds and measures to bring the facility into long-term compliance and prevent the potential recurrence of violations.

Definition

Under close supervision, the legal intern performs various work related to and in support of legal casework being undertaken by attorneys in the Legal Division. The intern gains practical work experience through assisting the Air District's attorneys while following guidelines and procedures defined by the Legal Division.

Distinguishing Characteristics

This is a temporary training position for current law students and recent law school graduates. Interns will apply their legal education to work and gain practical experience assisting experienced attorneys on a variety of cases and projects. Through this work, interns will gain valuable environmental law and regulatory experience.

Examples of Duties for this Position

(Illustrative Only)

Conducts legal research and prepares legal memoranda for review by attorneys.

Assists attorneys in the preparation of enforcement cases, often involving a specialized body of law.

Assists attorneys in reviewing air quality regulations and policies.

Monitors legal developments, including proposed legislation and court decisions, evaluates their impacts on Air District operations, and recommends appropriate action.

Attends and takes notes at Air District departmental, board and committee meetings.

Maintains, organizes, and tracks accurate records and compiles reports of work performed.

Provides support for special projects as needed.

Performs related duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

Education and Experience

Must be enrolled in and have completed the first year at an accredited law school (summer enrollment not required), or have recently graduated from an accredited law school and be studying for the California bar exam or awaiting admission to the California bar after completion of the bar exam.

How to Apply & Selection Criteria

How to Apply

Interested individuals must submit a completed Air District application and responses to the supplemental questionnaire by 5 : 00 p.m. on Tuesday , December 2, 2025 . Resumes are encouraged, but not mandatory, and will not be accepted in lieu of the required application materials. Applications are accepted online; please visit our website at to apply. Postmarks, faxes, and e-mailed applications will not be accepted.

Except as requested in this announcement, do not include any additional documents, such as letters of recommendation, performance evaluations, work samples, etc. They will not be reviewed or considered.

Supplemental Questions Instructions

Individuals who apply for this position must respond to each of the required supplemental questions. Online applications must be received by the Human Resources Office no later than the time and date specified in this vacancy announcement.

Persons with disabilities who may require reasonable accommodations during the application and / or selection process should notify the Human Resources Office at (415) 749-4980.

The Air District is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

• Cost-Sharing Medical, Dental & Vision Options
• Life Insurance (up to 5 times annual salary)
• CalPERS Retirement Plan
• Money Purchase Pension Plan
• 457 Deferred Compensation Plan
• Transit Subsidy
• Education Reimbursement
• Vacation Leave
• Sick Leave
• Paid Holidays
• Floating Holiday Leave
• 9-80 Compressed Work Week
• Flexible schedule and Remote Work option
• Employees Assistance Program
• and the Opportunity to Help Provide a Healthy Breathing Environment for Every Bay Area Resident.

For a list of the full benefits, please click

01

Please explain why you are interested in this position. You may submit this response in the form of a cover letter tailored to this position.

02

Please describe your interest in working in environmental law and any relevant experience or coursework you may have.

03

Describe your interest in furthering environmental justice, and any related experience you have working on environmental justice or related social justice issues. We encourage you to consider any experience you have working with communities of color as highly relevant experience because of the environmental justice work the Air District does to combat air pollution in communities of concern, including communities of color, that are already overburdened by air pollution.

04

Provide one legal writing sample, no more than 10 pages in length, written in the past two years, demonstrating your analytical and legal writing skills. An excerpt may be provided, if necessary, as long as background is provided in a short cover sheet that enables the reader to understand and evaluate the excerpt. We encourage you to use a piece with as little editing by someone else as possible. Please specify whether your writing sample was heavily edited by anyone other than you and, if so, which sections were heavily edited and for what purpose. You can upload your materials as an attachment to your application.

05

At the time of the internship, what will be your law school status?

Required Question