ACOEL Honors Intern Scholarship Program

The American College of Environmental Lawyers (ACOEL) is pleased to launch its second annual Honors Intern Scholarship Program.   The Program is designed to:

• Encourage law students to pursue careers in environmental law by providing financial support for hands-on internship experience.
• Enhance the work of qualified environmental non-profits and government agencies through the contributions of dedicated and passionate law students.
• Provide financial support to students in need, ensuring that financial barriers do not hinder their career aspirations in environmental law.

On the heels of the highly successful inaugural program last year, ACOEL is expanding the Program for 2025-2026 and will award scholarships of $10,000 each to five second-year law students who are committed to pursuing a career in environmental law and are applying for a summer 2026 internship with an eligible environmental non-profit organization or government agency.

Completed applications must be received by October 31, 2025.  Each of the five ACOEL Honors Intern Scholarship awardees will be notified of their selection no later than December 15, 2025.  Scholarship funds will be issued following confirmation that the recipient has accepted a written offer for the proposed internship, and certification by the non-profit or government agency that the internship will meet the eligibility and full-time requirements set forth in the application package.  If a recipient is unable to provide such confirmation and certification by February 27, 2026, or if a recipient subsequently withdraws from the internship for any reason, then the award may be made to another eligible applicant.

The ACOEL is a professional association of distinguished lawyers who practice in the field of environmental law and are dedicated to maintaining and improving the ethical practice of environmental law; the administration of justice; and the development of environmental law at both the state and federal levels.  Funding for the Honors Intern Scholarship Program is provided by the ACOEL Foundation.

Applicants must be current second-year, full-time law students in good standing, pursuing a juris doctorate at a law school where an ACOEL Fellow serves as a full-time faculty member and/or heads an environmental law program, clinic or center at the school.   Applicants must demonstrate a desire to pursue a career in environmental law and must (1) have applied for, or identified and will apply for, a qualified full-time internship for the summer of 2026 following their 2L year; and (2), if selected for a scholarship and prior to funding, must be offered and must accept the qualified internship for the summer of 2026 following their 2L year.