For most environmental and energy focused law students, summer is a critical time to gain on-the-job experience and contacts that pave their way to a meaningful career. However, a major financial disparity exists: While students pursuing private sector jobs can often command five-figure salaries, those passionate about public interest or public service may only receive a modest stipend or nothing at all. That financial reality, compounded by the burden of law school tuition and the high cost of living in many legal hubs, forces many to compromise their career goals.
This is where the generosity of Center for Law, Energy & the Environment (CLEE) donors make a major difference through gifts that allow many UC Berkeley Law students to pursue their passion for service without undue financial stress.
Each year, CLEE provides funding for Ecology Law Quarterly (ELQ) to award fellowships to students slated to work with a public interest organization or in the public sector for the summer. The fellowships are awarded to second-year students, who do not have to be a member of ELQ, and are made possible by donations to CLEE’s Energy & Environmental Futures Fund.
Read more about how donor support enabled three students to work for top environmental law organizations, doing exactly what they came to law school to do:
Becca Paskowitz ’26, National Resources Defense Council
For Becca Paskowitz, CLEE’s summer fellowship was the key to the door of her “dream organization.” She spent her summer at the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), working on environmental law and policy issues from the National Environmental Policy Act to clean energy.
“The fellowship allowed me to align my work with what I am truly passionate about and do exactly what I came to law school to do,” Becca shares. Her work included creating a model PFAS reporting rule for international reference, drafting comments on a proposed California regulation, and broadly supporting NRDC’s litigation team. “I’m deeply grateful to CLEE for making this experience possible.”
Joe Cullen ’26, Southern Environmental Law Center
The fellowship gave Joe the financial flexibility to move across the country to intern for the Southern Environmental Law Center, an organization he praises for its “gold standard for environmental advocacy” and place-based approach.
“Having grown up in Georgia, I was grateful for the opportunity to work alongside the Atlanta team and help protect Georgians’ right to clean air, clean water, and a livable climate,” Joe says. His highlights included creating a wetlands ordinance toolkit for local governments and leading an office-wide discussion on recent developments in Georgia standing jurisprudence. Joe concludes, “Thank you CLEE donors for helping make this opportunity a possibility.”
Abby Neal ’26, Earthjustice
Abby’s fellowship allowed her to clerk at Earthjustice’s California Regional Office in San Francisco. For a student with a clear goal of working in public interest environmental litigation, the opportunity was invaluable.
“This summer funding gave me additional financial flexibility in deciding on my summer employment,” Abby notes. Her work focused on representing California communities, including challenging state regulations, promoting clean energy, and protecting biodiversity and undeveloped natural spaces with tribal cultural significance. “This fellowship made it more financially feasible to take on a public interest role rather than a higher-paying role that would not have advanced my ultimate career goals as directly.”
These fellowships, made possible by donors’ support, ensure that critical public interest and public service fields continue to attract the best legal talent — and that students can lend their talent and passion towards making a positive difference in the world.