The Institute for Policy Integrity at New York University School of Law is seeking 1L, 2L, or 3L law students passionate about environmental law, energy law, environmental justice, and/or regulatory policy to assist with our research and advocacy.
About Policy Integrity:
Policy Integrity is a non‐partisan think tank housed at New York University School of Law dedicated to improving the quality of government decisionmaking through legal advocacy and academic scholarship in the fields of administrative law and public policy. Policy Integrity’s docket covers a range of issue areas, with an emphasis on federal‐ and state‐level energy policies and federal environmental protections.
Responsibilities:
Research Assistants conduct legal research, prepare written memoranda, and offer other support for Policy Integrity’s research and advocacy. We are actively seeking support on two existing projects (described below). A research assistant would likely begin work on one of these two projects, but could be given additional tasks subject to their interest and availability over the academic year. Research assistants are welcome to attend our staff meetings and events. We seek to help research assistants develop knowledge of advocacy techniques and subject-area expertise.
- Major Rules in the Courts Project (see website here and article here). This project analyzes legal challenges to every federal major rule, as defined by the Congressional Review Act. The research assistant will identify major rules issued since December 1, 2023; populate a spreadsheet with these major rules; then try to identify any legal challenges to these major rules using Bloomberg Law and Westlaw; and code those challenges according to a manual we have created. Deadlines and hours worked can be flexible, but we are hoping for approximately something in the range of 5-10 hours per week (more hours if the research assistant desires). The work can start now or wait until later in the semester and is expected to continue through the end of the spring semester.
- Strengthening Energy Infrastructure Resilience and Equity During Extreme Cold Weather Events (see grant here). The project investigates policy mechanisms for efficiently allocating natural gas pipeline capacity between the electric and gas sectors during extreme weather events, when both electricity and heating demands surge. One component of this study will analyze state-level policies, such as earnings-sharing mechanisms, which financially incentivize utilities to resell unused pipeline capacity. The research assistant will help in building a national database of state earnings-sharing mechanism rules by reviewing regulatory filings to track rules approved by public utility commissions across various states. The time commitment is flexible, with an anticipated workload of 5-10 hours per week. Ideally, this position would begin soon and continue through the end of the fall semester, though depending on the start date could extend into spring semester.
Timing:
These positions would ideally begin sometime before the end of the fall (2024) semester and continue into the spring (2025) semester, though can be flexible to begin in spring semester if needed. If seeking a position for only one semester or a more limited duration, please make clear when the period of availability would be in the cover letter.
Terms of Employment:
This is a paid position. In compliance with NYC’s Pay Transparency Law, the minimum and maximum hourly wage for student employment positions at NYU Law School is $16.00 per hour until December 31, 2024 (increasing to $16.50 per hour effective January 1, 2025), for graduate and undergraduate students.
Qualifications:
This opportunity is open to law students at NYU Law School. We look for candidates with excellent writing, research, and analytical skills, as well as strong interpersonal skills. While not required, some experience organizing and managing data may be helpful for these projects. Additionally, an interest in or prior work experience with environmental/energy law or environmental/energy issues is preferable, but not a requirement. Because much of our work occurs at the intersection of law and economics, we also value experience working on an interdisciplinary team and on interdisciplinary subjects.
NYU is an Equal Opportunity Employer and is committed to a policy of equal treatment and opportunity in every aspect of its recruitment and hiring process without regard to age, alienage, caregiver status, childbirth, citizenship status, color, creed, disability, domestic violence victim status, ethnicity, familial status, gender and/or gender identity or expression, marital status, military status, national origin, parental status, partnership status, predisposing genetic characteristics, pregnancy, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, unemployment status, veteran status, or any other legally protected basis. Women, racial and ethnic minorities, persons of minority sexual orientation or gender identity, individuals with disabilities, and veterans are encouraged to apply for vacant positions at all levels.
To Apply:
Send the following documents compiled into one PDF to [email protected]:
- A cover letter,
- a resume
In your cover note, please indicate if you are interested in one or both of the projects described above.
Priority application review will begin November 15, 2024.