Student Involvement

PACE ENERGY AND CLIMATE CENTER INTERNSHIP PROGRAM 
 
Now Accepting Applications for the 2020 Summer Intensive and the 2020-2021 Academic Year Program
 
Summer Program applications are due by Monday, April 6, 2020
 
Fall / Spring 2020/2021 Program applications are due by Friday, June 5, 2020
 
The Pace Energy and Climate Center offers opportunities for Pace University students in the form of legal and policy internships and research projects. The program focuses on policy analysis, legal writing and administrative practice related to electric utility law. Students will also learn some of the intricacies and skills associated with environmental non-profits and think tanks.
 
Summer Intensive and Fall/Spring Academic Year Internship Programs
 
The Pace Energy and Climate Center offers two programs. The Academic Year Internship Program is offered in the Fall and Spring semesters to students who can commit a minimum of 7 hours per week, up to 20 hours. The Summer Intensive Internship Program, which runs from the start of June through the end of July, is a full-time opportunity, with preference given to students who are able to commit to a minimum of 20 hours per week and who are interested in staying on with the Center for the following Academic Year Internship Program. 
 
The Center always accepts questions about the program – please contact us anytime! You can reach Radina Valova at rvalova2@law.pace.edu, or at (914) 422-4126 (please leave a voice message) to set up an appointment.
 
Energy law is a rapidly changing field, confronting emerging issues relating to climate change, distributed generation and renewable energy, cybersecurity, changes in wholesale and retail energy markets, and numerous other questions. By developing valuable skills and knowledge through practice, the Pace Energy and Climate Center Internship Program prepares young lawyers to confront pressing issues within the burgeoning field of energy law. Interns learn primarily through providing support to Center staff on their assigned projects. 
 
Past interns have produced legal memos and research, provided organizational support such as planning and organizing, explored questions of legal procedure and substance, worked in close coordination with other environmental and consumer advocacy nonprofit groups, and directly participated in administrative proceedings. Interns experience a variety of tasks associated with energy law and environmental nonprofit organizations, and have the opportunity to attend meetings with clients, participate in public hearings and other processes, when scheduling allows, and get involved with every aspect of the projects and cases to which they’re assigned.
 
Students have gone on to careers at institutions central to the energy discussion, such as the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the Energy Foundation, New York State Energy Research and Development Authority, the New York Power Authority, and the New York Independent System Operator. Involvement at the Center provides students an opportunity to gain valuable experience in a unique and challenging area of the law while working with an interdisciplinary staff of lawyers, scientists, and economists.
 
While all students are welcome to apply, preference is given to rising 2L and 3L J.D. candidates. International LL.M. students who have completed their J.D.-equivalent training outside of the U.S. must complete the required law school writing course before being eligible for consideration.
 
Application Process Applicants should submit (1) a resume, (2) a writing sample from a class or prior employment, (3) a response to one of the research questions below, and (4) a signed certification that the writing samples are entirely and completely the student’s own work (i.e., have not been edited or revised by others). The certification is available for download here. All writing samples must include proper citations and references and must be in compliance with the Elisabeth Haub School of Law’s Honor Code.
 
Applications for the 2020 Summer Intensive Internship Program are due by Monday, April 6, 2020. Please email applications to Radina Valova at rvalova2@law.pace.edu, or drop off hard copies in Room 215 of the E-House. Interns receive $13.00/hour, with flexible hours up 20 hours per week during the Academic Year program and up to 35 hours per week during the Summer Intensive program.
 
Research Questions Applicants should submit either a 1-2 page response to one of the research questions below OR a personal statement of no more than 500 words addressing the applicant’s interest in energy and climate related legal practice. Research topics the applicant may address include:
  1. Describe the differences between net metering and value of solar or value of distributed energy resources tariffs.
  2. Describe the difference between rate-based and mass-based greenhouse gas emissions standards.
  3. Describe standby rates, their purpose, and their impact on distributed generation.
  4. Summarize the New York Public Service Commission’s Order on Energy Efficiency and Electrification, and opine on whether the Commission permissibly interpreted its enabling statute.
 
Ottinger Interns Dean Emeritus and PECC founder, Richard L. Ottinger, supervises several volunteer interns each semester. These interns work exclusively for Professor Ottinger on energy topics related to international sustainability. Interested students should bring their ideas to Professor Ottinger to discuss this opportunity, and can reach him at rottinger@law.pace.edu.