Summer Law Clerk

Summer Law ClerkJob Posting

Position Summary: 

CUB’s law clerk program is designed to provide law students with hands on experience related to utility (gas, electric, and telecom) law and regulation. Each law clerk is supervised and works closely with CUB’s Attorneys and Regulatory Analysts. Law students wishing to become CUB law clerks should have a clear interest in the field of utility regulatory law and should be willing to roll up their sleeves and dig right in. CUB’s Summer Law Clerk program is open to 1L and 2L students.

About CUB: 

The Oregon Citizens’ Utility Board (CUB) is a non-profit established by initiative process to represent the interests of Oregon’s residential utility customers. 

CUB advocates for customers by working to develop energy systems that are affordable, accessible, reliable, and clean and to ensure telecommunications policies that support universal access to Broadband.

• Affordable utilities. CUB keeps utility rates affordable by challenging utility rate proposals and has successfully saved energy and telecommunications customers over $10 billion.
• Advance energy efficiency and renewables. CUB was instrumental in creating the Energy Trust of Oregon to deliver energy efficiency and renewable energy programs. 
• Reduce greenhouse gas emissions. CUB was central to the negotiations that led to the closure of Oregon’s only coal plant and worked as part of a broad coalition to pass Oregon’s 100% clean electricity legislation.
• Protect the accessibility and affordability of telephone and internet access services. CUB’s advocacy was critical to the passage of Oregon’s Net Neutrality and Rural Broadband bills. 
• Ensure that diversity, equity, and inclusion are promoted in utility policy. CUB has worked with environmental justice groups to broaden participation in energy policy decision making; worked to protect vulnerable communities’ access to affordable electricity, natural gas, and broadband; helped develop programs to prevent utility shutoffs; and promoted weatherization and energy efficiency. CUB strives to integrate diversity, equity, and inclusion principles in all our work. 

Job Responsibilities: 

During each CUB law clerkship, law clerks are provided with a wide variety of experiences including, but not limited to: attendance at Public Utility Commission hearings and other proceedings; attendance at Oregon State Legislative hearings; utility law research; legislative history research; drafting of discovery requests (data requests) motions, legal memorandums, proposed rules, and legislative changes; and attendance at meetings with Oregon’s investor owned utilities.

CUB’s law clerks are introduced to practicing energy bar attorneys, utility analysts and management staff, state legislators, employees of other energy and environmental non-profits, and other professionals in the industry. Clerks will hone their skills in: legal research, analytical writing, legislative research and advocacy, policy research and writing; negotiation skills, legal advocacy, and other day-to-day legal skills like fact-checking, editing, transcription, and pleading formatting. 

Desired Skills:

• Legal, legislative, and policy research 
• Issue-spotting/problem analysis
• Critical thinking
• Strategic communication 
• Fact-checking
• Legal editing and formatting 
• Ability to work independently
• Writing skills including legal memoranda, pleadings, and research briefs

Terms of employment and compensation

Law Clerks work out of CUB’s downtown Portland office. Hybrid working arrangements are available. This position is for a fixed term of 300 hours at $20 an hour. Though CUB’s work is serious, we place a priority on healthy work/life balance and on creating a successful law clerk experience. 

How to apply

CUB encourages applicants from all backgrounds to apply.* In your cover letter, we invite you to provide details that demonstrate how your education, training, and/or experience meet the qualifications listed above. Additionally, please provide a copy of your academic transcript and a writing sample. Email your application materials to Sharif Morton at sharif@oregoncub.org and put Summer Law Clerk in the subject line. Deadline is March 10, 2025. 

*A note to potential candidates: Studies have shown that women, trans, non-binary, BIPOC, and other candidates from most-impacted communities are less likely to apply for jobs unless they believe they meet every single one of the qualifications as described in a job description. We are committed to building a diverse and inclusive organization, and we are most interested in finding the best candidate for the job. That candidate may be one who comes from a background less traditional to our field of work, and that’s welcome. We would strongly encourage you to apply, even if you don't believe you meet every one of the qualifications described.