Join Our Team

This is an exciting legal and policy opportunity to work with FLOW’s team of attorneys, policy specialists, and journalists who are dedicated to addressing some of the most pressing issues in the Great Lakes Basin; they include evaluating increased water conflicts and diversions, defending against water privatization, securing access to clean affordable water for all, addressing the region’s water infrastructure crisis, restoring precious groundwater, protecting the climate, and restoring the water-energy-food cycle. Unique to FLOW’s legal work in defending the Great Lakes is the public trust doctrine, which clearly states that these precious freshwater resources belong to all of us and enjoy special legal status.  

The Legal Director will work closely with the entire FLOW staff to provide the organization and partners with legal analysis and research to support a wide range of Great Lakes campaigns.  Responsibilities include conducting legal research and preparing memoranda related to environmental law cases, reviewing proposed laws and regulations, drafting amicus briefs and other litigation documents, preparing formal public comments on rules and permits, authoring legal reports for publication, supervising interns, designing and implementing programs, coordinating and helping partners evaluate potential legal strategies in campaigns, making public presentations, authoring blogs and other communications, and responding to media requests.

Minimum Qualifications:

• J.D. or equivalent law degree with a minimum of 4 years of relevant experience;
• Exceptional legal research, writing, and communication skills;
• Excellent organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple tasks and competing deadlines;
• Ability to positively represent FLOW in a variety of professional settings;
• Ability to work within a team, as well as independently. FLOW is committed to workplace diversity, equity, and inclusion;
• A commitment to serving the public interest and ability to work successfully in settings; and
• Willingness to travel.

Desired Qualifications:

• Experience in environmental law;
• Licensed to practice law in the U.S.;
• Experience working internationally or with international organizations; and
• Demonstrated litigation skills or experience working within legislative or administrative processes.

Location: Traverse City, Michigan. FLOW is an equal opportunity employer.

For more information, please click here.

Position open until filled. Please send a cover letter, three writing samples, and C.V. or resume to: 

Nayt Boyt
For Love of Water (FLOW)
153 ½ E. Front St.
Traverse City, MI 49684
nayt@flowforwater.org

Everything we do is reflected in our name: For Love of Water. The Great Lakes belong to all of us. Our mission is to safeguard the Great Lakes, which hold 20% of the planet’s surface freshwater.  In particular, we identify solutions grounded in the Public Trust Doctrine — an ancient doctrine incorporated into the common law of the Great Lakes states which is very relevant to both emergent and persistent water governance challenges today. FLOW lifts up and helps explain the contemporary relevance of public trust principles and engages and activates citizens to join with us to advance public trust solutions informed by our cutting-edge legal analysis and policy work.

Through our targeted policy initiatives and multi-media communications, FLOW has built key partnerships with state-level and regional environmental groups, leveraged our expertise to influence agencies and impact state and federal legislation, and grown to be a trusted source of current information for citizens and decision-makers on issues affecting our freshwater seas. For example, FLOW was instrumental in framing the ability and necessity for the State of Michigan to shut down Enbridge’s Line 5, which runs through the heart of the Great Lakes in the Straits of Mackinac, on the basis of the Public Trust Doctrine.  

FLOW’s  office is located in Traverse City, Michigan.  Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we are planning a remote internship for the Summer of 2021.  Therefore, the intern will not need to be based in Traverse City or the Great Lakes region.  

Position Summary: We are looking for a Law & Policy Intern during the Summer of 2021.

Responsibilities: The Policy Intern will be responsible for original research and writing on Great Lakes and public trust policy topics under the supervision of staff. Such topics may include groundwater protection, commercial sale of public water, model policies to make affordable, safe water accessible for all, and others. This material may be used for FLOW reports and website content. Other duties may include tracking and analyzing water-related pending legislation, assisting with public presentations, and helping coordinate events.

Qualifications:  Ideally, FLOW seeks a rising third-year law student, but will also consider applicants that have completed at least one year of law school studies. 

The work of FLOW can be demanding and fast-paced. The applicant for this position will need to be flexible, a critical thinker, an effective researcher, and a skillful writer with an interest in environmental policy, legislation and law. FLOW is looking for an individual with the ability to follow direction and work independently who possesses close attention to detail; strong writing, research, and people skills; and experience with the Internet, Google Docs and Sheets, and Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.

FLOW is committed to workplace diversity, equity and inclusion. We are equal opportunity employers and do not discriminate in hiring or employment on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, gender, marital status, sexual orientation, age, disability, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law.

FLOW is able to offer a modest internship stipend, but applicants are strongly encouraged to seek supplemental sponsorship funds for this internship.  

To apply, please send a resume and cover letter to: info@flowforwater.org

Resumes will be accepted until the position is filled. For further information about FLOW, please visit: www.flowforwater.org or email info@flowforwater.org.

Position Summary: FLOW (For Love of Water), the Great Lakes public trust law and policy center located in Traverse City, seeks a Southeast Michigan-based writer and photojournalist for a summer 2021 Communications Internship covering water quality, quantity, and justice issues.

Responsibilities: The FLOW Summer 2021 Communications Intern will be responsible for original interviews, research, writing, photography, and videography on topics that include the impact to people and the environment from drinking water shutoffs in metropolitan Detroit and Flint, PFAS contamination, Lake Erie algae outbreaks, high-water impacts, groundwater pollution, septic system contamination, bottled water operations, and other water-related issues. Uplifting the legacy of Gov. William Milliken also is a special focus.

Hours and Location: The internship requires 15-20 hours of work a week in metropolitan Detroit and Flint from May to August for a modest monthly stipend and reimbursement for travel expenses. Applicants are strongly encouraged to seek supplemental sponsorship funds for this internship. The internship will be conducted remotely and require a willingness to follow direction, work independently, and also to collaborate with other organizations.

Qualifications: The successful applicant will be a compelling writer and digital photographer and videographer able to convey societal, scientific, and legal information to a general audience. The applicant must possess a valid Michigan driver’s license, private transportation, and insurance, and adhere to wearing a face mask in public and meeting other COVID-19 safety protocols. 

FLOW’s work can be demanding and fast-paced. This position requires someone who is independent, collaborative, flexible, compassionate, a critical thinker, and an effective researcher and interviewer. Close attention to detail and proficiency with the Internet, social media, and Google Drive, Docs, Sheets, and Slides also is required.

Equality: FLOW is committed to workplace diversity and inclusion. We are an equal opportunity employer and do not discriminate in hiring or employment on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, gender, marital status, sexual orientation, age, disability, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law.

To Apply: Please send a resume, cover letter, and samples or links to your writing, photography, and/or videography to info@flowforwater.org. Applications will be accepted until the position is filled for summer 2021. For more information about FLOW, please visit www.ForLoveOfWater.org or email info@flowforwater.org.

About FLOW: FLOW is an independent, non-partisan, 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Our mission is to safeguard the Great Lakes, groundwater, and drinking water for everybody. We help protect 20% of the planet’s surface freshwater by engaging and activating citizens to join with us to advance cutting-edge public trust policy solutions. Through our targeted policy initiatives and multi-media communications, FLOW has built key partnerships with state-level and regional environmental groups, leveraged our expertise to influence agencies and impact state and federal legislation, and grown to be a trusted source of current information for citizens and decision-makers on issues affecting our freshwater seas.