Glynn D. Key Fellowship program

SELC has created a special fellowship program for law students and practicing attorneys who have a strong interest in or a demonstrated commitment to working to advance environmental justice. Our Glynn D. Key Fellowship program includes an associate attorney fellowship and a summer intern fellowship.  More information on both positions—and the dear SELC friend and former Trustee in whose honor these fellowships were created—is available below. 

If you have questions or for more information about our Fellowship and environmental justice opportunities, please reach out to [email protected].

Glynn D. Key Associate Attorney Fellowship

The Glynn D. Key Associate Attorney Fellowship is an entry-level position open to recent law graduates, attorneys completing clerkships, and practicing attorneys. The Associate Fellowship is part of our Associate Attorney program and is intended for applicants with a strong interest in or a demonstrated commitment to advancing environmental justice. Fellows will be provided the opportunity to work on at least one project with an environmental justice component.

SELC will typically hire for the Fellowship annually during our regular Associate Attorney hiring cycle from approximately August through October. The number of openings varies each year, and the Fellowships can typically be based in any SELC office. Core qualifications and experienced sought for the Fellowship include: a strong academic background, personal commitment to SELC’s mission, exceptional legal research, analysis, & writing skills, excellent communication & interpersonal skills, effective collaboration skills, demonstrated commitment to working with communities of color and other vulnerable communities, and a genuine interest in and commitment to helping SELC foster a more diverse, inclusive, and equitable workplace.

Glynn D. Key 1L Summer Fellowship

The Glynn D. Key 1L Summer Fellowship at SELC is offered to first-year law students, particularly students with a strong interest in or a demonstrated commitment to advancing environmental justice. The Summer Intern Fellowship is hired for annually between December – March, with the application anticipated to be opened at the beginning of December.

Fellows will be provided the opportunity to work on at least one distinct project with an environmental justice component.  In addition to working on at least one environmental justice issue, fellows can expect to do research and writing on litigation or other environmental advocacy in a substantive area. Depending on the project area, research may include federal and state environmental statutes and regulations, and procedural and evidentiary issues. In addition to research and writing, fellows will also participate in strategy sessions, document review, client meetings, site visits, and other aspects of case or project management.  Fellows may also observe depositions, hearings, meetings on environmental policy with government officials and leaders of other environmental groups. Core qualifications and experienced sought for the Fellowship include: interest in/commitment to advancing environmental justice (or the intersection of environmental law and racial justice), interest in an environmental and/or non-profit career, community service/engagement work, strong research and writing skills, and genuine interest in and commitment to helping SELC foster a more diverse, inclusive, and equitable workplace.

About Glynn D. Key

Glynn D. Key (1964–2014) was a trailblazing lawyer who overcame racial and gender barriers to forge a legacy in the legal profession. A native of Chattanooga, Tennessee, Glynn was a Jefferson Scholar at the University of Virginia, where she made history as the first African American to chair the Honor Committee and serve as president of the Student Council. She went on to earn her law degree from the University of Virginia School of Law.  

Glynn began her legal career at Covington & Burling in Washington, D.C., before joining the first Clinton administration (1993–1996) as Special Assistant and Counsel to Interior Secretary Bruce Babbitt. In this role, she led transformative projects, including the groundbreaking $700 million Everglades restoration settlement—a landmark agreement uniting environmentalists, Indigenous tribes, the agricultural industry, and federal and state governments. Glynn later became a partner at WilmerHale and served as General Counsel for General Electric’s Coal Gasification and Water & Process Technologies Division, where her strategic insights and legal acumen continued to shape industries.

Glynn’s professional achievements were matched by her deep dedication to public service. SELC was honored to have her on our Board of Trustees from 2000 to 2009, where her vision enhanced our mission and impact. Her leadership also extended to Wharton’s Initiative for Global Environmental Leadership, the Miller Center for Public Affairs, and the University of Virginia.

The Glynn D. Key Fellowship stands as a testament to her commitment to creating a more equitable and sustainable world. Though her untimely passing at the age of 50 was a profound loss, her influence continues to inspire generations of leaders. 

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If you have questions or for more information about our Fellowship and environmental justice opportunities, please reach out to [email protected].