J-1 Visa Environmental Attorney Jobs
Environmental Attorney positions in the U.S. are accessible to foreign legal professionals through the J-1 visa Trainee or Research Scholar program categories, depending on your career stage. Designated sponsors issue the DS-2019 and manage your sponsorship while a U.S. law firm, NGO, or government agency serves as your host employer.
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Get Access To All JobsAPPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS:
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CURRENT PENN STATE EMPLOYEE (faculty, staff, technical service, or student), please login to Workday to complete the internal application process . Please do not apply here, apply internally through Workday.
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CURRENT PENN STATE STUDENT (not employed previously at the university) and seeking employment with Penn State, please login to Workday to complete the student application process. Please do not apply here, apply internally through Workday.
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If you are NOT a current employee or student, please click “Apply” and complete the application process for external applicants .
Approval of remote and hybrid work is not guaranteed regardless of work location. For additional information on remote work at Penn State, see Notice to Out of State Applicants.
JOB DESCRIPTION AND POSITION REQUIREMENTS
Environmental Education Interns become an integral part of the staff and participate in many aspects of the nature center’s operation. A two-week orientation and training period is followed by a variety of teaching opportunities in both day and residential settings.
Interns develop and teach ecology-based lessons for K to 4th grade on and off site with our school day programming.
At Outdoor School, a 4-day residential camp for local 5th grade students, interns become Learning Group Leaders for 2 to 3 weeks over the fall. In this role, interns facilitate hands-on lessons and guided exploration of the natural world, with a curriculum that supports the Pennsylvania education standards.
Interns work with all ages and with a variety of groups, including public and private schools, organizations, clubs, and the public. Program areas provide each intern with an opportunity to work in planning, delivering, and evaluating the center’s educational and recreational offerings. Other opportunities include assisting with live animal training and care, working with volunteers, contributing to the center’s social media platforms, maintaining trails and restoring habitats, collecting and submitting data for citizen science projects and fostering sustainable initiatives at the center.
Successful candidates have a strong desire to teach and share their knowledge of and enthusiasm for the natural world. A background in education or the natural sciences is helpful but not necessary.
Benefits include professional guidance and on-site housing at our intern house nestled in the woods away from park visitors. Average work week is 40 to 45 hours.
BACKGROUND CHECKS/CLEARANCES
This position requires the following clearances in addition to applicable background checks: PA State Police Criminal Background Check, PA Child Abuse History Clearance Form, and Federal (FBI) Fingerprint Criminal Background Check.
CAMPUS SECURITY CRIME STATISTICS
Pursuant to the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act and the Pennsylvania Act of 1988, Penn State publishes a combined Annual Security and Annual Fire Safety Report (ASR). The ASR includes crime statistics and institutional policies concerning campus security, such as those concerning alcohol and drug use, crime prevention, the reporting of crimes, sexual assault, and other matters. The ASR is available for review here.
EEO IS THE LAW
Penn State is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to providing employment opportunities to all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or protected veteran status. If you are unable to use our online application process due to an impairment or disability, please contact 814-865-1473.
Penn State is committed to and accountable for advancing equity, respect, and belonging. We embrace individual uniqueness, as well as a culture of belonging that supports equity initiatives, leverages the educational and institutional benefits of inclusion in society, and provides opportunities for engagement intended to help all members of the community thrive. We value belonging as a core strength and an essential element of the university’s teaching, research, and service mission.
APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS:
-
CURRENT PENN STATE EMPLOYEE (faculty, staff, technical service, or student), please login to Workday to complete the internal application process . Please do not apply here, apply internally through Workday.
-
CURRENT PENN STATE STUDENT (not employed previously at the university) and seeking employment with Penn State, please login to Workday to complete the student application process. Please do not apply here, apply internally through Workday.
-
If you are NOT a current employee or student, please click “Apply” and complete the application process for external applicants .
Approval of remote and hybrid work is not guaranteed regardless of work location. For additional information on remote work at Penn State, see Notice to Out of State Applicants.
JOB DESCRIPTION AND POSITION REQUIREMENTS
Environmental Education Interns become an integral part of the staff and participate in many aspects of the nature center’s operation. A two-week orientation and training period is followed by a variety of teaching opportunities in both day and residential settings.
Interns develop and teach ecology-based lessons for K to 4th grade on and off site with our school day programming.
At Outdoor School, a 4-day residential camp for local 5th grade students, interns become Learning Group Leaders for 2 to 3 weeks over the fall. In this role, interns facilitate hands-on lessons and guided exploration of the natural world, with a curriculum that supports the Pennsylvania education standards.
Interns work with all ages and with a variety of groups, including public and private schools, organizations, clubs, and the public. Program areas provide each intern with an opportunity to work in planning, delivering, and evaluating the center’s educational and recreational offerings. Other opportunities include assisting with live animal training and care, working with volunteers, contributing to the center’s social media platforms, maintaining trails and restoring habitats, collecting and submitting data for citizen science projects and fostering sustainable initiatives at the center.
Successful candidates have a strong desire to teach and share their knowledge of and enthusiasm for the natural world. A background in education or the natural sciences is helpful but not necessary.
Benefits include professional guidance and on-site housing at our intern house nestled in the woods away from park visitors. Average work week is 40 to 45 hours.
BACKGROUND CHECKS/CLEARANCES
This position requires the following clearances in addition to applicable background checks: PA State Police Criminal Background Check, PA Child Abuse History Clearance Form, and Federal (FBI) Fingerprint Criminal Background Check.
CAMPUS SECURITY CRIME STATISTICS
Pursuant to the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act and the Pennsylvania Act of 1988, Penn State publishes a combined Annual Security and Annual Fire Safety Report (ASR). The ASR includes crime statistics and institutional policies concerning campus security, such as those concerning alcohol and drug use, crime prevention, the reporting of crimes, sexual assault, and other matters. The ASR is available for review here.
EEO IS THE LAW
Penn State is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to providing employment opportunities to all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or protected veteran status. If you are unable to use our online application process due to an impairment or disability, please contact 814-865-1473.
Penn State is committed to and accountable for advancing equity, respect, and belonging. We embrace individual uniqueness, as well as a culture of belonging that supports equity initiatives, leverages the educational and institutional benefits of inclusion in society, and provides opportunities for engagement intended to help all members of the community thrive. We value belonging as a core strength and an essential element of the university’s teaching, research, and service mission.
See all 275+ J-1 Visa Environmental Attorney Jobs
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new J-1 Visa Environmental Attorney Jobs.
Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding J-1 Visa Sponsorship as an Environmental Attorney
Verify your bar admission strategy early
Most U.S. host employers require foreign-licensed attorneys to hold an LLM from a U.S. institution or pass a state bar exam before practicing. Clarify whether your role is structured as legal training or substantive practice before applying.
Target host employers with established training programs
Federal agencies like the EPA, DOJ Environment Division, and established environmental NGOs are experienced J-1 hosts. They have training plans already in place, which your designated sponsor needs to approve your DS-2019.
Search Migrate Mate to identify J-1-aligned roles
Use Migrate Mate to filter for Environmental Attorney positions at U.S. employers with a history of hosting international legal professionals, saving you time that generic job boards waste on roles that won't support a J-1 placement.
Build a detailed individual training plan before outreach
Your designated sponsor requires a formal training plan outlining objectives, supervision structure, and timelines. Arriving with a draft aligned to your host employer's practice areas accelerates sponsor approval and signals professionalism to both parties.
Assess the two-year home residency requirement upfront
J-1 Trainees and Research Scholars funded by their home government or whose skills are on the Exchange Visitor Skills List may face a two-year home residency requirement before adjusting to H-1B visa or permanent residence. Check your DS-2019 before accepting an offer.
Confirm the host employer's compliance infrastructure
Your host must agree to program rules set by the designated sponsor, including maintaining supervision and reporting obligations. Ask prospective employers directly whether they have previously hosted J-1 exchange visitors in a legal or research capacity.
Environmental Attorney J-1 Visa: Frequently Asked Questions
Which J-1 program category fits an Environmental Attorney?
It depends on where you are in your career. If you're a current law student or recent graduate gaining practical experience, the J-1 Intern category applies. If you're a licensed attorney with at least one year of post-degree professional experience seeking specialized training in U.S. environmental law, the J-1 Trainee category is the correct fit. Research Scholar applies if your role centers on academic or policy research rather than legal practice.
Who actually sponsors the J-1 visa for an Environmental Attorney role?
The visa sponsor is a U.S. Department of State-designated organization, not your employer. Organizations like Cultural Vistas or IIE issue the DS-2019 form and oversee program compliance. The law firm, agency, or NGO where you work is your host employer. Your host must cooperate with the sponsor but is not itself the sponsoring entity.
How do I find U.S. employers open to hosting a J-1 Environmental Attorney?
Migrate Mate lets you search for Environmental Attorney roles at U.S. employers that have a track record of supporting international legal professionals and exchange visitor placements. Targeting employers with established international training infrastructure significantly increases the likelihood that they'll engage with a designated sponsor to facilitate your DS-2019.
Can an Environmental Attorney on J-1 status practice law independently?
No. J-1 Trainee and Research Scholar status requires you to work under supervision within an approved training plan. Independent legal practice or employment outside the host organization is not permitted. If your role involves substantive client representation, you'll also need to satisfy state bar admission requirements, which varies by jurisdiction and your home country qualifications.
Does the two-year home residency requirement affect Environmental Attorneys?
It can. If your J-1 exchange was funded by your home government, if your home country has a bilateral agreement with the U.S., or if your specialty appears on the Exchange Visitor Skills List, you may be subject to a two-year home residency requirement under INA Section 212(e). This bars you from changing to H-1B status or applying for permanent residence until you fulfill or obtain a waiver of that requirement.