Climate & Energy Staff Attorney (Maine)

Conservation Law Foundation (CLF) is seeking a full-time attorney to join our team working to protect New England’s environment for all people. The Attorney will work with CLF’s Climate & Energy program and will be based in CLF’s Portland, Maine office. Their work will focus on legal and policy issues in Maine, with the opportunity for some remote and flexible work within New England. We are seeking a Staff Attorney II level, with at least 5 years of relevant experience.

What you’ll do

The Attorney will be a key player in helping us achieve our mission. The Attorney will work independently and as part of state-based and regional teams and coalitions advocating for a just and clean energy future. In this role, the Attorney will both lead and support high-impact, cutting-edge advocacy efforts in the energy, transportation and buildings sectors as part of an over-arching strategy to tackle the climate crisis while centering environmental justice.

The Staff Attorney will:

• • Devise and execute legal strategies for achieving CLF’s advocacy goals, including through litigation;
  • Develop relationships, build coalitions, and work collaboratively with community and advocacy groups, public officials, and business interests;
  • Build and sustain alliances and coalitions among impacted and allied entities;
• Represent CLF in regulatory and administrative proceedings;
• Draft public comment letters on projects, policies, and plans;
  • Advocate for priority bills before the Maine State Legislature, including oral and written testimony;
  • Advocate before Maine’s Public Utility Commission and engage with the regional independent electric system operator, ISO-NE;
  • Engage in development efforts to support the work of the Climate and Energy program and the Maine office, including donor and foundation stewardship efforts and funding proposals, grant reporting and board engagement;
  • Engage in public outreach efforts on climate, and energy-related advocacy initiatives;
• Contribute to CLF’s commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion;
  • Write public educational materials, articles, and opinion pieces and communicate about advocacy work through media outlets and social media; and
  • Contribute to the health of our community and the smooth operation of our organization.

What you’ll need

We are looking for a motivated and mature self-starter who can work independently and as a productive member of a talented and diverse group of advocates dedicated to CLF’s mission and distributed across New England.

To be successful in this role, you’ll need:

• At least 5 years of experience practicing law, preferably in the areas of environmental and/or energy law and preferably in Maine;
• An active license and good standing in Maine, or an active license and good standing in another state and willingness to become licensed in Maine;
• Demonstrated experience working with state and federal environmental, energy, and climate laws and a strong grasp of political systems and regulatory proceedings;
• Significant litigation experience in state and federal courts, before regulatory agencies or public utility commissions, or comparable experience;
• Strong analytic abilities, oral and written communication skills, and a commitment to environmental justice advocacy;
• Strong commitment to CLF’s mission, including its commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion;
• Coalition and network building skills, including cultural competence and ability to communicate and collaborate within diverse and multicultural communities; and
• A capacity to develop and/or enhance expertise in relevant technical or policy areas.

Our highest priority is finding the best candidate for the job. Research has shown that people of color and women are less likely to apply for jobs if they don’t believe they meet every one of the qualifications described in a job description. Our hiring process is centered on assessing candidates with various lived experiences. We encourage you to apply, even if you don't believe you meet every one of our described qualifications or have a less traditional background.

About CLF

Conservation Law Foundation (CLF) protects New England’s environment for the benefit of all people. A non-profit, member-supported organization, CLF uses the law, science, and the market to solve the region’s most challenging environmental problems, from climate change to ocean conservation to transportation. Every day, CLF advocates stand up for New Englanders—in statehouses, courthouses, boardrooms, regulatory hearings, and community gatherings—to forge innovative paths to environmental progress and economic prosperity for all in our region. To that end, CLF frequently works with communities of color, and those that are economically or otherwise disadvantaged, which often suffer disproportionately from the impacts of environmental degradation.

CLF offers a competitive salary, extensive benefits plan, and an open, inclusive, and accepting work environment where differences are highly respected. The starting salary range for the position is $94,000-$111,000 for Staff Attorney II; actual salary will reflect experience, and qualifications.

We recognize the value of work-life balance and also strive to create opportunities for growth for all employees through professional development.

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