The Center for Science in the Public Interest, Your Food and Health Watchdog, is one of the nation’s leading public health advocacy organizations with a more than 50-year record of fighting for science in the public interest and working to improve the food, dietary supplement, and medical device environment for all. National policy successes include the Nutrition Labeling and Education Act; Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act; Food Safety Modernization Act; and Food Allergen Labeling and Consumer Protection Act. More recently, CSPI has also been involved in broader public health advocacy on issues such as scientific integrity, alcohol policy, agency transparency, and the regulation of selected medical products.
Often, working with private and public interest lawyers across the country, CSPI’s Litigation Department files cases and negotiates with companies to seek better food, dietary supplement, and medical device labeling, more honest marketing, and reforms that benefit consumers. Most of the cases we file are class-action cases or lawsuits under the Administrative Procedure Act.
Our class-action cases seek to prevent misleading and deceptive labeling of food, dietary supplements, and certain medical devices. An important victory the Litigation Department achieved was in Mantikas v. Kellogg, 910 F.3d 633, 636 (2d Cir. 2018), where it represented consumers who alleged that they were misled by the whole grain claims made on Cheez-It crackers. In this landmark decision, the Second Circuit concluded that consumers were likely to be misled by Cheez-It’s whole-grain claims and held that consumers are not required to look beyond prominent, misleading representations on the front of a package to discover the truth from the small print.
Our lawsuits under the Administrative Procedure Act are filed where an agency has unreasonably delayed taking an action or where an agency has acted in an arbitrary and capricious way, abused its discretion, and/or acted unlawfully. An example of one of our successful APA lawsuits is Cnty. of Santa Clara et al. v. U.S. Dep’t of Health and Human Serv. et al., No. 5:21-cv-01655 (N.D. Cal. filed Mar. 9, 2021). In 2022, following our lawsuit, HHS withdrew the disastrous Trump-Era Sunset Rule, which threatened to eliminate thousands of health and food safety regulations.
The Litigation Attorney works with CSPI’s Senior Litigation Director and outside co-counsel to litigate complex civil cases in federal and state courts around the country, assists with most litigation activities, including case development and discovery, and assumes enhanced responsibilities in specific cases as warranted.
This position reports to the Senior Litigation Director and can be based in CSPI’s DC office, where we offer a hybrid work environment, or remotely within the United States. As a public health organization, CSPI makes efforts to maintain a safe workplace for employees and visitors. We require all employees to be up to date with their COVID-19 vaccines as soon as they are eligible, and the vaccine is available to them. Proof of vaccination is required during the onboarding process.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities
Qualifications
CSPI on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
CSPI is committed to including and valuing diverse voices and fostering a culture that ensures all staff feel a sense of belonging and are encouraged to be their best selves. In that spirit, each of us is committed to putting in constant work to live up to our organization’s core values:
Compensation
The salary range is $90,000 to $115,000, based on relevant experience. CSPI offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes: 3 weeks of annual vacation leave; additional paid holiday leave between December 24 and January 1; 8 weeks of paid parental leave; excellent medical and dental insurance with CSPI paying a significant portion of employee and dependent premiums; and a 3% employer match contribution to the retirement plan after six months of service. Because we also offer ½ day Fridays, our workweek is 36 hours for full-time employees.
To Apply
Please utilize CSPI's Paylocity Applicant Tracking System (ATS) to apply for the position. You are required to submit a resume and cover letter highlighting relevant experience and interest. For candidates with less than three years of litigation experience, please submit your law school transcript. The application deadline is May 31, 2024.
CSPI is committed to building a team that represents a variety of backgrounds, perspective, and skills and encourage people of diverse ages, sexual orientations, gender identities and expressions, disabilities, religions, races, ethnicities, socioeconomic statuses, work, and life experiences to apply.
The Center for Science in the Public Interest, Your Food and Health Watchdog, is one of the nation’s leading public health advocacy organizations with a more than 50-year record of fighting for science in the public interest and working to…
CSPI offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes: 3 weeks of annual vacation leave; additional paid holiday leave between December 24 and January 1; 8 weeks of paid parental leave; excellent medical and dental insurance with CSPI paying a significant portion of employee and dependent premiums; and a 3% employer match contribution to the retirement plan after six months of service. Because we also offer ½ day Fridays, our workweek is 36 hours for full-time employees.
CSPI offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes: 3 weeks of annual vacation leave; additional paid holiday leave between December 24 and January 1; 8 weeks of paid…
Please utilize CSPI's Paylocity Applicant Tracking System (ATS) to apply for the position. You are required to submit a resume and cover letter highlighting relevant experience and interest. For candidates with less than three years of litigation experience, please submit your law school transcript. The application deadline is May 31, 2024.
CSPI is committed to building a team that represents a variety of backgrounds, perspective, and skills and encourage people of diverse ages, sexual orientations, gender identities and expressions, disabilities, religions, races, ethnicities, socioeconomic statuses, work, and life experiences to apply.
Please utilize CSPI's Paylocity Applicant Tracking System (ATS) to apply for the position. You are required to submit a resume and cover letter highlighting relevant experience…