Charlotte E. Ray Legal Fellowship

1. Conservation Law Foundation (CLF) invites applicants for its Charlotte E. Ray Legal Fellowship. The Charlotte E. Ray Legal Fellowship is a one-year fellowship that honors the memory of Charlotte E. Ray, a trailblazer and Howard University graduate who became the first African American female lawyer in

This positionis ideal for third-year law students, judicial clerks, or recent law school graduates. The Fellowship would begin in the fall of 2026.

Candidates with a demonstrated commitment to racial justice, environmental advocacy or social justice are encouraged to apply.

The Legal Fellow(s) will be located either in our Boston headquarters or in one of CLF’s other offices in Montpelier, VT, Concord, NH, Portland, ME, Providence, RI, or New Haven, CT, with some flexibility to work remotely within New England. The term of this position is one year, with the possibility of being asked to join CLF as an Associate Attorney at the end of that year.

What you’ll do:

The Charlotte E. Ray Legal Fellowship offers new or recently barred lawyers an opportunity to serve as an attorney at one of the country’s oldest and most respected non-profit environmental advocacy organizations. The Fellow will participate in rotations across each of CLF’s program areas for approximately two thirds of the Fellowship, with an ultimate focus on one specific program for the remainder of the Fellowship and upon hire for the Associate Attorney position, if applicable.

The Fellow will be a key part of each of our six programs to which they are assigned: clean energy and climate change, environmental justice, healthy and resilient communities, clean air and water, strategic litigation and oceans. Specific responsibilities include:

• Devise and execute legal and policy strategies for CLF’s advocacy goals;
• Represent CLF in litigation and administrative proceedings;
• Develop and present written testimony to legislative bodies, municipalities, and state and federal agencies;
• Advise community and advocacy groups on legal and policy matters;
• Build alliances and coalitions among stakeholders;
• Comment on administrative rules, state and federal permits, and other state and federal agency actions;
• Write public educational materials, articles, and opinion pieces, and communicate about advocacy work through news and social media outlets;
• Contribute to CLF’s strategic priorities and its commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and organizational excellence;
• Assist CLF’s communications team in delivering advocacy news and key messages to the press, our members, and the public;
• Assist CLF’s development team with fundraising efforts; and
• Prepare research reports, memos, and presentations.

What you’ll need:

• A law degree prior to the time you would begin the Fellowship;
• 0-2 years of relevant experience practicing law;
• Strong organizational and interpersonal skills;
• Ability to take initiative, solve problems, assess priorities, and manage a variety of activities in a fast-paced environment;
• High-level technological literacy with Microsoft Office suite (SharePoint, Word, Excel, Outlook, etc.);
• Excellent oral and written communication skills;
• Commitment to developing new skills and responsibilities;
• Commitment to working collaboratively with a diverse group of colleagues and partners; and
• Demonstrated commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion.

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.

CLF offers a competitive salary, an extensive benefits plan, and an open, inclusive, and accepting work environment where differences are highly respected. The starting salary range for Boston-based Fellows is $84,000 - $89,000 and $75,000 - $80,000 for those based in other New England states. Additionally, fellows receive a $2,000 salary increase upon passing the bar.

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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