Legal Fellow

About San Francisco Baykeeper

Baykeeper defends San Francisco Bay and the health of the watershed from the biggest environmental threats and holds polluters accountable. For 37 years, we’ve used science, advocacy, and law to achieve hundreds of legal and policy victories that have reduced industrial pollution, sewage spills, fossil fuel contamination, and toxic pollutants to protect the Bay’s wildlife and community health.

Our team values integrity and respect, including in how we treat our employees. We are committed to continuously building on our collaborative workplace environment, and we support the physical and mental health of our employees, as well as a positive work-life balance. We are a passionate results-oriented staff with an engaged community of donors and volunteers, and we are excited to expand our team with this position.

The Position

The Legal Fellow is a two-year position beginning in Fall 2026 and will join Baykeeper’s legal team of four lawyers supporting the organization’s litigation, legislative, and advocacy work. Baykeeper maintains an active docket of 10–15 high-impact cases and conducts local, regional, and state-wide advocacy, advancing justice for Bay communities and wildlife.

Working with Baykeeper attorneys, scientists, and local partners, the Legal Fellow will advance the organization’s mission through research, advocacy, and litigation. The Fellow will investigate and develop resources to support smart development, address toxic sites, and build climate-resilient communities around the Bay.

Essential responsibilities include:

Investigate.

• Work with Baykeeper’s staff investigating industrial and municipal pollution and legacy toxic sites.

Litigate.

• Draft letters, memos, and legal pleadings related to our litigation docket.

Advocate.

• Analyze and track legislation that impacts Baykeeper’s mission and Bay Area communities.
• Prepare comment letters and provide oral advocacy to regulatory agencies.

Collaborate.

• Support legal research and development of a community toolkit for cleaning up toxic sites.
• Work with science staff to ensure our work is based upon the best available evidence.
• Partner with grassroots and community groups to ensure our efforts are making a difference.
• Contribute to a cohesive and collegial Baykeeper team.

Required qualifications:

• Law school graduate.
• 0-2 years of post-law school clerkship or work experience.
• Admitted to the California State Bar or registered to take the California Bar Exam in July 2026.
• Academic, policy, or legal experience related to environmental law, environmental justice, or community organizing.
• Note to potential candidates: Baykeeper is committed to building a diverse and inclusive organization, so we would strongly encourage you to apply, even if you don't believe you meet every one of the preferred qualifications described.

Skills beneficial to the job include:

• Strong written and oral communication skills.
• Knowledge of federal and California environmental laws.
• Work collaboratively, with integrity, and maintain respect for others in stressful situations.
• Approach work with a problem-solving mindset.
• Ability to integrate complex information into legal and policy advocacy.
• Willingness to meet with community partners and attend meetings around the Bay Area, Stockton, and Sacramento.
• A demonstrated commitment to advancing equity and justice.
• Desire to engage at a collaborative, inclusive, and effective organization fighting for ecosystems and communities throughout the San Francisco Bay watershed.

Work Location (Bay Area, hybrid)

The Legal Fellow is hybrid work position, allowing for substantial remote work. The employee must live in the Bay Area or be willing to relocate at their own expense. Baykeeper’s office is in downtown Oakland, convenient to public transit, and is open for individuals who prefer not to work remotely. While working remotely, employees must be online and focused on job duties during regular work hours, typically Monday-Friday 9am to 5pm, including availability for messages, phone calls, and online meetings throughout the day.

Physical Demands

The physical demands of this position include utilizing computer equipment, traveling to and actively participating in public meetings, verbal communications with partners, counsel, and others both in person and by video and telephone, occasional travel by boat to conduct visual and sensory inspections on and around the Bay. These demands are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Equal Employment Opportunity

Baykeeper does not discriminate in employment opportunities and adheres to equal employment laws and best practices. We are committed to an inclusive workplace where we learn and work together to protect the Bay and Bay Area communities through engagement and understanding of all perspectives.

Salary

This is a full-time, exempt position reporting to the Managing Attorney. The salary range for new staff in this position is $80,000 to $85,000, depending on experience, with an expectation to work 40 hours per week (typically, Monday through Friday 9am - 5pm).

Applications

If you are interested in joining our team, please send a cover letter, resumé, and recent legal writing sample (no longer than 25 pages) in PDF format to jobs@baykeeper.org, subject line “YOUR LAST NAME, Legal Fellow.” Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis, and interviews will be scheduled starting April 15, 2026.

​Please note: Your cover letter is critical to the application process because it helps our hiring team assess your writing skills and your genuine interest in the position. In your cover letter, please briefly describe: 1) Why are you interested in working for Baykeeper, 2) What interests you or connects you to the issues of watershed and ecosystem protection, freshwater flows, and Clean Water Act enforcement, and 3) What experiences make you a good fit to serve as Baykeeper’s Legal Fellow?

Benefits Package

• Generous paid time off every year:
  • 17 vacation days per year, which accrue up to a maximum cap of 25 days
  • 12 sick days to care for yourself, family members or pets, may be used as mental health days
  • 12 holidays with flexibility for diverse religious/cultural observances
  • 2 days for volunteerism or social justice activism
  • Birthday holiday for employee, and
  • Extra time off during winter holidays, typically the days between Christmas and New Year’s
• Fully paid medical, dental, and vision insurance premiums for employees
• As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, Baykeeper is currently a qualifying employer under the federal Public Service Loan Forgiveness program.
• 401(k) plan with employer contribution (as the budget allows) following one year of employment
• Flexible spending accounts for medical, transit, and dependent care costs for employee contributions
• Paid basic life insurance policy for employees
• Full access to Employee Assistance Program
• Paid Cal Bar Membership dues and professional development opportunities, including relevant conferences, trainings, and MCLE fees