Legal Associate (Methane Program)

Position: Legal Associate (Methane Program)

Reporting to: Methane Program Director

Remuneration: Remuneration will be competitive, based on successful applicant’s experience

Location: This is a work from anywhere job (remote)

Start date: As soon as possible

About us: The Center for Climate Crime Analysis (CCCA) is a non-profit organization founded by prosecutors and law enforcement professionals. We combine the power of law, data and analysis to support allies fighting for climate justice and human rights, enable compliance with climate commitments, and hold accountable those causing the climate crisis.

CCCA works with and strategically supports NGOs, expert organizations and private citizens fighting climate change or human rights violations in their efforts to generate, preserve and collect high quality information. CCCA also conducts legal and forensic analyses of information and prepares concrete case files. These are shared with the competent law enforcement or regulatory authorities, with civil society organizations, and with private corporations. Our work thus has a force multiplier effect: enhancing the impact of investigations by our partners; and enabling more effective implementation of the enforcement, litigation and advocacy mandates of others. Our current programs focus on combatting illegal deforestation in the Amazon Basin and addressing methane emissions to drive rapid reductions in near-term warming.

About the position: CCCA is looking for a Legal Associate for its Methane Program. Methane emissions are a crucial piece of the climate puzzle. New data on methane emissions is becoming available and this program seeks to maximize its impact. CCCA will use this data to put pressure on emitters and their enablers (regulators, financiers, customers…) through legal action and advocacy. The ideal candidate has excellent analytical and communication skills that allow them to convey complex factual and legal issues tailored to targeted audiences, including those without a legal background, and is able to integrate non-legal analysis into the legal and advocacy strategies at the core of the program. The Legal Associate will report to and work in close collaboration with the Methane Program Director.

Key responsibilities

Develop and implement investigation plans within the scope of CCCA’s methane program:

• Planning investigative activities in collaboration with the Methane Program Director and the Data Analysis Associate.
• Gathering and analysing information on emitting facilities and their economic and regulatory ties from diverse sources (government sources, NGO databases, company reports, OSINT, news articles, and other sources).
• Mapping of information to obligations and commitments of the actors involved and conducting gap analysis.
• Preparing notes and reports synthesising results of investigative activities.

Contribute to the incorporation of CCCA’s investigative dossiers into legal and advocacy work:

• Conducting legal research and analysis on issues relevant to environmental regulation, reporting obligations, due diligence, human rights and corporate climate action in different jurisdictions.
• Identifying opportunities and challenges presented by different legal frameworks and jurisdictions.
• Prepare notes, reports and legal memoranda related to investigative activities and legal analysis.
• Providing tailored support to partners to build action on methane or include methane into their existing work, including drafting contributions.
• Building strong relationships with civil society partners and public authorities.

Skills and Experience

Requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree in law or equivalent.
• At least 3 years of relevant post-university experience in NGOs, law firms, government agencies or other international institutions.
• High-level of English-language proficiency (other languages highly valued).

Experience or familiarity with the following will be considered an asset:

• Experience with environmental law and familiarity with technical information.
• Experience conducting transnational or comparative legal research.
• Experience designing and planning investigations of fact.
• Experience conducting open-source investigations (OSINT), or other relevant investigative techniques.
• Existing knowledge of and familiarity with legal action and legal developments in the context of climate change.
• Experience with access to information requests and frameworks.
• Experience in strategic litigation and campaigns/advocacy work.
• Experience working in remote teams.

Skills:

• Flexibility to undertake research and analysis in different legal jurisdictions and legal areas.
• Strong legal research skills, including the ability to identify potentially relevant legal theories and critically analyse evidence against legal scenarios.
• Excellent analysis skills, including strong attention to detail and the ability to understand complex scenarios, to simultaneously handle conflicting information and hypotheses, to identify source biases, and to develop sound logical inferences.
• Excellent interpersonal skills, including the ability to work in interdisciplinary and multicultural teams.
• Ability to work both independently and in a team environment.
• Excellent drafting skills.
• Excellent IT skills, with proficiency in the use of MS Office.
• Strong organization and communication skills.

We are also looking for a colleague who:

• is a creative problem solver;
• is strongly committed to CCCA’s mandate;
• is an empathetic team player and takes pride in enabling others to succeed, both internal colleagues and external partners;
• shows curiosity and a learning and growth mindset;
• demonstrates personal integrity and sound judgment.

CCCA is committed to diversity. We welcome applications from individuals of every culture and background, and strongly encourage women and individuals from the global south to apply.

As a geographically dispersed organization, our team members work and collaborate remotely. CCCA is therefore open to considering applicants based in any country. However, given that most of our personnel are currently based in the Americas and Europe, any applicant must be willing to schedule their work to accommodate these time zones.

CCCA offers flexible work arrangements and anticipates that this position will require a commitment of 35-40 hours per week. Remuneration will be competitive, based on the successful applicant’s experience.

To apply, please fill in this form. For any queries, please contact jobs@climatecrimeanalysis.org with: Methane Legal Associate and your name in the subject line. We will review applications on a rolling basis.