Staff Attorney, Environmental and Climate Justice

ABOUT US

Lawyers for Good Government (L4GG) coordinates large-scale pro bono programs and issue advocacy efforts to ensure that all levels of government (national, state, and local) protect human rights and provide equal justice under the law. We believe not only in the establishment and enforcement of equality under the law, but in the creation of social and economic conditions that lead to true equity. We currently run programs in the following areas: immigration, climate change, racial justice, voting rights, government accountability, and responding to emergent legal needs.

L4GG is a fully remote organization with employees distributed across the country. We are in an active period of growth, with a significant number of open roles in recruitment and a comparable hiring volume expected through the remainder of the year and beyond.

ABOUT THE POSITION

STATUS: Full-Time

LOCATION: Remote; location flexible within the United States.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

L4GG is looking for a self-motivated and passionate staff attorney to expand its growing Climate Change and Environmental Justice (CCEJ) Program fighting for environmental and climate justice. The Staff Attorney, Environmental and Climate Justice will support our efforts helping communities and sub-national governments protect access to federal funding, assist local and state governments in advancing key equitable policy solutions, and will help provide direct legal assistance to communities, including those that have been harmed by the actions of the Trump Administration. More specifically, this person will work on policy research and development, and also provide direct services to community organizations in areas that have been historically underinvested in and have been disproportionately harmed and overburdened in a way that meets their needs and helps them fulfill their mission.

The attorney hired for this position will primarily carry out the above as staff lead for the Fund Protection Clinic, an initiative that currently serves more than 700 grantees who have lost their federal funding by connecting grantees to pro bono attorneys or giving them legal guidance in-house. As part of the FPC the Staff Attorney, Environmental and Climate Justice will likely advise and work with pro bonos to provide assistance to grantees facing Congressional inquiries, Inspector General investigations, and subpoenas, including as a result of False Claims Act allegations.

This position will involve researching, drafting, and reviewing applicable laws, regulations, and other policies in connection with representing clients, as well as taking the lead in rapid response efforts involving complex and changing federal and state law and policy. Helping coordinate and review pro bono developed materials and legal services, and focus on customer service and partner experience is a major component of this work.

The person who succeeds in this role will be an experienced attorney and project manager with experience or a strong desire to help frontline communities and expertise/experience with:

• designing and implementing attorney training;
• researching new areas of cutting-edge law and policy related to clean energy, climate, equity, and administrative law;
• managing pro bono attorneys, and handling case management and legal strategies in coordination with expert attorneys and community clients;
• working in rapid-response environments, including giving legal advice and triaging questions to other organizations; and,
• researching and drafting legal briefs and other research driven legal summaries for clients and partners.

The ideal candidate will have the ability to quickly learn and manage digital tools, initiative and flexibility to help us build out programs, and an aptitude for working well in start-up environments. This is an opportunity for an attorney to play a key role in a growing and dynamic start-up minded nonprofit.

Specific Job Responsibilities include:

• Environmental Law Practice:
  • Provide support to the existing Fund Protection Clinic clients, including managing pro bono assistance providing legal resources and guidance to clients and helping them identify the tools and alternative funding available to help them implement ambitious decarbonization and climate resilience projects.
    • Support L4GG’s initiative to provide legal guidance surrounding grant eligibility, opportunities, and/or other legal funding restrictions.
    • Coordinate with our coalition partners to share resources to other similarly situated communities.
    • Manage and advise pro bono attorneys.
    • Work with the CCEJ Program Coordinator to help create systems to scale the impact of our client work, sharing legal resources with other similarly-situated communities.
  • Work with grassroots partner organizations to directly assist vulnerable communities disproportionately impacted by climate change.
• Environmental Policy Advocacy:
  • Closely follow and track changes in relevant environmental policies and case law.
  • Draft research products combining research from our pro bono partners with your own legal and policy analyses, conducting additional legal research as necessary.
  • Work in coalition with diverse groups including national policy groups, state and local, grassroots and community organizations, and our community of attorney advocates in order to achieve our shared goals. Serve as a legal/policy expert in coalitions with external partners on issues of environmental justice and community engagement policy.
  • Advance L4GG’s administrative and legislative advocacy on climate change by providing legal analysis and technical assistance to L4GG Policy and Communications staff; government officials and staff; the media; organizers; and advocates and attorneys nationwide.
  • Provide support to other staff on issues of subject-matter expertise.
  • Coordinate with our communications and development team to amplify our work and support fundraising efforts to further expand the program.

Other duties as assigned, which could include some scheduling and case management and management of the CCEJ Program Coordinator’s work to support the Clinic.

REQUIREMENTS:

• J.D. from an accredited law school
• 3+ years practicing law and experience in environmental justice, energy, water,/or climate law and policy. Years in practice may be substituted with equivalent experience.
• Excellent analytical, research, writing, oral communication, and interpersonal skills.
• Commitment to our organization’s mission and a desire to fight for environmental and climate justice for all.
• Ability to work independently and be proactive in project management.
• Proven ability to lead multiple projects simultaneously.
• Strong work ethic, robust problem-solving skills, and sound judgment.
• Access to a quiet workspace (home office or other space) with high-speed internet and the ability to take calls and/or video conferences during work hours.
• Exceptional technology comfort and competence, including willingness to embrace new tools and self-train using provided resources as needed.
• Project management skills, including the ability to marshal resources and information from diverse staff spanning departments and geographies.
• Strong customer service orientation and experience partnering with colleagues virtually.
• Flexibility in adapting to the needs of a fast-paced national organization.

Desired qualifications include:

• Experience in government (federal, state, and/or) policy
• Experience working in or with a regulatory agency at the state or federal level.
• Experience working with marginalized communities affected by environmental, energy, and water policy.
• Technical or legal editing experience, such as law review or another legal journal.
• Demonstrated experience in published legal writing, such as having published a law review article, a legal research paper, or a report.
• Demonstrated ability to apply legal or other training to legislative analysis.

WHAT WE OFFER

We know that meaningful work requires meaningful support. L4GG provides the following for our employees:

• Fully remote work with core working hours and a flexible schedule
• Generous paid time off
• Medical, dental, and vision coverage
• Company paid short-term and long-term disability insurance
• Company paid life insurance
• 403(b) retirement plan with 4% company match
• Professional development opportunities, mentorship, and CLE support