Staff Attorney, Clean Energy Project Finance & Tax

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 and systemic change. We currently run programs in the following areas: climate change and environmental justice (CCEJ), immigration, racial justice, voting rights, government accountability, and responding to emergent legal needs. For the past several years, L4GG has been a leader on implementing cutting-edge climate and equity policies and programs, with a focus over the next 2-3 years on leveraging tax incentives and funding opportunities under the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) and federal funding under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) and other federal legislation, to support community developed clean energy and resilience projects, like resilience hubs, community solar, microgrids, etc. L4GG has also been pivotal in helping to preserve as much federal funding as possible through its Fund Protection Clinic.

L4GG’s CCEJ Program mobilizes lawyers nationwide to combat the climate crisis and promote environmental and climate justice. We use the law to implement and execute climate solutions equitably at federal, state, and local levels, with twin goals of expediting the country’s just transition to a green economy and directly addressing environmental racism. We do this by:

• assisting state and local governments with creating and implementing laws and policies that expedite clean energy projects that benefit communities
• providing under represented communities and municipalities most harmed by discriminatory environmental practices and climate change with high quality, pro bono legal representation.
• Working with state and local partners to expedite a just transition to a green economy in the absence of federal leadership

ABOUT THE POSITION

STATUS: Full-Time

LOCATION: Remote; location flexible.

We’re currently seeking a self-motivated and passionate clean energy/green finance staff attorney to help expand CCEJ’s Green Financing Initiatives, assisting the CCEJ team in putting together financial deals for community based clean energy projects. L4GG seeks to expand its support for community developers by assisting in leveraging remaining green financing, state and local funding, and private/philanthropic dollars to structure the capital needed to help clean energy projects move in the absence of federal leadership.

The staff attorney would help identify and coordinate attorneys within L4GG’s vast legal network and coalition partners to provide legal guidance to state and local governments, as well as frontline communities, on a variety of financing options available for clean energy projects, and in particular, would work with L4GG’s Supervising Attorney in Green Finance to structure and paper deals for clean energy projects that leverage available financing and pro bono legal support. The person who succeeds in this role will have a strong background in project finance, clean energy policy, renewable energy projects, and tax incentives under the Inflation Reduction Act. The person should also have strong background in structuring and drafting transactional documents for clean energy deals, the ability to articulate complex financial structures to communities, strong interpersonal communication skills, flexibility and initiative to help the Supervising Attorney for Green Finance and the Director of Clean Energy expand the green finance program, and an aptitude for working well in start-up environments. Finally, the person should be excited to put transactional skills that are often only leveraged in private law towards community benefits and the public good.

REQUIREMENTS

The ideal candidate will have top-notch interpersonal skills, experience working with lending institutions and clean energy developers, good judgment, and the ability to work and thrive in a fast-paced environment. We need someone who can work independently with a strong sense of urgency and take initiative to identify and resolve challenges creatively with support from management. Must have a quiet workspace (home office or other space) with high-speed internet and the ability to take calls and/or video conferences during working hours.

Required Qualifications:

• Education required: JD, with 5+ years working in either project finance, or renewable energy law and/or clean energy policy, with a working knowledge of the Inflation Reduction Act and the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law
• Commitment to our organization’s mission
• Transactional drafting experience
• Ability to work autonomously as well as collaborate and work well with a team
• Exceptionally strong written and verbal communication skills
• Strong interpersonal skills
• Comfortable working with and communicating with private sector attorneys and state and local decision-makers, including Governor’s Offices
• Passion for tackling climate change and environmental justice issues
• Proven ability to lead multiple projects simultaneously
• Experience using Google Docs, Google Sheets, and Google Drive
• Experience using Mac computers
• Exceptional technology comfort and competence including willingness to embrace new tools and self-train using provided resources as needed
• Consistent attention to detail
• Strong ability to prioritize, meet deadlines, and escalate issues to Senior Vice President of CCEJ as appropriate

Desired Qualifications:

• Experience in renewable energy project financing, community solar, wind/solar, state rebate programs, and other financing mechanisms to support clean energy projects, including an understanding of how to leverage tax incentives to ensure projects pencil out.
• Experience with any or all of the following digital tools: Google Docs, Asana, Airtable, Zoom
• Ability to help identify and form a network of mission-aligned lenders and funders to provide capital to community-driven projects
• Needs ability to draft transactional documents necessary for establishing a revolving loan fund
• Preferred experience with issuing municipal bond

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
• Collaboration with nationally recognized team of mission-driven litigators and pro bono leaders
• State bar dues paid in one (1) state
• Professional development opportunities, mentorship, and CLE support