Clean Air Legal Fellow, U.S. Legal & Regulatory

Overview

With world attention on both the environment and the economy, Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) is where policymakers and business leaders turn for win-win solutions. By focusing on strong science, uncommon partnerships and market-based approaches, we tackle urgent threats with practical solutions. We are one of the world’s largest environmental organizations, with more than two million members and a staff of approximately 700 scientists, economists, policy experts, and other professionals around the world. We operate in 22 geographies with unique projects running across four programs. You will be part of a vibrant workplace where innovation and results are a way of life.

EDF envisions a world in which people from all backgrounds and experiences feel connected to the environmental challenges we face and are engaged in creating durable, equitable solutions. We seek talented candidates who share our Core Values of Respect, Results, Innovation, Optimism, and Integrity, and support our Commitment to Diversity.

Responsibilities

Job Description

EDF offers internships and fellowships for students and recent graduates in a variety of programs and departments throughout the organization. The ultimate goal of our internship and fellowship program is to provide high-quality experiences (including relevant projects and opportunities for networking) that form the foundation for any individual who is serious about pursuing an environmental career.

Program Overview

The U.S. Legal & Regulatory team envisions a world in which people from all backgrounds and experiences feel connected to the environmental challenges we face and are engaged in creating durable, equitable solutions. We are dedicated to achieving that vision in our work, helping achieve clean air for all. The U.S. Legal & Regulatory team works out of the Washington, D.C., and Boulder, CO offices.

Legal Fellows on the U.S. Legal & Regulatory team provide essential contributions to the team's work securing clean air and climate protections. We aim to make our Legal Fellows' experience relevant, challenging, and rewarding. Our Legal Fellows have directly contributed towards landmark cases over the years and have supported activities including: U.S. Supreme Court litigation, D.C. Circuit litigation over greenhouse gas regulation and regulation of health-harming pollutants under the Clean Air Act, legal and technical comments and public testimony on major Clean Air Act rulemakings, and legal and policy analysis to support protections for low-income and frontline communities from air pollution. Legal Fellows work in a high-intensity, fast-paced, multi-disciplinary setting to formulate and implement strategies, laws, and policies.

Overall Function

The Legal Fellow will primarily work on federal regulatory policy advocacy and litigation focused on securing and defending Clean Air Act protections to reduce climate- and health-harming pollution, particularly from the power sector and industrial sources; restoring and strengthening the role of foundational science and economics in federal agency actions; and securing action to advance environmental justice. As a member of the U.S. Legal & Regulatory team, the Legal Fellow may also be asked to support our other efforts to reduce air pollution from major sources through litigation, regulatory advocacy, and legislation.

Key Responsibilities

Tasks may include but are not limited to:

• Conduct legal and factual research on climate and clean air issues, particularly Clean Air Act regulation of pollution from the power sector and major industrial sources.
• Conduct legal and factual research to support advocacy for rigorous policies regarding the role of public health science and assessment of clean air health benefits in federal agency actions.
• Contribute to litigation filings and administrative comments, particularly with respect to the power sector, industrial sources, and policies affecting the use of science and economics in federal rulemakings.
• Assess the impacts of recent court decisions on U.S. Legal & Regulatory team priorities.
• Evaluate the health and environmental implications of pending rulemakings and legislation.
• Draft public-facing documents such as fact sheets and blog posts about legal and policy issues.
• Represent EDF at public hearings before government agencies.
• Provide other support to the team's litigation efforts and regulatory advocacy.
• Support environmental justice initiatives, particularly related to the use of the Clean Air Act to reduce pollution in overburdened communities.
• Participates in advancing EDF DEI goals in which people from all backgrounds and experiences feel connected, included, and empowered to address the environmental and organizational challenges in alignment with EDF values.

Qualifications

We seek recent law school graduates and recent law clerks interested in working on cutting-edge climate and clean air issues. Other qualifications include:

• Licensed to practice law or actively seeking admission to the Bar of any state or DC.
• A Juris Doctorate (J.D.) from an accredited Law School.
• Demonstrated commitment to public interest law and to advocacy for climate and public health protections.
• Interest or experience in administrative law, federal regulatory processes, and federal clean air law.
• Interest or experience in reducing pollution from the power sector and major industrial sectors.
• Interest or experience in the intersection between law and science, particularly with respect to the role of health and climate science in federal regulations.
• Ability to collect, analyze, and interpret legal data and prepare reports of findings.
• Excellent legal research, analytical, writing, and advocacy skills.
• Ability to establish and maintain strong working relationships with internal and external allies.
• Ability to work both independently and as a leader or member of teams in a dynamic and creative environment with colleagues and partners of varied backgrounds and experience.
• Ability to multi-task, prioritize, and meet deadlines.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills.
• Demonstrates self-awareness, cultural competency and inclusivity, and ability to work with colleagues and stakeholders across diverse cultures and backgrounds.

Location

Washington, D.C., with U.S. Remote to start.

Term

The term for the Legal Fellow position is one year, starting July or August 2022.

Application Materials

Interested applicants should attach their cover letter and resume to the EDF application, together with a writing sample, unofficial law school transcript, and list of three references. In your cover letter, please describe your interest in environmental law and policy work, and any coursework and professional experience relevant to the qualifications.

Minimum Salary

USD $84,000.00/Yr.

Maximum Salary

USD $84,000.00/Yr.

EEO Information

Environmental Defense Fund is an equal opportunity employer where an applicant's qualifications are considered without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other basis prohibited by law.