Legal Fellow, Beyond Gas

Overview

Put your passion and skills to work for the planet. Climate change is the most urgent issue of our time, and we need people like you to help us build a vital Earth — for everyone.

We’re Environmental Defense Fund, a fast-paced nonprofit with a growing staff of more than 850 people in nearly 30 countries. We deliver game-changing solutions that cut climate pollution and strengthen people’s ability to thrive despite the effects climate change is already having. We work wherever we can have the most impact, from local communities to top companies to governments worldwide, and even in space.

Our culture, values and commitment to diversity make EDF an exciting and meaningful place to work. Every job here makes a difference. Won’t you join us?

Responsibilities

Program Overview

The Beyond Gas and Equitable Regulatory Solutions team within EDF’s Legal and Regulatory team focuses on state, regional, and national efforts to accelerate the transition away from natural gas use for power generation and for building heating. The team is sharply focused on the imperative of an equitable energy transition that urgently decreases emissions from fossil fuels and prioritizing benefits for communities that have been disproportionately impacted by existing energy systems.

Legal Fellows contribute meaningfully to the team's work, using a layered approach of regulatory advocacy and community partnership. We aim to make our Legal Fellow’s 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 under the Clean Air Act, major international agreements, and guidelines regarding trans-boundary pollution control programs in the U.S./Mexico border region, and projects that work towards ensuring 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 state and regional projects and cases aimed at reducing climate-destabilizing emissions as well as the burdens of fossil fuel infrastructure for overburdened communities. The work will include a heavy emphasis on public utility regulation and electric sector regulation. The Legal Fellow will focus on activity and action before entities including public utility commissions, including the Illinois Commerce Commission, and others, other state energy regulators, and regional grid operators. The Legal Fellow will also focus on deepening relationships with existing community-based partners, growing relationship with new allies, and advancing innovative new legal strategies to empower community participation in energy decision-making processes. As a member of the Legal and Regulatory team, the legal fellow may also be asked to support our other efforts to reduce air pollution from power plants and other 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 energy issues.
• Contribute to litigation filings and administrative comments, including implementation of the Illinois Climate and Equitable Jobs Act.
• Evaluate the energy justice, health and environmental implications of pending legislation, and work on new legislation to advance our priorities.
• Draft public-facing documents such as fact sheets and blog posts about legal 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 those related to addressing the disparate impacts of climate change and energy systems.
• Engage in regulatory and administrative proceedings.
• Participate in advancing EDF Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion 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 state, regional, and national climate and energy issues. Other qualifications include:

• Licensed to practice law or actively seeking admission to the Bar, with background in energy and/or administrative law.
• A Juris Doctorate (J.D.) from an accredited Law School.
• Familiarity with state energy regulation.
• Interest and/or experience in community engagement, relationship-building, or organizing.
• Innovative thinker who is not afraid to take risks and establish new precedents and models.
• Ability to collect, manipulate, analyze, and interpret legal data and prepare reports of findings.
• Excellent legal research, analytical, writing and advocacy skills.
• Establishes and maintains strong working relationships with internal and external allies.
• Results-oriented, self-starter with the ability to think strategically and work on fast-paced, dynamic issues.
• Demonstrates self-awareness, cultural competency and inclusivity, and ability to work with colleagues and stakeholders across diverse cultures and backgrounds.
• Ability to multi-task, prioritize and meet deadlines.
• Able to be respond to challenges, be flexible, and adapt quickly.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills.
• Computer proficiency, experience with Microsoft Word and PowerPoint.

Location

U.S. Remote, Washington, D.C., or other EDF office location.

Term

Two years, with anticipated start date of late November 2022.

Compensation

We offer a strong total rewards package encompassing competitive salary, robust benefits, and professional development opportunities consistent with a modern global organization. The annual salary for this role is $84,000.

Application Materials

Interested applicants should attach their cover letter and resume to the EDF application, together with a writing sample, and unofficial law school transcript. In your cover letter, please describe your interest in energy law and policy work, and relevant completed course work and experience to the qualifications.

Pay Ranges

We offer a strong total rewards package encompassing competitive salary, robust benefits, and professional development opportunities consistent with a modern global organization. We take into account factors such as candidate experience, skills, training, internal team equity and local norms.

The pay range for this role is shown below.

Please note that pay ranges are country specific. As a result, the stated currency is not meant be converted into any other currency.

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.