Climate Legal Fellow

Overview

NRDC is a non-profit environmental advocacy organization. We use law, science, and the support of 3.1 million members and online activists to protect the planet's wildlife and wild places and to ensure the rights of all people to clean air, clean water, and healthy communities. NRDC was founded in 1970 and our people helped write some of America's bedrock environmental laws, including the Clean Water Act and many of the implementing regulations. Today, our team of more than 700 lawyers, scientists, economists, policy advocates, communications experts, and others work across the United States and the globe from our offices in Beijing; Chicago; New Delhi; New York; San Francisco; Santa Monica; and Washington, D.C. 

NRDC is seeking a Legal Fellow to work with the Climate & Energy team in Washington, DC. 

Position Summary 

The Climate Legal Fellow will play a key role in NRDC’s climate, clean air, and clean energy federal litigation and regulatory advocacy as a junior member of the Climate & Energy Program’s Power Sector Division, while also supporting regulatory and legal work with the Transportation Division. The team’s priority regulatory initiatives include: Environmental Protection Agency regulations for climate and air pollution from the power sector, motor vehicles, and heavy industry; and other agency actions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.  

Your new role at NRDC is part of the bargaining unit represented by The Washington Baltimore News Guild (WBNG / The Newsguild-CWA Local 32035). 

Responsibilities

• Working with a team of lawyers and paralegals on active cases and case development projects, including by both providing support on cases led by senior attorneys and leading cases, or substantial aspects of cases, under the supervision of senior attorneys.  
• Collaborating with NRDC program staff, clients, experts, and coalition and community partners to support regulatory and litigation tasks.  
• Conducting legal research and factual investigations.  
• Writing briefs, motions, and memoranda.  

Qualifications

This two-year Fellowship is designed for early career attorneys with at least two years of experience. In assessing candidates, we look for: 

• Juris Doctor degree and admission to the Bar of the jurisdiction in which they intend to practice, or willingness to complete the requirements for admission to that Bar.  
• Knowledge of administrative law and federal court practice. 
• Strong writing, research, and public speaking skills.  
• Ability to work independently and take initiative.  
• Experience working effectively with a team.  
• Creativity and resourcefulness.  
• Commitment to NRDC’s values and mission.  

Preferred 

• Experience litigating and working with coalitions. 
• Experience working on climate, clean air, or clean energy policy.  
• Knowledge of Clean Air Act law and associated technical issues. 

NRDC is committed to advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion, both in our work and in our workplace. We believe that celebrating and actively welcoming diverse voices and perspectives is essential to solving the planet's most pressing environmental problems, and we encourage applications from candidates whose identities have been historically under-represented in the environmental movement. 

We are an equal opportunity employer and do not discriminate in hiring or employment on the basis of race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, marital status, sexual orientation, national origin, citizenship, age, disability, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law. Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.  

We offer competitive salaries, excellent benefits, and a supportive working environment. Salary is based on a nonprofit scale and is commensurate with skills and experience. Internal equity will be reviewed and considered to determine a final offer. For this position, the salary range is $87,000 to $93,000.  

NRDC operates under a hybrid work model. Employees are required to come to the office 8 days per month. 

As a science-based organization, NRDC aims to do our part to help contain the COVID-19 public health crisis. For the sake of health, safety, and equity, we ask that people be vaccinated unless they have an approved medical or religious accommodation or other exemption in accordance with state and local law. We consider a person to be vaccinated two weeks after receiving one full course of a CDC-approved vaccine. In accordance with state or local law, new hires will be asked to attest to vaccination, those wishing to do so may request medical or religious accommodations or other exemptions via NRDC Employee Relations. NRDC treats all vaccine-related data confidentially, in keeping with local, state, and federal laws. 

To apply, visit www.nrdc.org/careers and upload your résumé and cover letter. Please mention where you saw this posting and upload any additional materials that showcase your abilities. Due to the high volume of applications, we will contact only those candidates we would like to interview. Please no phone calls, emails, or in-person résumé drop-offs. 

If you experience technical problems while applying or if you are a person with a disability and need assistance applying online, please reach out to iCIMS Customer Care at 1-800-889-4422. 

For more about NRDC, visit www.nrdc.org.