Experienced Environmental Attorney with focus in climate, biodiversity, energy transition, or Indigenous peoples’ rights

ELAW seeks experienced lawyer to help protect biodiversity and the climate

The Environmental Law Alliance Worldwide (ELAW) is accepting applications for an experienced attorney to join our growing team.

About ELAW

This is an exciting opportunity to work with leading public interest lawyers around the world to protect the rights of communities and the environment. ELAW collaborates with lawyers representing local communities and NGOs to build a sustainable, just future. ELAW’s global partners are bringing innovative legal actions challenging the status quo and addressing complex environmental problems.

ELAW provides legal and scientific expertise and other support to public interest lawyers. ELAW collaborates with a global community of advocates who offer each other solidarity, mutual assistance and inspiration. ELAW team members provide support, connect partners to each other and to other experts, and collaborate with them to share learning and catalyze strategies to enforce environmental laws and pursue environmental justice worldwide.

About the position

ELAW’s law team collaborates with lawyers protecting communities and the environment by providing high-quality legal support to their litigation and advocacy. ELAW does not litigate directly. ELAW attorneys have opportunities to build specialized expertise while supporting others on the team to do the same. We value a team culture of trust, open communication, and collaboration that draws from our diverse perspectives and experiences.

The right candidate will bring relevant expertise to our team. This could include experience fighting fossil fuel projects, supporting a just energy transition, challenging deforestation, protecting biodiversity, defending rights of Indigenous peoples to their lands, or challenging project finance.

Responsibilities and Scope of Position:

• Legal research and analysis to support lawyers defending communities and the environment in nearly 80 countries on a wide range of domestic and international advocacy;
• Independently draft pleadings and court submissions, including “friend of the court” briefs;
• Build and foster relationships with international partners and allies;
• Organize and participate in workshops and other remote/in-person meetings to share information and develop advocacy strategies;
• Help host visiting Fellows;
• Supervise legal interns;
• Review work by law team colleagues; and
• Collaborate with ELAW colleagues on communications, development, and other activities that support the organization, our partners, and allies.

Minimum Qualifications:

• A commitment to fulfilling ELAW’s mission;
• The ability to work successfully in cross-cultural settings;
• J.D. or equivalent law degree;
• Licensed to practice law, or willing to apply for bar membership;
• At least five years of litigation or related legal advocacy experience in environmental law;
• Expertise in biodiversity law, energy law, Indigenous peoples’ rights, climate litigation, challenging fossil fuel projects, or other relevant fields of law;
• Exceptional legal research, writing, and communication skills;
• Excellent organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple tasks and competing deadlines;
• Ability to positively represent ELAW in a variety of professional settings;
• Ability to work within a small team, as well as independently;
• Professional fluency in English and a second language with preference for French, Portuguese, or Spanish; and
• Flexible approach to working with colleagues across time zones.

Desired Qualifications and Competencies:

• Additional language skills;
• Ability to work well with colleagues from diverse backgrounds and orientations;
• Initiative to stay attuned to and research emerging issues of law and advocacy;
• Ability to contribute to our team culture by sharing perspectives, seeking and providing feedback, and supporting others;
• Ability and willingness to use technology platforms that enable virtual collaboration;
• Open to international travel;
• Strong editing skills; and
• Experience supervising legal interns or other staff.

The ELAW Secretariat is based in Eugene, Oregon, though members of our team work across several continents. This position is flexible, though needs to be easily able to collaborate with colleagues in the Pacific Time Zone.

ELAW does not discriminate based on race, color, religion, creed, gender, disability, socio-economic background, age, sexual orientation, marital status, political affiliation, national origin, ancestry, status with regards to public assistance, or immigration status. ELAW is committed to justice and equity and our outreach, recruitment, and hiring practices reflect our commitment to actively developing the skills of a diverse community.

Application deadline: March 31, 2023.