Staff Attorney

Conservation Law Foundation (CLF) is seeking a staff attorney to work in its Maine Advocacy Center. Working with the director of the Maine Advocacy Center, as well as advocacy program directors, the Maine staff attorney will be responsible for identifying and implementing cutting-edge solutions to a variety of compelling environmental problems in Maine and regionally. Responsibilities will include negotiating, litigating, advancing policy changes, coalition building, and communicating with the press and the public.

This position is based in CLF’s Portland, Maine office.

The ideal candidate will:

• Be a highly motivated individual with one to three years experience practicing environmental law;
• Have experience working with state and federal environmental laws;
• Have litigation experience at state court, federal district court, and/or appellate levels;
• Have excellent analytic abilities, exemplary oral and written communication skills, and a commitment to environmental advocacy;
• Have the ability to understand and explain scientific issues related to CLF’s environmental advocacy;
• Be able to devise legal strategies for achieving advocacy goals;
• Be able to manage multiple advocacy projects;
• Be a mature self-starter, able to work both independently and as a productive team member;
• Be a persuasive, credible, well-prepared advocate;
• Have the capacity to develop expertise in relevant non-legal technical or policy areas;

General Advocacy Work

• Litigate citizen enforcement cases under various provisions of environmental statutes, including the Clean Water Act and the Clean Air Act;

• Negotiate settlement agreements including civil penalties, injunctive relief and fee and cost recovery;

• Work effectively with administrative support staff;

• Work with other CLF attorneys and communications and policy specialists;

• Advise community groups and other advocacy groups on legal and policy matters;

• Build alliances and coalitions among community groups, public officials, business interests, and advocacy organizations;

• Write public educational materials, articles and opinion pieces;

• Educate and advocate to local, state and federal legislatures and administrations;

• Engage in public outreach and speaking on advocacy initiatives;

• Represent CLF and others in federal and state court litigation and administrative proceedings or coordinate CLF’s participation in such proceedings;

• Work with the media to amplify and disseminate CLF’s work and policy goals.

Management Responsibilities

• Participate in efforts to raise financial support for individual initiatives and for the organization as a whole, and prepare funder reports and related materials as requested by the Maine advocacy center director and/or program directors;
• Be actively involved in the mentoring and recruiting activities for interns, staff and volunteers;
• Prepare and present for management and board approval proposals for new work;
• Participate in program strategic planning.

Experience in a nonprofit public interest advocacy setting is highly desirable. A candidate must be a registered member of the Maine State Bar.

Salary and Benefits

CLF offers a competitive salary, an extensive benefits plan, and an open, inclusive and accepting work environment where differences are highly respected.

To Apply

Send your resume titled “your last name-first initial-resume” (e.g. “SMITH J RESUME”) and a detailed cover letter titled “your last name-first initial-cover” (e.g. “SMITH J COVER”) to careers@clf.org. Please make “Staff Attorney” the subject of your e-mail. No phone calls please.

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Conservation Law Foundation (CLF) protects New England’s environment for the benefit of all people. A non-profit, member-supported organization, CLF uses the law, science and the market to solve the region’s most challenging environmental problems from climate change to ocean conservation to transportation. Every day, CLF advocates stand up for New Englanders—in state houses, court houses and board rooms, regulatory hearings and community gatherings—to forge innovative paths to environmental progress and economic prosperity for all in our region. To that end, CLF works with communities of color, and also communities that are economically or otherwise disadvantaged, which often suffer disproportionately the impacts of environmental degradation. CLF is committed to representing New England’s diversity in our staff, volunteers, boards and membership and creating a positive, inclusive workplace culture where all can thrive. People of color are encouraged to apply.

Founded in 1966, CLF is recognized nationwide for taking on complex issues, sticking with them and getting results that make New England a better place to live, visit and do business, including: cleaning up Boston Harbor, restoring New England’s cod population, blocking oil and gas drilling on Georges Bank, preserving wilderness areas in Vermont and New Hampshire, reducing emissions from cars and trucks, laying the groundwork for widespread implementation of renewable energy, and winning some of the country’s strongest protections for clean air and clean water. CLF is headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts with offices in Maine, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Vermont.