Lawyer, Environmental Democracy

Social Impact Guide; Brussel Hoofdstad; Hybride; EUR 47 000 - 54 000; Plein temps

Résumé du poste

Social Impact Guide seeks a fixed-term Legal Specialist to advance the Aarhus Convention through advocacy, policy work and collaboration with NGOs and partners in Europe. The role emphasizes ensuring access to information, public participation, and justice in environmental matters.

Ideal candidates will hold a law degree, possess strong English proficiency (CEFR C2), and have experience with UN processes or national environmental planning. Hybrid Brussels location with global impact.

Qualifications

• Must be fluent in English (CEFR C2).
• Degree in law or equivalent legal qualification.
• Experience in UN processes or national environmental planning/permitting preferred.
• Strong legal research and analytical abilities to support impactful work.

Responsabilités

• Engage in advocacy to promote and defend the Aarhus Convention with partners and stakeholders.
• Identify barriers to access to justice in environmental matters at national level, focusing on Central/South Eastern Europe.
• Build relationships with NGOs, legal experts, academics to strengthen collaboration on environmental democracy.

Connaissances

Fluent English (CEFR C2)

Legal research

Analytical skills

Formation

Law degree

Description du poste

The Environmental Democracy team works towards the correct implementation and enforcement of the 'Aarhus Convention', that is, the UNECE Convention on Access to Information, Public Participation in Decision-making and Access to Justice in Environmental Matters – the most progressive international agreement for citizens’ rights to information, participation and access to justice in Europe. The team aims to advance the principles of accountability, transparency and responsiveness for the good governance of EU institutions and national public authorities.

This is a fixed-term role for two years. The post holder will contribute to the team’s work in promoting and protecting the Aarhus Convention as a strong legal framework for environmental democracy and civic space, in particular to ensure that its compliance mechanisms remain independent and function effectively. Additionally, the post-holder will support strategic litigation efforts of ClientEarth and other organisations in key European jurisdictions to set legal precedents that give broad access to justice.

Important dates to note

• Deadline to submit an initial application: 14th of September
• If your profile passes initial screening, you will be asked to submit additional information in the form of three additional questions.
• The deadline to submit your answers is the 17th of September
• If we do not receive a response to these questions by the deadline we will assume you are no longer interested in the role.
• Interviews will take place the from the 1st of October

Application DeadlineSeptember 14, 2026

Department

Global Impact

Employment Type

Fixed Term - Full Time

Location

Brussels
60 Rue de Trone (3rd floor), Brussels, Brussels, 1050

Workplace type

Hybrid

Compensation

€4,521 / month

Reporting To

Sebastian Bechtel

Main duties

• Engage in advocacy aimed at promoting and defending the Aarhus Convention, working closely with the line manager and NGO partners to advance agreed policy objectives;
• Identify and address barriers to access to justice in environmental matters on national level, with a focus on Central or South Eastern Europe, including by contributing to legal analysis and assisting with strategic litigation;
• Build and maintain effective working relationships with NGOs, legal experts, academics and other stakeholders to strengthen collaboration in support of the Aarhus Convention;

See the job description (below) for a full list of duties for this role.

Role requirements

• Fluent (CEFR level C2) in English
• A degree in law
• Relevant professional experience working in UN processes or in national environmental planning and/or permitting
• Strong legal research and analytical skills and ability in performing rigorous and creative legal analysis in support of impactful work

See the job description (below) for a full list of requirements for this role.

Note to candidates: We know that long lists of criteria can be daunting and that some candidates will not apply for a role unless they feel they are 100% qualified . If you feel you meet at least some of the essential criteria, we still encourage you to apply.