Lawyer

FRIENDS OF THE EARTH CHARITABLE TRUST; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 55,000 - 70,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

4-day week

Learning opportunities

Work-life balance

Job summary

Friends of the Earth is seeking a Lawyer to join our London-based legal team on a 6-month fixed-term contract, with location flexibility for some remote working. The role requires a qualified Solicitor or Barrister with England and Wales practicing certificate and experience in public law, environmental and planning sectors.

You will provide legal advice and support to campaigning teams, identify and develop litigation and planning opportunities, and help train communities.

Qualifications

• You must be a qualified Solicitor or Barrister with a practicing certificate in England and Wales.
• Proven experience of working in UK public law, and with expertise in the environmental and planning sectors.
• Litigation experience and knowledge of the domestic planning system are important, and you will have had conduct of environmental and planning cases.
• Able to communicate effectively and confidently to a range of audiences and at significant public events.

Responsibilities

• Inform and/or develop campaign strategy or tactics, identify, develop and/or deliver litigation and planning casework opportunities.
• Support and provide training to communities and to help win campaigns.

Skills

Qualified professional

Public law experience

Environmental planning law

Litigation experience

Communication effectively

Education

Legal qualification England & Wales

Job description

Lawyer

Location: London, but with flexibility for some remote working

(London salary applicable to candidates who live in London, or are based in the London office a minimum of two days a week – the required minimum attendance for this role)

Contract Details: 6 months Fixed term contract until March/April 2027 dependant on start date

Hours: Full time (30 hours over 4 days)

The role:

Friends of the Earth is a leading environmental NGO, concerned with the protection of the environment and social justice. It is the largest grassroots environmental campaigning community in the country, and one of the oldest and largest worldwide. We are in the midst of a climate crisis, and the natural world around us is in decline. This could be suitable for a relatively newly qualified Lawyer (up to 4 years PQE) but applications from any suitably qualified candidates will be welcomed regardless of career stage. We are looking for someone to join our team on a fixed term contract to help save the planet and achieve environmental justice,

The Friends of the Earth legal team is a cross-cutting team providing expert support and intellectual leadership in our campaigning. We need a lawyer with strong experience in planning and environmental law, and a good understanding of using the law in campaigning. This is an exciting opportunity to use the law and planning policy to make positive change happen.

As a Lawyer you will provide Friends of the Earth with legal advice and representation in support of our overall aims and objectives, including to: inform and/or develop campaign strategy or tactics, identify, develop and/or deliver litigation and planning casework opportunities, support and provide training to communities, and to help win campaigns. A core focus of the role is to defend and extend environmental justice and to do that as an effective member of an established team. Working with our Head of Legal and Senior Lawyer, you will provide essential additional capacity and support to the team, during a busy period, as we undergo a period of campaign planning and restructuring.

Key Skills and Attributes:

You must be a qualified Solicitor or Barrister with a practicing certificate in England and Wales. You will have proven experience of working in UK public law, and with expertise in the environmental and planning sectors.

Litigation experience and knowledge of the domestic planning system are important, and you will have had conduct of environmental and planning cases. As a creative and strategic thinker, you will add value to campaigns by identifying legal opportunities that have impact.

Being able to work well under pressure and to present complex legal information clearly and concisely to non-lawyers is an essential part of the job, and you will also be able to communicate effectively and confidently to a range of audiences and at significant public events.

The successful candidate must be able to work with a range of different people, and to value and respect that diversity. A strong team orientated work ethic is essential, along with a demonstrable understanding and commitment to environmental and/or social justice (including how law can effect positive change).

The team:

The Legal Team sits within the Policy Advocacy and Campaign directorate, which delivers campaigning impact for the organisation.

The Legal Team consists of: Head of Legal, Senior Lawyer, Lawyer, 2x paid Legal Interns. Another Senior Lawyer is embedded in the Northern Ireland office with the NI Team.

Closing date: Tuesday 29th September 2026 (23:59)

We offer a competitive range of benefits, good work/life balance including a 4-day working week with no loss of pay, excellent learning and development opportunities and a vibrant organisational culture.

Our staff body is currently under-representative of People of Colour, LGBTQIA+ people and people with long term conditions or impairments. We are committed to eroding these historic barriers, so as to create a movement in which people from all walks of life see themselves in, and so we particularly encourage you to apply if you belong to one of these groups or sit at multiple intersections of disadvantage. We are committed to the Disability Confident standard and will guarantee an interview to any candidates who declare a disability and who meet the essential criteria for the role.

Friends of the Earth staff who publicly represent Friends of the Earth (including all campaigners) are not allowed to also represent a political party. This is to ensure that there can be no confusion in the minds of the public about Friends of the Earth's party-political independence. Affected staff should also seek permission from the Senior Management Team if they wish to hold a non-public facing official role in a political party. If this is an issue, please do raise this with us as soon as possible.

Friends of the Earth is an international community dedicated to protecting the natural world and the wellbeing of everyone in it. We lead campaigns, provide resources and information, and drive real solutions to the environmental problems facing us all.