Climate & Energy Attorney (Connecticut)

Foundation List; New Haven (CT); Hybrid; USD 94,000 - 127,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work arrangements

Open, inclusive workplace

Job summary

Conservation Law Foundation (CLF) in New Haven seeks a Senior Attorney or Staff Attorney II to lead climate and energy policy advocacy. The role combines regulatory work, litigation, and coalition-building with opportunities for regional collaboration.

The attorney will focus on Connecticut issues with hybrid work arrangements and a commitment to environmental justice and community engagement.

Qualifications

• J.D. from an accredited law school and admission to practice law in Connecticut, or eligible for admission within a reasonable period after hire.
• Senior Attorney: at least 7 years of relevant legal experience.
• Staff Attorney II: at least 5 years of relevant legal experience.
• Experience in litigation, administrative proceedings, or regulatory/legislative advocacy, or similar work.
• Commitment to environmental justice and working with diverse stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement legal, regulatory, and legislative strategies for climate and energy priorities.
• Represent CLF in litigation, admin proceedings, and regulatory matters including PURA and ISO New England discussions.
• Advocate before CT General Assembly through testimony and written submissions.
• Draft filings, comments, testimony, policy analyses, and advocacy materials.
• Build relationships with community organizations, environmental justice advocates, policymakers, and partners.
• Lead and support coalitions advancing environmental and climate justice goals.
• Engage in public education and communications supporting CLF’s policy goals.
• Support fundraising activities including donor engagement, proposals, and reporting.

Skills

Analytical skills

Research skills

Writing skills

Oral advocacy

Project management

Education

J.D. from an accredited law school

Job description

Conservation Law Foundation (CLF) is seeking a full-time Senior Attorney or Staff Attorney II to join our Climate & Energy team. Based in CLF's New Haven office, the attorney will play a leading role in advancing innovative strategies to drive the transition to a clean, affordable, and equitable energy future. The position offers a unique opportunity to shape state and regional climate and energy policy through a combination of regulatory advocacy, legislative engagement, litigation, and coalition-building. The attorney will focus primarily on climate and energy issues in Connecticut, with opportunities to collaborate on regional initiatives. Flexible and hybrid work arrangements are available.

What you’ll do

This role combines legal advocacy, policy development, coalition building, and public engagement to advance CLF's climate and clean energy goals. Working both independently and collaboratively with state-based and regional teams, the attorney will lead and support high-impact advocacy efforts in the energy, transportation, building, and industrial sectors while centering environmental justice in all aspects of their work. The attorney will:

• Develop and implement legal, regulatory, and legislative strategies to advance CLF's climate and energy priorities.
• Represent CLF in litigation, administrative proceedings, and regulatory matters, including proceedings before Connecticut's Public Utilities Regulatory Authority, and participate in regional energy market discussions at ISO New England.
• Advocate before the Connecticut General Assembly and other governmental bodies through written and oral testimony.
• Draft legal filings, public comments, testimony, policy analyses, and other advocacy materials.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with community organizations, environmental justice advocates, policymakers, clean energy stakeholders, and other partners.
• Lead and support coalitions that advance CLF's environmental and climate justice goals.
• Engage in public education and communications activities that support CLF’s advocacy and public policy goals.
• Support fundraising and development activities, including donor engagement, grant proposals and reporting, and board relations.
• Advance CLF's commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice, and contribute to a collaborative workplace culture.

What you’ll need

We are looking for a collaborative and strategic attorney who can work independently while contributing to a supportive and mission-driven team of talented and diverse advocates located throughout New England. To succeed in this role, you’ll need:

• A J.D. from an accredited law school and admission to practice law in Connecticut, or admission in another U.S. jurisdiction and the ability and willingness to obtain admission in Connecticut within a reasonable period following hire.
• Relevant legal experience, preferably in climate, energy, environmental, administrative, or regulatory law or significant litigation experience, with the following minimum requirements:
  • Senior Attorney: At least 7 years of relevant legal experience
  • Staff Attorney II: At least 5 years of relevant legal experience
• Experience in litigation, administrative proceedings, public utility regulation, legislative advocacy, or comparable advocacy work.
• Strong analytical, research, writing, oral advocacy, and project-management skills.
• Ability to understand and communicate complex legal, technical, and policy issues effectively to a variety of audiences.
• Demonstrated commitment to environmental justice and experience building respectful, productive relationships with community partners and other stakeholders.

Our highest priority is finding the best candidate for the job. Research has shown that people of color and women are less likely to apply for jobs if they don’t believe they meet every one of the qualifications described in a job description. Our hiring process is centered on assessing candidates with various lived experiences. We encourage you to apply even if you don't believe you meet every one of our described qualifications or have a less traditional background.

About CLF

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 statehouses, courthouses, boardrooms, regulatory hearings, and community gatherings—to forge innovative paths to environmental progress and economic prosperity for all in our region. To that end, CLF frequently works with communities of color, and those that are economically or otherwise disadvantaged, which often suffer disproportionately from the impacts of environmental degradation.CLF is committed to diversity among our staff, volunteers, boards, and membership and creating a positive, inclusive workplace culture where all can thrive.

Salary and Benefits

CLF offers a competitive salary, and extensive benefits plan, and an open, inclusive, and accepting work environment where differences are highly respected. Salary ranges are based on position level:

• Senior Attorney (minimum 7 years of relevant legal experience): $106,000–$127,000.
• Staff Attorney II (minimum 5 years of relevant legal experience): $94,000–$111,000.

Placement within the salary range will be determined by relevant experience, skills, and qualifications, with significant consideration given to internal pay equity. CLF is committed to ensuring compensation decisions are fair, consistent, and aligned with the experience and contributions of current employees in similar roles.We recognize the value of work-life balance and also strive to create opportunities for growth for all employees through professional development.