Climate & Energy Attorney (Connecticut)

Conservation Law Foundation; United States; Hybrid; USD 94,000 - 127,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Extensive benefits plan

Hybrid work arrangement

Job summary

Conservation Law Foundation (CLF) in New Haven, CT, seeks a full-time Senior Attorney or Staff Attorney II to drive climate and energy policy through litigation, regulatory work, and advocacy. The role combines state and regional strategy with coalition-building and public engagement to advance a just energy transition.

Hybrid work is available. The attorney will lead initiatives across energy, transportation, and buildings, requiring strong legal experience and a commitment to environmental

Qualifications

• J.D. from an accredited law school and admission to practice in CT or ability to obtain CT admission within a reasonable period.

Responsibilities

• 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 PURA proceedings and regional energy market discussions.
• Advocate before the Connecticut General Assembly through testimony.
• Draft filings, public comments, testimony, policy analyses, and other advocacy materials.
• Build relationships with community organizations and stakeholders; lead coalitions.
• Engage in public education and communications to support CLF’s advocacy goals.
• Support fundraising and development activities, including donor engagement and reporting.
• Advance diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice in the workplace.

Skills

Regulatory advocacy

Litigation

Policy development

Public speaking

Environmental justice

Project management

Oral advocacy

Education

J.D. degree

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.