Environmental Justice Attorney (Maine)

Conservation Law Foundation, Inc.; Portland (ME); Hybrid; USD 85,000 - 127,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Benefits plan

Job summary

Conservation Law Foundation (CLF) seeks a full-time Environmental Justice Attorney in Maine, based in Portland with some remote flexibility within New England. The Staff/Senior Attorney will advance litigation and policy on toxics and community engagement, and develop relationships with communities and advocates across New England.

The role requires a J.D. and Maine admission, with level determined by experience (I/II/Senior).

Qualifications

• J.D. from an accredited law school is required.
• Admission to practice law in Maine is required.
• Minimum experience varies by staff attorney level: 2 years (Staff Attorney I), 5 years (Staff Attorney II), 7 years (Senior Attorney).

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement legal strategies to advance CLF’s advocacy goals, including through litigation.
• Represent CLF and other parties in litigation proceedings.
• Negotiate settlements, penalties, and fee/cost recovery.
• Advise communities and organizations on legal and policy matters.
• Build coalitions and work with public officials and community groups.

Education

J.D. from an accredited law school

Admission to practice law in Maine

Job description

Environmental Justice Attorney (Maine)

Conservation Law Foundation (CLF) is seeking a full-time attorney to join our team working to protect New England’s environment for all people. The Attorney will work with CLF’s Environmental Justice program and will be based in CLF’s Portland, Maine office with the opportunity for some remote and flexible work within New England. The attorney’s work will focus on communities and toxics issues in Maine. The position will be hired as a Staff Attorney Level I or II or Senior Attorney depending on years of experience.

What you’ll do

The Attorney will work independently and as part of state-based and regional teams to implement programmatic priorities in the areas of toxics, and community engagement. The Attorney will advance litigation and policy initiatives, as well as strengthen community partnerships, to advocate for environmental justice and to advance local and statewide policies and decisions that better protect the health and environment of communities that have been historically marginalized.

The Staff Attorney will:

• Devise and execute legal strategies for achieving CLF’s advocacy goals, including through litigation;
• Represent CLF and other parties in litigation proceedings;
• Negotiate civil penalties, injunctive relief, and fee and cost recovery;
• Advise CLF and community and advocacy groups on legal and policy matters;
• Develop relationships, build coalitions, and work collaboratively with community and advocacy groups and public officials;
• Build and sustain alliances and coalitions among impacted and allied entities;
• Represent CLF in regulatory and administrative proceedings;
• Draft public comment letters on projects, policies, and plans;
• Advocate for priority bills before the Maine State Legislature, including oral and written testimony;
• Support the intake process for the EJ program;
• Engage in development efforts to support the work of the Environmental Justice program and the Maine office, including donor and foundation stewardship efforts and funding proposals, grant reporting and board engagement;
• Contribute to CLF’s commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion;
• Write public educational materials, articles, and opinion pieces and communicate about advocacy work through media outlets and social media; and
• Contribute to the health of our community and the smooth operation of our organization.

What you’ll need

We are looking for a motivated and mature self-starter who can work independently and as a productive member of a talented and diverse group of advocates dedicated to CLF’s mission and distributed across New England.

To be successful in this role, you’ll need:

• A J.D. from an accredited law school and admission to practice law in Maine.
• Relevant legal experience, preferably in environmental, administrative, or regulatory law and/or significant litigation experience, with the following minimum requirements:
• Staff Attorney I: At least 2 years of relevant legal experience
• Staff Attorney II: At least 5 years of relevant legal experience
• Senior Attorney: At least 7 years of relevant legal experience
• Demonstrated experience working with state and federal environmental and administrative laws;
• Litigation experience in state and/or federal courts or comparable experience;
• Experience working on environmental justice issues, preferably in the New England region;
• Strong analytic abilities, oral and written communication skills, and a commitment to environmental justice advocacy;
• Strong commitment to CLF’s mission, including its commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion;
• Coalition and network building skills, including cultural competence and ability to communicate and collaborate within diverse and multicultural communities; and
• A capacity to develop and/or enhance expertise in relevant technical or policy areas.

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 & Benefits

CLF offers a competitive salary, and extensive benefits plan, and an open, inclusive, and accepting work environment where differences are highly respected. Starting 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
• Staff Attorney I (minimum 2 years of relevant legal experience): $85,000–$99,000

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.