2013 Legal Fellowship, Center for Food Safety

The Center for Food Safety (CFS), a leading public interest organization devoted to legal advocacy in food law and sustainable agriculture, is seeking applications for its 2013 Legal Fellowship Program.  CFS’s mission centers on protecting consumers, the environment, and farmers by challenging the impacts of harmful food production systems.  CFS also works to strengthen food and environmental laws and enforcement at both federal and state levels, in part by promoting and protecting organic standards.  This program provides an opportunity for a recent law school graduate interested in both litigation and policy work to become familiar with this new and growing practice area.

As a member of the legal team, the Legal Fellow will work on cutting edge issues, among them: genetic engineering, factory farming, food labeling, organic standards, global warming, sewage sludge, aquaculture, irradiation, nanotechnology, and state and federal legislative initiatives.  The Legal Fellow will work alongside the legal team on litigation in cases in federal and state courts, including case investigation, discovery, trial practice, and appellate work.  Other duties will include, but are not limited to, rule-making and administrative work at the state and federal level, as well as work on general legislative, public policy, and public education issues.

The fellowship is awarded through a competitive selection process.  It is a paid one-year appointment, commencing in the summer / fall of 2013, and it is open to law students who graduated / or will graduate in the years 2013, 2012, or 2011, and those completing legal clerkships.  The Legal Fellow is based out of the San Francisco or Portland office.

Qualifications:

• an interest in and experience with administrative and environmental law or another relevant area;
• a demonstrable passion for enforcing and strengthening environmental laws, as well as an interest in sustainable agriculture and / or food law;
• excellent legal research and writing skills;
• self-motivation and willingness to do administrative tasks;
• an ability to work closely with others in small, team-oriented office environment; and
• timely admission to the California, Oregon, or Washington bar.

To apply: Please send a cover letter, resume, three references (two may be from law school, one must be a legal employment supervisor), and a non-academic writing sample to Ryan Crumley at rcrumley@centerforfoodsafety.org. Preference will be given to candidates who demonstrate a dedication to and interest in environmental law, sustainable agriculture, and litigation of the type undertaken by the Center for Food Safety.

The fellowship deadline is December 31, 2012.