Resident Attorney - Pittsburgh & Akron

Call for Applications for a Resident Attorney

Fair Shake is looking for bright, motivated, and entrepreneurial attorneys who want to build or join small or solo environmental law practices for modest means clients in the Appalachian Basin region. We are hiring attorneys interested in increasing access to justice in environmental matters and public participation in environmental decision-making.

Deadline to apply: January 12, 2018

Essential Functions of Resident Attorneys

Working under the direct supervision of a Supervising Attorney, the Resident Attorney represents and counsels modest means clients in the Appalachian Basin. While practicing law at Fair Shake, Resident Attorneys spend a substantial amount of time training in advanced lawyering skills, business planning, and alternative practice areas to prepare the attorney for a sliding scale law practice outside of Fair Shake. The Resident Attorney position involves client interviewing and counseling, legal analysis, factual investigation, trial preparation, collaborative case theory development, and problem-solving. The Resident Attorney will handle matters covering the full reach of environmental law practice.

Resident Attorneys will be part of a legal team in either Pennsylvania or Ohio dedicated to providing environmental legal services to modest means clients. Residents will build a client base geared toward their own environmental practice goals while training in the business of a law practice serving modest means clients. Resident Attorneys will spend time every week on both case development and business planning. Resident Attorneys are expected to work to start-up or join an environmental practice within the Appalachian Basin to serve sliding-scale clients in at least 50% of their practice after spending 2 years at Fair Shake ELS. Options will exist for continued support from the Fair Shake after their 2-year residency period.

Resident Attorneys will work on a diverse scope of environmental matters, but may focus in areas of desired practice development. Anticipated case matters include permit appeals, civil litigation, citizen suits, permit and rule comments, administrative petitions, land use hearings, gas lease reviews and negotiations, compliance counseling, community educational presentations, and opinion letter development.

Desired Skills and Qualities

• Training and experience in the full spectrum of environmental and administrative legal issues;
• Training in client interviewing and counseling, administrative procedure, and trial advocacy;
• Experience and training in legal drafting, research, and effective communication;
• A strong interest in starting a small environmental legal practice in the tri-state region;
• Demonstrated effectiveness in both collaboratively- and independently-produced work product and performances; and
• A commitment to Fair Shake’s mission.

To Apply

To apply, please submit a letter of interest, your CV or résumé, and a writing sample to:

Emily A. Collins

Executive Director and Managing Attorney

3495 Butler Street, Suite 102

Pittsburgh, PA 15201

ecollins@fairshake-els.org

Full job description: HTTP://WWW.FAIRSHAKE-ELS.ORG/JOBS/

Agriculture Reporter

POLITICO Pro is looking for a versatile beat reporter to dig into the politics and policy of agriculture. This is one of the most dynamic and exciting policy areas in Washington — nothing less than the food we eat and the future of the world’s food supply is at stake. It is an ideal job for someone interested in breaking news on Trump administration policy, the farm bill, food tech, Big Ag companies’ lobbying efforts and the challenges faced by the American farmer. You may have to go deep into pesticide exposure risks one day and explain government regulation over the meatpacking sector the next.

You should be someone who is never content with just getting a canned quote and never satisfied with conventional wisdom or a politician’s non-answers.

What You'll Have:

• Writing chops: The ability to write fast and analytically is a must. Flair and style are required; people should want to pay to read your writing.

• Initiative and integrity: The ability to develop a network of sources both in and out of Washington is necessary, and you should be comfortable playing an important role in engaging on social media. You should write with authority and never with bias or opinion, and you should understand the difference. You should demonstrate the core journalistic values of integrity and compassion.

• Versatility: Our best journalists produce a smart, savvy blend of scoops, analysis and smart aggregation. They also write breaking news items and can naturally turn leads or quick hits into deeper-dive pieces when the news warrants.

• Team spirit: You must be able to work as part of a team and collaborate on beat coverage and in-depth pieces. You will be paired with reporters who cover all aspects of farm and food policy and editors who will give your stories shape and polish. You will also be expected to contribute original items to our daily newsletter to give readers the news behind the news.

What You'll Need: 

• At least three-plus years of professional journalism experience covering a daily beat is required.
• Journalistic experience in covering the farm bill, federal policy and/or agribusiness is helpful but not essential.
• Experience with contributing to or writing newsletters is a plus.
• This is an ideal position for a journalist who wants to develop from a beat reporter into a policy-scoop machine.

To apply:

Please send a resume, a cover letter summarizing your interest and qualifications for the beat, and five writing samples (web links are fine). 

Come help us build the story. We check our comfort zones at the door each day to foster innovation, and because we believe in each other’s ambitions, we come together to create something meaningful.

We value our people. We offer a competitive compensation and comprehensive benefits package, including health and wellness benefits, commuter benefits, retirement plans, as well as work-life balance flexibility and opportunities for career development.

Nature Conservancy: Corporate Services Attorney

Job Description

The Corporate Services Attorney provides legal services under the direction of a more experienced Conservancy attorney to advance Conservancy priorities and appropriately manage risk.  

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS    

• Provides legal services for assigned programs focusing on U.S. government relations, lobbying regulatory compliance, campaign finance compliance, and public policy advocacy. 
• Ensures that the Conservancy complies with its obligations to report and conduct lobbying and policy advocacy activities in accordance with U.S. and international laws. 
• Ensures that transactions and activities are legally sound and consistent with the Conservancy’s mission, authority, policies, and procedures. 
• Clearly articulates legal concepts and options to assigned programs. 
• Counsels clients in other programmatic work to assure compliance with domestic and international laws, particularly those that apply to public charities.

RESPONSIBILITIES & SCOPE        

• Reviews organizational documents and prepares and examines contracts which may involve government grants, leases, licenses, purchases, sales, insurance, easements, etc. 
• May supervise and/or provide guidance to paralegals and other support staff.
• Assists in special projects as requested by department management.
• Provides support to primary legal contacts for various clients.
• Travels occasionally; works long or flexible hours as needed.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS        

• Juris Doctorate (J.D.) or equivalent and license to practice law in at least one U.S. jurisdiction.

PREFERRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS & EXPERIENCE         

• A minimum of two (2) years of practice as an attorney.
• Experience in a legal or other capacity with government ethics, campaign finance regulations, lobbying and/or federal election rules.
• Experience drafting and negotiating contracts for services and grant agreements.
• Experience in developing, directing, and managing multiple projects and implementing strategic program goals. 
• Experience with non-profit organization regulations.
• Excellent legal research skills.
• Exemplary public speaking and presentation skills.
• Ability to work collaboratively with diverse teams of legal and non-legal professionals.
• Multi-lingual skills and multi-cultural experience appreciated.

SALARY INFORMATION

The target salary range for this position is $92,000 - $97,000 per year, based on qualifications and experience.

Food Systems and Food Safety Program Associate - Little Rock, AR

Summary

The Food Systems and Food Safety Program Associate provides outreach, education and technical assistance to Arkansas produce growers, community stakeholders and county extension agents for the FDA Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) regulations and community food system development. Identifies, enrolls, and trains produce growers, stakeholders, and county agents in the FSMA Produce Safety Rule, community food systems, other related food safety training. The Program Associate will support, develop, and implement training and technical assistance with stakeholders working to support community food systems development across the value chain.

Job Duties

• Plan coordination of and host PSA Grower Training and Food System Development training workshops. 
• Implement the goals and objectives of projects and direct day-to-day project operation, including managing implementation of project activities, coordination with other agencies, and ensuring that reports and documentation are submitted. 
• Serve as a liaison to Lead Instructors for public FSPCA Preventive Controls for Human Food courses with respect to gathering attendance numbers and info. Provide input on development of Southern Center add-on curricula related to produce safety for both PSA (i.e. commodity-specific training, production type-specific training, etc.) and FSPCA (produce-specific food safety plan examples). Assist with technical assistance management, tracking, and evaluation. 
• Prepare educational materials and develop web content, promotional materials, press releases, etc. Monitor program implementation, assist collaborators and county extension agents, coordinate activities with team. 
• Travel to Southern Center for FSMA Training meetings, sustainable agriculture, or local foods conferences. Takes initiative, self-directed as well as the ability to work effectively in a team.

Job posted by The University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture Cooperative Extension Service
See full job description HERE

Analyst in Environmental Policy - DC

Summary

The Environmental Policy Section in the Resources, Science and Industry Division (RSI) of the Congressional Research Service (CRS) is seeking an Analyst in Environmental Policy. The analyst will conduct analyses that inform congressional deliberations on environmental policy and science related to environmental remediation and mine reclamation policy. The ideal candidate will have knowledge of the history, trends, and current status of environmental policy with an emphasis on environmental remediation and mine reclamation policy, as well as interrelationships with other key disciplines such as the physical or biological sciences, engineering, administrative law, public finance and financial assurance, and/or policy disciplines.

This position requires the ability to utilize analytical methods and techniques to analyze policy issues for the U.S. Congress. Applicants should be comfortable with quantitative approaches in research and familiar with environmental policy and science related to environmental remediation and mine reclamation policies. Strong writing and presentation skills, including the ability to synthesize complex analyses into easy-to-understand language for a non-technical audience, are required.

Analyst duties include preparing objective, non-partisan analytical studies and descriptive background reports on issues of national significance; providing personal consultation and assistance to congressional committees, Members, and staff on public policy issues throughout the legislative process; and participating in or coordinating team research projects and seminars.

CRS works exclusively for the United States Congress, providing policy and legal analysis to committees and Members of both the House and Senate, regardless of party affiliation. As a legislative branch agency within the Library of Congress, CRS has been a valued and respected resource on Capitol Hill for more than a century.

CRS is well known for analysis that is authoritative, confidential, objective, and nonpartisan. Its highest priority is to ensure that Congress has immediate access to the nation's best thinking on public policy issues of interest to its Members and Committees.

Responsibilities 

• Prepares a variety of descriptive and background reports, memoranda, and written materials on subjects or public policy issues within the employee's area of professional knowledge to support congressional decision making. 

• Through personal consultation, assists committees, Members, and staff with consideration of legislative issues by providing information and analysis, and applying professional subject-area knowledge.

• Participates in CRS seminars, workshops, and/or outreach programs for committees, Members, and staff. 

• Locates and provides information requested by Members and committees of Congress or their staff.

Job Posted by USAJOBS.gov

See full job description HERE