Description:
- The Environmental Advocacy Clinic at Vermont Law School (formerly known as the Environmental and Natural Resources Law Clinic) is hiring a Food and Agricultural Staff Attorney to work on litigation and legal advocacy matters related to our food and agricultural systems to ensure positive and sustainable outcomes that protect people, water and natural resources, and habitat. The Environmental Advocacy Clinic offers students the chance to apply what they learn in the classroom by working in on real cases that have a positive impact on our world. Vermont Law School has been one of the nation's top ranked environmental law schools for decades. The position will work on ensuring large farm operations, such as CAFOS, are operated in a manner that accounts for pollution, protection of water and other natural resources, and public safety. It will also focus on litigation aimed to advance and defend policies that promote sustainable agricultural practices that protect key natural resources and habitat areas. An applicant should have an enthusiasm for working with law students who are eager to learn practice skills.
- The Environmental Advocacy Clinic is an in-house, law school clinic that operates as a public interest law firm, teaching students how to be lawyers by representing clients in need. In August of this year, the Clinic launched an exciting partnership with the National Wildlife Federation, one of the nation's largest and most influential conservation organizations, to represent the Federation on its national legal advocacy work. The Clinic staff and students serve as the lead attorney representing the National Wildlife Federation, other leading conservation organizations, and local community groups to advance important environmental and natural resources issues.
- The Clinic has a mission to provide a high-quality, skills-based educational experience for law students who learn how to become competent, ethical attorneys with expertise in the field of environmental and natural resources law; to provide pro bono representation for individuals and organizations who could not otherwise afford legal services; and to ensure that laws protecting health, wildlife, and the environment are properly interpreted, implemented, and enforced to protect people and places for the benefit of this and future generations. The clinic, while a distinct law firm, works in coordination on certain issues with Vermont Law School's broader initiatives on food and agriculture including the policy, academic, and scholar based Center for Agriculture and Food Systems. This position will be critical in advancing that collaboration.
- The National Wildlife Federation has a robust program that is committed to ensuring that cropland, pastureland, or rangeland are managed sustainably to protect critical habitat for our nation's fish and wildlife, protect our water resources, and help mitigate climate change. In addition to its collaborative work to encourage sustainable farming practices, National Wildlife Federation uses litigation and legal advocacy to ensure that key national policies such as the Farm Bill, protections for species and habitat, and the Clean Air Act's Renewable Fuel Standard are implemented and enforced in a manner that promotes sustainable farming practices and protects habitat. This position will also play a role in forwarding many of those initiatives.
- Develop litigation strategies to advance sustainable agricultural and food production practices that protect water and air quality, as well as wildlife habitat.
- Have primary responsibility for litigating complex cases under federal statutes such as the Clean Water Act, Clean Air Act, Endangered Species Act, Farm Bill, National Environmental Policy Act, and other statutes applicable to the environmental regulation of agricultural and food systems.
- Supervise and teach student clinicians on cases and in a clinical learning environment.
- Work with a team of staff attorneys and clinical professors/instructors to develop and teach practical legal skills to student clinicians.
- Collaborate and work with technical experts as needed.
- Develop and manage positive relationships with co-counsel, clients, and partners.
- Help develop and execute media strategies for cases, including being a potential spokesperson for the clinic, clients, and partners.
- Be an active participant in a dynamic law school environment, including collaboration with other law school programs and occasional educational and other committee assignments and meetings.
- Juris Doctorate (JD) degree.
- 3-5 years or more of litigation experience.
- Admission, or willingness to apply for admission, to the Vermont bar.
- Knowledge of or experience with core environmental laws such as the Clean Water Act, NEPA, Endangered Species Act, with a knowledge of law or policy concerning agriculture and food systems preferred.
- Excellent research, writing, and oral advocacy skills.
- Initiative, good judgment, and a solid work ethic.
- Ability to manage multiple litigation dockets, lead a litigation team, and manage partners, students, and co-counsel effectively without extensive supervision.
- Ability to develop and maintain relationships with diverse partners.
- Ability to supervise students.
- Clinical or teaching experience preferred.
- Good interpersonal skills and a sense of humor.