Assistant Professor and Senior Attorney, Environmental Advocacy Clinic, Vermont Law School

Position Summary:

The Environmental Advocacy Clinic at Vermont Law School is hiring an Assistant Professor of Law and Senior Attorney to supervise and teach clinic students working on legal matters related to environmental advocacy. An applicant should have an enthusiasm for working with law students who are eager to learn and practice skills.

Essential Functions and Principal Accountabilities:

• Work closely with clients to develop and implement legal strategies on important environmental and natural resources issues, and develop research to support new law and policy on issues that impact the environment and natural resources.
• Collaborates with clients, prospective clients, and Clinic Director to develop and maintain docket.
• Takes primary responsibility for all aspects of their EAC matters, including litigation and administrative proceedings.
• Collaborates with and mentors more junior attorneys (when requested).
• Work with other attorneys and clinical professors/instructors to develop and teach practical legal skills to student clinicians.
• Develops, updates, and teaches seminars.
• Facilitates case reviews.
• Supervises multiple student clinicians each semester.
• Collaborate and work with technical experts as needed.
• Manage positive relationships with co-counsel, clients, and partners.
• Works with the press and helps develop communications strategies where appropriate.
• Attends and presents at relevant conferences.
• Technology management within clinic (other than when IT permission is needed).
• Attends and participates in faculty, e-faculty, and clinical faculty meetings.
• Participate actively in the dynamic VLS law school environment, including collaboration with other law school programs.

Requirements

Required Education, Skills and Experience:

• Juris Doctorate (JD) degree.
• 5-10 years or more of relevant legal advocacy experience, with substantial weight given to environmental litigation and administrative proceeding experience.
• Admission to the bar in any jurisdiction, and admission or willingness to apply for admission to the Vermont bar.
• Understanding of and appreciation for inclusion, including the ability to work with students, faculty, and staff from diverse backgrounds, identities, and viewpoints.
• Excellent research, writing, and oral advocacy skills.
• Ability to manage multiple complex legal matters, including litigation, and manage partners, students, and co-counsel effectively without extensive supervision.
• Understanding of and ability to navigate within a Windows/Microsoft Office platform, primarily using Outlook, Calendar, and Microsoft Teams. Willingness to learn and use VLS-specific learning management systems such as ExamSoft, Canvas, and others.
• Ability to maintain relationships with diverse partners.
• Ability to supervise students.
• Clinical or teaching experience preferred.
• Good team member, interpersonal skills, and a sense of humor.
• Other Requirements:
• Respect – Understanding and interest in incorporating VLS Diversity, Equity and Inclusion values into the classroom and workspace.
• Adaptability and Flexibility - Must be able to adapt to new and emerging technology as established and communicated by the law school to carry out the administrative duties associated with teaching. Willingness and ability to work remotely in emergency situations. Ability to work the occasional after-hours and weekend hours required to support students in this position. Ability to prioritize multiple tasks and deadlines and reorganize under pressure.
• Communication - talk and/or listen to convey or exchange information; communicate effectively and efficiently in written correspondence and technical correspondence in English; process and comprehend written material; exchange ideas, information, and opinions with others to formulate policies and programs and/or jointly arrive at conclusions, solutions, or dispute resolution.
• Professional Discretion - exercise thoughtful judgment and meet deadlines; develop and maintain effective professional relationships with others; function effectively under stress; adapt to changing environments; display flexibility; and function in the face of uncertainties and ambiguities.
• Collaboration - This position requires collaboration with peers and colleagues as well as students, and ability to independently manage deadlines and multiple projects.
• Service- Faculty and staff at Vermont law school provide service to students, the community, and one another through service on committees and appropriate volunteer opportunities both on-and off-campus.
• Scholarship - Faculty at Vermont Law School are encouraged to pursue research and scholarship opportunities as a critical part of their own continuous learning process.
• Safety - Willingness to participate with the Vermont Law School faculty and student community and follow Covid19 safety policies and guidelines as laid out by the One VLS Action Team based on the changing landscape of the Covid19 pandemic.
• Must be able to work legally within the United States without sponsorship.
• Physical ability to perform all essential functions of the job with or without basic accommodations.

To apply:

https://recruiting.paylocity.com/recruiting/jobs/Details/955779/Vermont-Law-School/Assistant-Professor-and-Senior-Attorney-Environmental-Advocacy-Clinic