HARVARD LAW SCHOOL is hiring a Clinical Fellow for its Emmett Environmental Law & Policy Clinic.

Location: Harvard Law School, Cambridge, MA (with potential flexibility for limited remote work between semesters, depending on the fellow’s circumstances)

Time Status: Full-time

Expected Start Date: Summer 2022, with some flexibility depending on the chosen candidate

Duties & Responsibilities:

The Emmett Environmental Law & Policy Clinic typically works with scientists, medical professionals, nonprofit and public interest organizations, and state, municipal, and tribal government clients on environmental and energy issues at the federal, state, and local level. The work includes writing comments and briefs about federal and state regulations, drafting climate change mitigation and adaptation regulations and policies for municipalities, preparing guidance documents and manuals for non-lawyers, drafting model legislation, and preparing policy papers. The Clinic’s current core areas of work are:

• Supporting the Transition to a Carbon-Free Energy System
• Assisting Municipalities and Tribes in Developing Innovative Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation Strategies
• Advocating for Strong, Science-based Federal Environmental Regulations
• Advancing Access, Equity, and Environmental Justice

Given the breadth of the Clinic’s work, the Fellow should be interested, and able, to dive deeply and relatively quickly into new areas of law.

The Clinical Fellow will work with the Clinic Director and staff attorneys on a broad array of environmental, energy, and natural resource cases and projects and assist with the supervision of the students working in the Clinic. The Fellow’s work will involve a mix of litigation, administrative advocacy, policy work, legislative drafting, and client advising. The Fellow will typically have a portfolio of ongoing projects and tasks. Specifically, the Clinical Fellow will be expected to do some or all of the following:

• Participate in researching, writing, and editing briefs, comment letters, petitions for rulemakings, complaints, legislation, and other case and project documents;
• Investigate and develop new Clinic projects and follow up on inquiries for the Clinic’s assistance;
• Assist in the development of educational materials (e.g., research guides), seminars, and webinars offered by the Clinic;
• Work with students and engage in student outreach;
• Promote the Clinic’s work, including via blog posts and website updates;
• Assist with event planning and organizing; and
• Perform other duties as assigned.

The fellowship offers ample opportunity for professional development through working closely with Clinic faculty, staff, students, clients, and partners; developing expertise in particular issue areas; gaining experience with a broad range of advocacy and client counseling strategies; and teaching and mentoring law students. The Clinic Fellow will be part of the intellectual community at Harvard Law School and will have opportunities to attend workshops and conferences.

Qualifications:

• J.D., with superior academic achievement;
• 0–3 years of legal experience;
• Some specialized knowledge and/or experience in environmental law, administrative law, energy law, and/or local government law;
• Clerkships, litigation experience, legislative or policy experience, or advanced degrees in relevant disciplines are valued;
• The ideal candidate will have strong legal research, writing, and editing skills, have strong interpersonal skills, good time management, and be comfortable working both independently and in teams.

Harvard University views equity, diversity, inclusion, and belonging as the pathway to achieving inclusive excellence and fostering a campus culture where everyone can thrive. We strive to create a community that draws upon the widest possible pool of talent to unify excellence and diversity while fully embracing individuals from varied backgrounds, cultures, races, identities, life experiences, perspectives, beliefs, and values.

We are an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, gender identity, sexual orientation, pregnancy and pregnancy-related conditions, or any other characteristic protected by law.

Terms of Employment:

This is a one-year term appointment with the potential to be extended another year, subject to performance, funding, and departmental need. The fellowship position includes certain Harvard benefits and a salary commensurate with other public interest fellowship programs.

To Apply:

Please submit the following materials by email to Jacqueline Calahong (jcalahong@law.harvard.edu):

• A cover letter describing your interest in the position and relevant experience;
• Resume/CV;
• Law school transcript;
• One or two writing samples (preferably independently-authored articles, briefs, memoranda, comment letters, or white papers);
• The names of three references.