Clinical Teaching Fellowship - Environmental Law Clinic, UC Berkeley School of Law

26 Feb 2019 3:31 PM | Lauren Bartlett (Administrator)

UC BERKELEY SCHOOL OF LAW’s Environmental Law Clinic (ELC) seeks to hire a full-time Clinical Teaching Fellow for a two years term(anticipated start date: July 1, 2019), potentially renewable.  The ELC  is a legal and policy clinic designed to train law students in creative and effective environmental advocacy, make a real world environmental difference through high-impact projects, and address the environmental legal needs of underserved communities. The Clinic undertakes projects local to global in scale, working on such diverse issues as climate justice; reducing human exposure to toxic chemicals and radiation; realizing a universal right to safe drinking water; increasing access to nature for communities often excluded from beaches and green spaces; and supporting green job development.

Our docket is diverse in clients and advocacy method—we litigate, draft legislation, file rulemaking petitions, and write legal strategy memos, on behalf of nonprofits, community groups, individuals, and government agencies. But our twin themes are focused, and intertwined: enhancing environmental health and promoting environmental justice. The Clinic’s work is collaborative and multidisciplinary, and involves partnerships with faculty and research staff both in the law school and across the U.C. Berkeley campus. To date we have worked closely with the Center for Law, Energy, and the Environment; the School of Public Health; the Berkeley Center for Green Chemistry; the Berkeley Food Institute; and the UC Berkeley Office of Sustainability and Office of Environment, Health and Safety.

Students in the Environmental Law Clinic enroll concurrently for four units of clinical fieldwork and a two-unit companion seminar; this represents roughly half their academic load for the semester. The Clinic’s classroom component involves a variety of teaching methods, and combines substantive law instruction with skills training (e.g., oral advocacy, legislative strategy, persuasive writing) that is relevant to students' Clinic projects.

The Clinical Teaching Fellow will develop and supervise a docket of advocacy and research matters designed to promote environmental health and environmental justice in California and beyond. The Fellow position requires (a) significant environmental, environmental justice, or public health issue knowledge; (b) the soft skills and cultural competence to work in partnership with affected individuals and communities; (c) comfort working with technical material (e.g., scientific or economic literature) outside of one’s own subject area; and (d) the ability to work independently.

The Clinical Teaching Fellow will work under the day to day supervision of the Clinic Director, and will often partner with the Director or the Clinic's Staff Attorney in supervising student work on cases and projects. During the summer, when students are not enrolled in the Clinic, the Fellow will maintain and advance the Clinic's docket, and develop new projects for the Fall semester.

For more information about the Environmental Law Clinic, please visit our website at https://www.law.berkeley.edu/experiential/clinics/environmental-law-clinic/.

The Fellow will perform the following duties under the primary direction of the Clinic Director:

Clinical Supervision and Advocacy (85%)

  • In collaboration with other Clinic staff, supervise 2 to 3 clinical student teams on their projects per semester;
  • Draft briefs, rulemaking comments, policy memoranda, legislative proposals, and issue reports as needed;
  • Manage the Clinic docket during summers;
  • Assist in designing/ teaching select components of the Clinic seminar;
  • Assist in the identification and scoping of new Clinic matters and clients;
  • Assist in developing and maintaining relationships with Clinic clients and co-counsel; and
  • If time permits, and the Fellow is so inclined, engage in academic research and writing.

Administrative Duties (10%):

  • Assist in day to day management of the Clinic;
  • Promote the Clinic to students and other constituencies, and organize Clinic-related events;
  • Assist in alumni, foundation, and other fundraising activities as needed;
  • Participate in professional training and networking activities.

Other Duties as Assigned (5%)

Minimum Qualifications (at time of application):

• J.D. degree or equivalent international degree

Additional Qualifications (by start date):

  • Three years of civil practice and/or clerkship experience

Preferred Qualifications:

  • At least one year of litigation experience in California courts;
  • Willingness to take California July 2019 bar exam if not already admitted;
  • Demonstrated research, writing, and oral advocacy skills;
  • Strong organizational and planning skills, and ability to work independently;
  • Demonstrated interest in environmental justice and/or environmental health issues;
  • Career intention to practice in public interest, public sector, or clinical setting;
  • Experience in clinical teaching/supervision, or other relevant teaching experience;
  • Experience or interest in environmental justice and/or community-based lawyering; and
  • Spanish proficiency (a plus, but not required).

Application Procedure: Please visit the following link to apply:  http://apptrkr.com/1389352

Applicants must provide in AP Recruit the names and contact information for three (3) references. This position is open until filled.

Letters of reference and copies of scholarly transcripts may be requested of top candidates. All letters will be treated as confidential per University of California policy and California state law. Please refer potential referees, including when letters are provided via a dossier service or career center, to the UC Berkeley statement of confidentiality (http://apo.berkeley.edu/evalltr.html) prior to submitting their letters.

Salary: $63,479 – 73,615 + benefits (100% time position)

The University offers excellent health and retirement benefits which can be viewed online at http://atyourservice.ucop.edu/.

If you have questions about the position, please contact academicpositions-law@berkeley.edu.

Berkeley Law is interested in candidates who will contribute to diversity and equal opportunity in higher education through their teaching or research. Members of underrepresented groups are strongly encouraged to apply.

The University of California, Berkeley is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age or protected veteran status. For the complete University of California nondiscrimination and affirmative action policy see: http://policy.ucop.edu/doc/4000376/NondiscrimAffirmAct.


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