Staff Attorney, Fossil Economy (2-year contract)

Core responsibilities:

• Research and develop internal understandings of various regulatory regimes (national and international) governing the fossil fuel, carbon capture, and petrochemicals sectors
• Develop and support high-impact strategies for legal and campaign approaches for engaging with regulatory systems
• Lead interventions such as permit challenges, administrative comments, or other administrative or legal filings
• Draft legal documents for permit challenges, administrative proceedings, regulatory notice-and-comment periods, and other relevant processes

This role confronts the expansion of the petrochemicals sector and curtails false climate solutions that threaten to extend fossil fuel dependence, addressing converging planetary crises through legal and regulatory interventions.

Required qualifications:

• J.D. or equivalent degree with 2 years of relevant experience in a legal role
• Knowledge of US law and familiarity with EU legal systems, with ability to quickly navigate new legal and regulatory frameworks
• Ability to write clearly and concisely in accordance with standards for legal submissions
• Demonstrated ability to distill key messages from technical information and translate them to different audiences
• Professional spoken and written proficiency in English

Compensation and benefits:

• Salary range: $75,000 - $88,000/year depending on experience
• Included in CIEL staff unit of the Washington Baltimore News Guild union if located in the United States or Switzerland
• CIEL tries to support staff with life/work balance and working a 40-hour work week
• Compensatory time provided when additional hours are required

The Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL) works to confront petrochemical pollution and false climate solutions through legal strategies and regulatory interventions, with a focus on the fossil fuel and petrochemical sectors in the US and Europe.