Environmental Defense Fund

Legal
Fellow, Beyond Gas

 Job Description

EDF offers internships and
fellowships for students and recent graduates in a variety of programs and
departments throughout the organization. The ultimate goal of our internship
and fellowship program is to provide high-quality experiences (including relevant
projects and opportunities for networking) that form the foundation for any
individual who is serious about pursuing an environmental career.

Program Overview

The Beyond Gas and Equitable
Regulatory Solutions team within EDF’s Legal and Regulatory team focuses on
state, regional, and national efforts to accelerate the transition away from
natural gas use for power generation and for building heating. The team is
sharply focused on the imperative of an equitable energy transition that
urgently decreases emissions from fossil fuels and prioritizing benefits for
communities that have been disproportionately impacted by existing energy
systems.

Legal Fellows contribute
meaningfully to the team's work, using a layered approach of regulatory advocacy
and community partnership. We aim to make our Legal Fellow’s experience
relevant, challenging, and rewarding. Our Legal Fellows have directly
contributed towards landmark cases over the years and have supported activities
including U.S. Supreme Court litigation, D.C. Circuit litigation over
greenhouse gas regulation under the Clean Air Act, major international
agreements, and guidelines regarding trans-boundary pollution control programs
in the U.S./Mexico border region, and projects that work towards ensuring
protections for low-income and frontline communities from air pollution. Legal
Fellows work in a high-intensity, fast-paced, multi-disciplinary setting to
formulate and implement strategies, laws, and policies.

Overall Function

The Legal Fellow will primarily
work on state and regional projects and cases aimed at reducing
climate-destabilizing emissions as well as the burdens of fossil fuel
infrastructure for overburdened communities. The work will include a heavy
emphasis on public utility regulation and electric sector regulation. The Legal
Fellow will focus on activity and action before entities including public
utility commissions, including the Illinois Commerce Commission, and others,
other state energy regulators, and regional grid operators. The Legal Fellow
will also focus on deepening relationships with existing community-based
partners, growing relationship with new allies, and advancing innovative new
legal strategies to empower community participation in energy decision-making processes.
As a member of the Legal and Regulatory team, the legal fellow may also be
asked to support our other efforts to reduce air pollution from power plants
and other major sources through litigation, regulatory advocacy, and
legislation.

Key
Responsibilities

Tasks may include but are not limited to:

• Conduct legal and factual research on climate and energy
  issues.
• Contribute to litigation filings and administrative comments,
  including implementation of the Illinois Climate and Equitable Jobs Act.
• Evaluate the energy justice, health and environmental
  implications of pending legislation, and work on new legislation to
  advance our priorities.
• Draft public-facing documents such as fact sheets and blog
  posts about legal issues.
• Represent EDF at public hearings before government agencies.
• Provide other support to the team's litigation efforts and
  regulatory advocacy.
• Support environmental justice initiatives, particularly those
  related to addressing the disparate impacts of climate change and energy
  systems.
• Engage in regulatory and administrative proceedings.
• Participate in advancing EDF Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
  goals in which people from all backgrounds and experiences feel connected,
  included, and empowered to address the environmental and organizational
  challenges in alignment with EDF values.

Qualifications

We seek recent law school graduates and recent law clerks
interested in working on cutting edge state, regional, and national climate and
energy issues. Other qualifications include:

• Licensed to practice law or actively seeking admission to the
  Bar, with background in energy and/or administrative law.
• A Juris Doctorate (J.D.) from an accredited Law School.
• Familiarity with state energy regulation.
• Interest and/or experience in community engagement,
  relationship-building, or organizing.
• Innovative thinker who is not afraid to take risks and
  establish new precedents and models.
• Ability to collect, manipulate, analyze, and interpret legal
  data and prepare reports of findings.
• Excellent legal research, analytical, writing and advocacy
  skills.
• Establishes and maintains strong working relationships with
  internal and external allies.
• Results-oriented, self-starter with the ability to think
  strategically and work on fast-paced, dynamic issues.
• Demonstrates self-awareness, cultural competency and
  inclusivity, and ability to work with colleagues and stakeholders across
  diverse cultures and backgrounds.
• Ability to multi-task, prioritize and meet deadlines.

• Able to be respond to challenges, be flexible, and adapt
  quickly.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills.
• Computer proficiency, experience with Microsoft Word and
  PowerPoint.

Location

U.S. Remote or other EDF office location.

Term

1 year fellow with an opportunity for second year as attorney
pending Bar admission, with anticipated start date of late November 2022.

Compensation

We offer a strong total rewards package encompassing
competitive salary, robust benefits, and professional development opportunities
consistent with a modern global organization.

The annual salary for this role is $84,000.

Application Materials

Interested applicants should attach their cover letter and resume
to the EDF application, together with a writing sample, and unofficial law
school transcript. In your cover letter, please describe your interest in
energy law and policy work, and relevant completed course work and experience
to the qualifications.

Apply: https://www.edf.org/jobs/legal-fellow-beyond-gas