Staff Attorney

Description

Food & Water Action is working to create a healthy future for all people and generations to come—a world where everyone has food they can trust, clean drinking water and a livable climate. Making this happen requires involving people in the pressing issues of our time at the local, state, and federal level, building on one win after another, as we develop a larger movement that has the political power to make our democratic process work.

Food & Water Justice (FWJ) was designed to bring a new, complementary approach to the already very successful community organizing, outreach and legislative work done by FWW. It seeks to more actively engage the Third Branch of government, the judiciary, as a vehicle for positive change in the agribusiness, water privatization, and climate and energy sectors. The Staff Attorney position will drive forward our legal work at the state level and nationally and will help to build relationships with potential and current allies, including co-counsel, working on our issues across the country.

Qualifications

A Staff Attorney is expected to manage a broad range of responsibilities, requiring an equally wide range of skills. Among the tasks to be performed are: (1) developing and implementing legal strategies, including litigation, to support Food & Water Watch (FWW) campaigns; (2); engaging in regulatory processes; (3) reviewing and drafting federal and state policies, including legislation; (4) working closely with our legislative, research, communications, outreach and field staff to further our legal and campaign goals.

A Staff Attorney must (1) have the ability to think creatively and quickly to respond to rapidly changing events and circumstances; (2) have the ability to work well with a wide variety of people and to coordinate diverse tasks; (3) be comfortable presenting aggressive viewpoints to a mix of audiences; (4) present technical concepts to a mass audience; (5) have a can-do attitude and commitment to public interest work; (6) work well under pressure, handle multiple tasks at once, and adapt to changing situations on a daily basis; and (7) have a high level of independent judgment.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

1) Take the lead on researching, developing, and implementing various legal strategies, including litigation, to further FWW’s organizational campaigns and goals.

2) Assist in the management of the FWJ program by creating and developing new legal policies, including drafting local, state, and federal legislation.

3) Manage the organization’s engagement in select state and federal regulatory proceedings, including rulemakings, so as to build an administrative record for potential litigation.

4) Represent FWW in meetings with federal and state government agencies and policymakers, and be comfortable presenting aggressive viewpoints.

5) Direct particular litigation and manage outside counsel, including with organizations and firms that chiefly litigate in a particular area, as well as legal interns and fellows, as needed.

6) Provide legal support for our in-house organizing staff, as well as key partners.

7) Work in coalition with many partner organizations.

8) Act as a public spokesperson for FWW’s legal work, including traveling when necessary.

9) Help to develop educational materials such as factsheets, action alerts, website content, and newsletter articles on various legal issues.

10) Provide fundraising support by drafting funding proposals for legal work or interacting with funders as needed.

11) Support our culture of philanthropy: All staff must assist in fundraising and development for the organization. All staff must demonstrate an understanding that our members and supporters make our work (and our salaries) possible and should provide the highest level of customer and member services to people outside the organization. While your job position does not require you to raise any particular amount, you are expected to always be an “ambassador” for FWW/FWA and our work. All staff are expected to help with and participate/attend events and other activities as appropriate that are organized for our supporters and donors. All staff are expected to be cognizant of fundraising opportunities and to share contacts and information that will help build and sustain FWW/FWA.

12) Carry out other projects, as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS: To perform this job successfully, the person in this position has a high degree of contact with co-counsel; a moderate degree of contact with coalition partners; and a low degree of contact with elected officials.

The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Education/Experience: Juris Doctor degree from an accredited law school with bar admission; at least 1-3 years’ experience as a practicing attorney on environmental issues, with litigation background, and preferably on climate & energy, water and/or food and agricultural issues.

Computer Skills: An individual should be able to work in a computerized environment and have adequate knowledge of word processing, email, internet and spreadsheet software; in particular have coursework or certification in Microsoft Word, Excel, and Power Point and proficiency with all other Microsoft Office products.