Environmental Justice Clinical Fellow, Stanford Law School

The Mills Legal Clinic of Stanford Law School invites applications for a full-time resident Environmental Justice Clinical Fellow with the Stanford Environmental Law Clinic (ELC) from attorneys with a demonstrated commitment to advancing environmental justice.

The Environmental Justice Fellow will join the thriving clinical community in the Mills Legal Clinic at Stanford Law School where, together with ELC faculty and staff, the Fellow will represent clients and collaborate with law students at one of the country’s leading institutions for legal scholarship and education.  The ELC has a long history of engagement with tribes, community groups, and organizational clients to advance indigenous rights, protect overburdened communities from pollution caused by resource extraction and industrial processes, and further distributive and participatory justice in environmental decision-making.  The Fellow will be responsible for working with clinical faculty, staff, clients, and community partners to expand the ELC’s existing environmental justice partnerships, docket and pedagogy and to deepen the clinic’s engagement across a range of environmental justice domains. 

Areas of substantive focus for the Fellow may include: protecting and advancing indigenous rights, indigenous land management, and tribal cultural, economic, and religious practices as they relate to natural resources and the environment; fighting disproportionate impacts of oil and gas extraction, industrial agriculture, waste disposal, and other industrial activities; eliminating and abating exposures to lead, pesticides, and other continuing and legacy toxins; advancing climate justice and food security; compelling civil rights enforcement on environmental issues; advancing participatory governance in environmental decision-making; and addressing water allocation and water quality inequities and concerns for vulnerable and overburdened communities.

ELC is one of ten established clinics comprising the Mills Legal Clinic, which occupies an entire floor in the law school.  The Stanford clinical program is unique in that students participate in a clinic on a full-time basis: The clinic is the only course a student takes during the term of enrollment.  The Mills Legal Clinic is currently in the process of adding a Racial Justice Project to its offerings, and we anticipate that there may be opportunities for the Environmental Justice Fellow to collaborate with this exciting new project.

Fellowship applicants should have:

• A J.D. from an ABA-accredited law school

• Demonstrated commitment to environmental and social justice issues and a track record of community engagement and service

• One to three years of relevant experience in litigation, legislative or regulatory practice, and/or policy advocacy, including judicial clerkships

• Strong academic credentials, excellent writing and editing abilities, interpersonal and teamwork skills, and a collaborative spirit

• Sound judgment and exceptional ethical standards

• Strong organizational/management skills, attention to detail, self-motivation, and an aptitude for law practice and client-centered representation

• Membership in the California bar strongly preferred

This position is for a two-year fixed term, and the Fellow will work primarily in-person at the Mills Legal Clinic on the main Stanford campus.  Salary is based on a formula that is competitive with similar positions, and Stanford provides a generous benefits package.

Applicants should submit a cover letter summarizing their interest in the position and relevant experience, a resume, a writing sample, a list of three professional references, and a law school transcript through http://stanfordcareers.stanford.edu/ , referencing jobnumber 92380.  Applications should be submitted as soon as possible and will be considered on a rolling basis until the position is filled.  Applicants must be available to start no later than August 2022.

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Consistent with its obligations under the law, the University will provide reasonable accommodation to any employee with a disability who requires accommodation to perform the essential functions of his or her job.

Stanford is an equal employment opportunity and affirmative action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.

Stanford Law School seeks to hire the best talent and to promote a safe and secure environment for all members of the university community and its property. To that end, new staff hires must successfully pass a background check prior to starting work at Stanford University.