Senior Law and Policy Advisor
Senior Law and Policy Advisor
(Maternity Cover)
ClientEarth
Berlin, Brussels, London, Luxembourg, Madrid or Warsaw
About the role
This is an exciting opportunity to join us as a Senior Law and Policy Advisor! The Senior Law and Policy Advisor is part of the Chemicals team and will be taking a leading role in litigation. They will also contribute to the advocacy work of the team at a pivotal moment for chemical regulation – the first significant revision in 14 years.
More specifically, the activities will cover:
- Litigation activities:
- Ongoing access to information cases at national level;
- Ongoing cases before the Court of Justice of the European Union.
- Advocacy activities related to the REACH revision.
The role would ideally start at the beginning of December 2022 and will be held until the end of May 2023, with possible extension to a permanent position depending on team evolution. The role can be offered on full time or part time basis (at 80% FTE).
Meet your Manager
This role will be managed by Dr. Apolline Roger. Apolline joined ClientEarth in September 2017 to lead our work on the protection of health and the environment from toxic substances. Previously Apolline worked as a researcher and teacher in EU environmental law at the University of Sheffield Law School and Edinburgh Law School. In her academic capacity she has examined many legal issues relating to chemicals and risk regulation, as well as the interactions between trade and the environment. She has provided expert advice to public authorities, including the French Ministry for the Environment and the UK House of Commons’ Environmental Audit Committee in support of its enquiry on the future of chemicals regulation post Brexit.
The person on this position will have as well key relationships with members of the Environmental Democracy team, Wildlife team, Agriculture Team, Trade team, Strategic Communication team – based in London, Madrid and Brussels, and ClientEarth staff more generally.
Key Responsibilities
- Manage and implement the litigation portfolio of the Chemicals team, including:
- Manage relationships with external counsels and partners;
- Draft pleadings/instruct external counsels;
- Ensure the management of the litigations (relations with and instructions of the external lawyers, relations with the partners, contract management);
- Working with the Communications team to manage the external communication on the cases.(press release, information of partners, talks presenting results) - including coordination of communication activities with the partners).
- Manage and implement specific advocacy activities, including:
- Draft legal briefings, proposed amendments to legislation, research notes, policy analysis, and presentations;
- Organise and participate in external meetings and undertake advocacy with relevant stakeholders, including politicians, government advisers and NGOs.
- Contribute consistently and meaningfully to team’s monitoring, evaluation and learning activities to support a culture of continuous learning and innovation within ClientEarth;
- Contributing to funder reports and/or funding applications.
Location
This job can be based in any ClientEarth European office (including London) and will require regular travel to Brussels.
Education and training
- Master’s in law, legal professional qualification or extensive legal practice experience.
Experience and knowledge
- Significant relevant experience including litigation and project management;
- Knowledge of one or more of the following practice areas: chemicals law, pesticides law, water law, the Aarhus Convention, public/administrative law.
See the job description (here) for a full list of duties for this role.
Key Competencies
- Fluent (CEFR level C2) in English;
- Outstanding written and oral communication skills;
- Demonstrated legal analysis skills;
- Ability to work collaboratively within a small team but also to execute work independently and take the initiative when required;
- Ability to represent ClientEarth at meetings, stakeholders bodies and public events (essential);
- Commitment to non-profit/public interest advocacy;
- Ability to work with environmental agencies, NGOs, academics or other key players in environmental law, health and governance;
- Comfortable with remote or matrix management and working in a global organisation;
- Commitment to ClientEarth’s vision, mission, values, and a working style which reflects these.
Further Information
Have a question about this job? Please visit our Careers site for advice on applying, FAQs, and more.
Flexible working: Our flexible working policy allows our people the choice to decide to work from home in the country where their contract of employment is issued for 80% of their month, with the other 20% of their month being office-based. See our Benefits page for more.
ClientEarth values diversity and inclusion and the benefits this brings. We aim to appoint the most suitable candidate at all times and welcome applications from people from all different backgrounds.
Please note that ClientEarth is only able to employ those who have the pre-existing legal right to work in the UK or Belgium.
ClientEarth is not a law firm and does not provide legal advice or legal services to third parties.
