Description:
Diana Dascalu-Joffe worked for CCAN from 2005 to 2015 as our
extraordinary staff attorney and grants manager. She helped shepherd
CCAN from a tiny staff of three -- working in a backyard shed in Takoma
Park -- to the dynamic regional climate group we are today. This
Fellowship honors her memory by helping law students in the region gain
summer legal experience and follow in Diana's footsteps as a fierce
defender of the environment.
The Legal Fellow will combat the climate crisis by advancing mitigation strategies that reduce near-term risks to communities and ecosystems. Our current priorities are advancing electrification across the region, stopping the build-out of methane gas infrastructure in Virginia, and reducing pollution at two of the largest coal export facilities in the country. Reporting to our General Counsel, the Legal Fellow will also gain experience in internal, non-profit legal matters.
Responsibilities of the legal fellow may include
- Learning about the regulatory, legislative, and political processes and the interplay with law and policy;
- Drafting briefs, legal research memos, and regulatory filings;
- Writing articles and fact sheets;
- Commenting on proposed state and/or federal agency regulations or pollution permits;
- Preparing legislative and regulatory testimony and comments;
- Attending state and federal regulatory hearings and meetings with congressional members, state legislators, regulators, and executive branch staff.
- Administrative Duties and Team Expectations
- You'll be responsible for a weekly work plan, checking in with your manager to report your progress, and tracking your time and expenses.
Who You Are:
- 2L, 3L, or a recent law school graduate in Maryland, Virginia, or Washington, D.C.
- Passionate about solving climate change (familiarity with climate issues is a plus, but not required!).
- Able to manage time, work independently, and ask for feedback and support when needed.
- Excited to collaborate with and learn from a team.
- A strong writer and researcher.