Description:
Opportunity:Center for Food Safety (CFS), one of the nation's top food and environmental advocacy nonprofits, seeks a new staff or senior attorney to join our team. The hybrid work position can be based in either CFS's Pacific Northwest office (Portland, OR) or the California office (San Francisco Bay Area). Fully remote candidates will be considered on a case-by-case basis, with a preference for those based in the Washington, D.C. area.
About the Position:
The attorney position is primarily a litigation position, working with the rest of CFS's Legal Team to develop and prosecute cases. While the attorney will become versed in all areas of CFS advocacy and litigation and may work on cases in any of those areas, the position primarily will focus on developing and litigating environmental citizen suit enforcement cases addressing the pollution of industrial food facilities.
Beyond that, the attorney will work with the rest of the CFS legal and policy team and participates in all phases of public interest impact litigation and administrative advocacy on an ever-expanding variety of cutting-edge food and environmental issues, in support of CFS's overall mission and its specific program areas, including but not limited to:
- Consumer Advocacy
- Farmworker and Farmer Protection
- Food and Climate Change
- Food Labeling/Right to Know
- Genetically Engineered Organisms and Monocultures
- Industrial Animal Agriculture
- Industrial Aquaculture
- Pesticides & other Toxins
- Pollinator & Wildlife Protection
- Public Health
- Sustainable Agriculture: Organic & Beyond
Specific responsibilities of the attorney include:
- Work closely with other CFS attorneys, policy and communications staff, scientists, coalition partners and clients to build cases and support policies.
- Participate in a variety of tasks in litigation and administrative advocacy, including factual investigation, legal research and analysis, negotiation, discovery and record review, briefing, and oral advocacy.
- Represent CFS and clients in state and federal rulemaking and agency engagement.
- Maintain and develop organizational partnerships with new clients, allies, and coalition partners.
- Promote and educate the public and media on various CFS issues.
- Assist with hiring and supervision of law clerks.
Desired Qualifications & Skills:
- Law school graduate with at least 3 years of legal experience for Staff Attorney; 6+ years of experience for Senior Attorney (Experience litigating cases under the Clean Water Act and/or other environmental enforcement citizen suit statutes, or clerkship/administrative/environmental law or related areas preferred).
- Ability to independently manage a litigation docket.
- Admission to the California or Oregon bar or a willingness to be licensed in either state within one year (or bar admission in existing remote location).
- A passion for enforcing and strengthening environmental and food/ag laws.
- Excellent legal research and writing skills.
- Self-motivation and willingness to do administrative tasks.
- Ability to work collaboratively with others in small, team-oriented environment.
- Interest or a background in food and agriculture issues is a plus but not required.
