The Climate Litigation Network (CLN) is a non-profit foundation (stichting) that works with partners around the world to bring ground-breaking litigation against high-emitting actors to drive stronger climate action. CLN was established in 2016 following the historic Urgenda climate case in the Netherlands, which led to the first decision of a court globally to order a national government to increase its climate ambition. To build on the legal strategy and expertise developed through that case, the Urgenda Foundation set up CLN to inspire and strengthen climate cases brought by local organisations and affected communities against governments.

Last year, CLN expanded its work to provide legal, scientific and communications support to organisations bringing cases that seek to mitigate the emissions of private sector actors. This work is carried out through CLN’s CorpNet programme which focuses on supporting ‘corporate framework’ cases directly against high-emitting private actors. CorpNet is also incubating a new workstream to support cases challenging governments’ fossil fuel policy.

CLN is committed to building a more diverse workplace and we value a range of perspectives and experiences. We recognise that applicants from underrepresented or historically excluded backgrounds face impediments to access and progression within our sector. We strongly encourage applicants from such backgrounds to apply, even if you meet most but not all of the skills and qualifications below.

Purpose of Role

CLN is recruiting a new Legal Associate to join its dynamic and growing CorpNet team. The Legal Associate will primarily support the corporate framework litigation workstream, while also contributing to the fossil fuel policy workstream as needed. This role offers a unique opportunity to work at the cutting edge of transnational climate litigation and support the continued development of CLN’s CorpNet initiative.

Core Responsibilities

• Providing expert legal and advocacy support to partners advancing strategic climate litigation at the national level.
• Undertaking legal research on issues relevant to national climate cases and sharing findings with the broader CLN network.
• Developing new legal strategies for challenging corporations’ and governments’ inadequate climate policies, in consultation with national partners.
• Representing CLN in relevant legal, scientific, policy, and academic networks.
• Supervising and managing junior members of staff, Research Fellows and Interns (if required).
• Supporting the operations of the CorpNet project, including fundraising efforts and monitoring/evaluation of workstreams.

Note: Responsibilities may change given the developing nature of CorpNet and CLN.

Core Skills and Competencies

Essential

• Strong foundational legal training, with experience in litigation in the area of corporate/commercial law, public law, international law, human rights law, or environmental law.
• Excellent legal analysis and drafting skills, demonstrated through rigorous reasoning, clarity of structure, and attention to detail across complex legal issues and different global jurisdictions.
• Excellent legal research skills, with the ability to synthesise large volumes of material and identify issues of strategic relevance.
• Demonstrated intellectual agility and learning capacity, including the ability to rapidly acquire and apply unfamiliar bodies of law and scientific or technical material.
• Ability to communicate complex issues (for example, relating to law, science, advocacy and policy) in a concise and audience-appropriate manner.
• Ability to manage and foster relationships with (and between) a broad range of partners across different cultural contexts – including national and regional legal and advocacy partners, scientists, academics, funders etc.
• Highly motivated, reliable and able to work both independently and collaboratively.
• Consistent ability to deliver all requested work products to a high level of quality and within deadline.
• Experience of co-ordinating multiple projects and/or workstreams concurrently, with proven ability to lead on specific workstreams / projects, with supervision / support from senior members of staff to set strategic objectives and milestones if needed.
• Very high level of written and spoken English-language proficiency.
• Demonstrated interest in climate litigation.

Desirable

• Strong knowledge of climate litigation precedents and trends.
• Experience with both public law and private law.
• Experience in campaigns/advocacy work.
• Existing knowledge in the field of climate science.
• Fluency in other languages.

Qualifications and Minimum Experience

Essential

• LLB or equivalent, with excellent academic performance.
• 3+ years of full-time post-qualification litigation experience (law firm, litigation non-profit, judiciary or civil service).

Desirable

• Additional years of relevant work experience, either in law or related fields.
• Post-graduate qualification in law or (post or under-graduate qualification) in climate science/policy.

Reporting to: Elizabeth Donger, Senior Legal Associate

Contract type: Full-time, one year contract, with likelihood of extension.

Terms and Conditions

Regrettably, CLN is not in a position to support visa applications for candidates. You must have an existing right to work in the Netherlands or UK.

All documents must be in English.

Working at CLN

You’ll join part of a warm, international team.
Benefits* include:

• 5% employer pension contribution.
• 25 days annual leave and 8 days public holidays.
• Family friendly working environment.
• Enhanced sick leave (UK) / incapacity insurance cover (NL)*.
• Up to 5 days emergency leave annually.
• Potential for flexible working arrangements.
• Commitment to training and professional development, including individual budget, in-house development opportunities, and conferences/events.
• Opportunity to travel to meet other CLN team members and partner organisations.

*Exact benefits are dependent on country. Leave entitlements are prorated for part time team members.

To apply for this role, please submit a copy of your CV/resume, a cover letter and a writing sample (no more than 4 pages) on any legal subject. The legal writing sample may be anything from a peer-reviewed article, an op-ed, a recent university-written work, or a blog—include in your sample any relevant context on the forum it was produced for. It must be written by you alone, not a co-authored piece. If your legal writing exceeds 4 pages, please submit an excerpt.

Please upload your application by clicking on the link below.

If you have any questions about the role or organisation, please reach out to McAra Kirby-Fahey at mcara@upsallinternational.com. To note: in order to keep your application safe and ensure your data is GDPR compliant applications will not be accepted via email.

With applications assessed on a rolling basis, we encourage you to apply as soon as possible and no later than Monday March 2nd, 9:00 am CET

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Upsall International actively promotes equality, diversity, and inclusion. In recruiting candidates, we seek candidates with the proven skills required, irrespective of race, gender, religion or belief, age, disability, or sexual orientation.