Legal Fellow

ABOUT US

Riverkeeper is New York’s premier water quality advocate. Established in 1966, Riverkeeper protects and restores the Hudson River from source to sea and safeguards drinking water supplies, through advocacy rooted in community partnerships, science and law.  With an annual operating budget of over $5 million, Riverkeeper is a mid-sized not-for profit operating in the Hudson Valley. For more information, visit www.riverkeeper.org.

TITLE:                           Legal Fellow

DEPARTMENT:            Legal

REPORTS TO:              Legal Program Director

SALARY:                          $60,000-$70,000

SCHEDULE:                  Full-time- one-year position

LOCATION:                  Ossining, NY; hybrid role

POSITION DESCRIPTION

Riverkeeper seeks a recent law school graduate who will contribute to Riverkeeper’s presence and effectiveness in protecting the Hudson River, its tributaries, and the watershed that provides New York City’s drinking water. The Fellowship is a full-time, one-year attorney position with full benefits. Riverkeeper is looking for an attorney with an exceptional commitment to the environment and an outstanding academic and experiential-learning record. Riverkeeper is an equal opportunity employer and highly values diversity.

The Legal Fellow reports to the Legal Program Director and works closely with Riverkeeper attorneys and other staff to protect and restore the Hudson River in a manner consistent with climate and environmental justice principles. Riverkeeper’s campaigns are focused on a range of issues, including reducing sewage pollution, fighting new fossil fuel infrastructure in the Hudson Valley, watchdogging the Indian Point nuclear power plant decommissioning, ensuring the remediation of Superfund and other legacy industrial sites, restoring critical habitat and declining fish populations, improving water quality, and ensuring climate adaptation policies are environmentally sensitive.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES

(This is not an exhaustive list of all job duties, responsibilities, and requirements.)

As part of the legal team, the Fellow will 

• advance Riverkeeper’s policy goals of fishable, swimmable waterways and clean drinking water. 


• be involved in every aspect of our program and gain hands-on experience bringing impact litigation, enforcing environmental laws, investigating pollution complaints, reviewing proposed legislation, regulations, and environmental permits, and drafting legal documents. 


• represent Riverkeeper in meetings with government officials, the public, and media outlets. The position offers a flexible, mostly remote work schedule and requires some travel throughout the Hudson River Valley to attend meetings and appointments that may be outside of normal business hours.

EXPERIENCE & COMPETENCIES

Research shows that people from underrepresented groups often apply to jobs only if they meet 100% of the qualifications. Please know that no one ever meets 100% of the qualifications. If much of this describes you, we encourage you to apply.

All candidates must:

• Have a strong commitment to Riverkeeper’s mission and values;


• Have obtained a J.D. between 2024 and 2026


• Be admitted to practice law in New York State, or be eligible to sit for the next administration of the New York State Bar Exam;


• Demonstrate understanding of federal and state administrative and environmental law;


• Have excellent writing, research, and communication skills;


• Be energetic, creative, well organized, independent, hard-working, personable, and have a sense of humor; and


• Be able to maintain a flexible work schedule and be willing to work some evenings, traveling throughout the Hudson Valley for meetings.

Candidates will be preferred who also have:

• Coursework or experience in environmental policy and/or litigation;


• Coursework or experience in public interest and oral advocacy;


• Coursework or experience with the Clean Water Act, Safe Drinking Water Act, National Environmental Policy Act, Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act, and/or the New York State Environmental Quality Review Act, etc.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS & WORKING CONDITIONS

This position requires the ability to:

• frequently travel throughout the Hudson Valley and New York City for meetings


• work in the Ossining office 1-2 days per week and attend monthly meetings in person


• be comfortable working in an open environment (with stairs, no elevators)

All employees must be fully vaccinated for COVID-19

Riverkeeper is an AA/EEO employer. Riverkeeper is committed to attracting, developing, and retaining exceptional people, and to creating a work environment that is dynamic, rewarding, and enables each of us to realize our potential. Our work environment is safe and open to all employees and partners, respecting the full spectrum of race, color, religious creed, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, political affiliation, ancestry, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, and all other classifications protected by law.

People from diverse backgrounds are encouraged to apply.