Vermont Law School’s top-ranked environmental program includes a curriculum of more than 60 environmental law courses, as well as master’s and LLM degrees in three areas – environmental law and policy, energy regulation and law, and food and agriculture law and policy.  About a quarter of our JD students are enrolled as joint JD/master’s degree students.

Job Description:

Environmental and Natural Resources Law Clinic

The ENRLC forms a key component of the environmental education we offer our students.  The program functions as a public interest environmental law firm and gives students the opportunity to hone their skills in real-world cases and projects.  The ENRLC is organized into four main program areas – Water and Justice, Coal and Climate, Healthy Communities, and Biodiversity – and we retain the flexibility to take on cases and projects outside these areas as well.  The clinic’s work includes a mix of litigation, administrative agency proceedings, client counseling, and other forms of environmental advocacy.  Our clients are community groups and conservation organizations, and we partner with a wide variety of organizations at the local, regional, and national level.  The ENRLC offers students three enrollment options during the fall and spring:  part-time (6 credits), three-quarter time (9 credits), and full-time (13 credits).  Students may also participate in a summer session for up to 9 credits toward the JD or MELP degree. The ENRLC staff consists of a Director, two supervising attorneys, part-time senior counsel, one or two clinic fellows (LLM students working part-time in the clinic while pursuing their LLM degrees), and a litigation paralegal.  The ENRLC selects approximately 16 students for each of the fall, spring, and summer terms.  More information about the program is available on the ENRLC website:  http://www.vermontlaw.edu/academics/clinics-and-externships/ENRLC.

Duties and Responsibilities

The ENRLC Director is charged with administering the ENRLC and supervising its faculty, staff, and student clinicians, including the following general duties and responsibilities:

• Serving as lead attorney in several cases and projects and providing close supervision and feedback to student clinicians involved in those matters.
• Evaluating and selecting new cases and projects in consultation with other ENRLC faculty and staff.
• Supervising staff attorneys, LLM Fellows, and student clinicians involved in other cases and projects.
• Overseeing weekly Case Reviews (case rounds) and Seminars (workshops on various environmental advocacy topics).
• Developing and maintaining relationships with other environmental clinics and clinical organizations, and the public interest environmental law community.
• Overseeing student recruitment and assessment.
• Managing and developing public relations materials including the website, newsletters, social media, and reports to faculty and trustees.
• Developing the program budget for administrative approval, and monitoring income and expenditures.
• Raising funds for the program through grants and donations, with the assistance of the advancement office.
• Participating in faculty meetings and committees.

The ENRLC Director is expected to participate fully in the broader academic life of Vermont Law School. For example, Directors and staff attorneys have represented VLS at AALS and ABA meetings, the Public Interest Environmental Law Conference, and other gatherings; served as mentors and advisors to 1L students; taught courses in the regular academic program or summer program (such as Environmental Law, Watershed Management, and Air Pollution Law & Policy); participated as guest lecturers in other courses; published scholarly articles and book chapters; served on panels at VLS conferences; and interacted with new and traditional media on behalf of the school.

Requirements:

Candidates should have a minimum of 10-15 years of public interest environmental litigation experience, substantial experience supervising staff attorneys and other personnel, and experience with office management and fundraising. Candidates must be a member of the Vermont Bar or be able to waive in.  A demonstrated commitment to and temperament for teaching and mentoring is essential.  Experience in clinical legal education is desirable.  Doctrinal teaching experience within the legal academy is helpful, but not necessary.

Application Instructions:

Please submit a cover letter, curriculum vitae, writing sample, and references to Chantelle Brackett, Human Resources & Payroll Manager, Vermont Law School, PO Box 96, South Royalton, VT 05068.  Electronic applications are strongly preferred and can be submitted online here.  Applications will be considered as they are submitted.  Nominations of candidates are also welcome. The position will remain open until filled.