Attorney Fellowship w/the Environmental Protection Bureau (3736)

Social Justice Division

Environmental Protection Bureau – New York City or Albany

Special Assistant Attorney General

Reference No. EPB_SAAG_3736

Application Deadline: January 31, 2015

Click here to apply.

Fellowship opportunity for experienced environmental, administrative law, and other complex matter litigators.

The Environmental Protection Bureau in the Office of the New York State Attorney General (OAG) hosts New York University (NYU) School of Law State Energy & Environmental Impact Center Fellows. The Fellows serve as Special Assistant Attorneys General (Special Assistants) in the bureau in New York City or Albany. The Special Assistants provide OAG with additional litigation resources on clean energy, climate change, and other environmental and public health matters. As Special Assistants, the fellows are supervised by OAG and owe a duty of loyalty to the state of New York as their client. 

The NYU Law Fellows serve for a one-year term as Special Assistants, with the potential for a one-year extension. The NYU School of Law will pay the salary of the Fellows and provide employee benefits. The annual salary range for the Fellows will be $101,409 - $173,265 + $3,400 in location pay (if applicable). The final salary will be determined after a complete evaluation of the selected Fellow’s qualifications.

Fellows serving as Special Assistants have worked on matters that include lead paint hazard enforcement; environmental review and mitigation of truck traffic and associated air pollution impacts in environmental justice communities; clean energy and climate change mitigation; and the rollback of federal environmental and public health regulations.

Fellows hosted by OAG as Special Assistants have the opportunity and responsibility to:

• Litigate and otherwise advocate on a wide range of environmental matters important to the state of New York, including in the areas of environmental justice, public health, and clean energy and climate change in state and federal courts and before administrative agencies.
• Perform advanced legal work, including conducting in-depth analysis and preparing legal memoranda; interpreting laws and regulations; providing legal advice to state administrative agencies represented by OAG; and assisting in preparing legal notices, briefs, comment letters, and other litigation and advocacy papers.
• Coordinate within the bureau, OAG, other state attorneys general offices, and other outside entities on environmental justice, clean energy, climate change, and other environmental and public health issues.
• Participate in legal skills and practice area training. 

Requirements and qualifications for Fellow candidates include the following:

• Applicants must be eligible to work in the United States. Special Assistants must reside in (or intend to soon become a resident of) New York state and be admitted or soon to be admitted to practice law in New York state.
• At least five (5) years of complex civil litigation practice. Applicants with litigation experience in clean energy, climate change, or other environmental or public health issues are preferred; or applicants may have other litigation experience with a strong demonstrated interest in these areas.
• Ability to work with partner organizations and to help build coalitions.
• Excellent writing, editing, research, and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to work productively in a fast-paced environment and as a member of a team.
• Proactive with strong organizational skills, including the ability to self-manage multiple priorities simultaneously.
• Demonstrated interest in public service.

OAG is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to a workplace that is diverse, equitable, and inclusive. We are seeking a diverse pool of candidates who are creative thinkers with strong writing, analytical, and organizational skills as well as a demonstrated commitment to public service and social, economic, and criminal justice. Applicants who are members of groups underrepresented in attorney roles, which include but are not limited to Black, Latinx/Latine, Indigenous American, Asian and Pacific Islander persons; women; persons with disabilities; and LGBTQIA+ persons are particularly encouraged to apply.

HOW TO APPLY

Applications must be submitted online at www.ag.ny.gov/job-postings/attorneys. Applicants must be prepared to submit a complete application consisting of the following:

•  Cover Letter: You may address your letter to the Legal Recruitment Unit. Indicate why you are interested in this position and what makes you a strong candidate. You may wish to include information about what life experiences you will bring to the position that will enhance OAG’s ability to better serve the diverse population of this state.
• Resume
• Legal Writing Sample
• List of three (3) references: Only submit professional references, supervisory references are preferred. For each reference, indicate the nature and duration of your relationship. Include contact information and email addresses for each reference. Please note that your references will not be contacted until after you interview for the position.

For more information regarding this fellowship program, please visit NYU’s website at: https://stateimpactcenter.org/ag-work/fellows-program

The selected candidate will be eligible for subsidized health benefits (medical, prescription, dental, and vision coverage) and life insurance; leave, including annual (vacation), personal, sick, and paid parental leave. The candidate is also eligible to participate in a retirement plan. For more information about benefits for this fellowship, please visit NYU’s website at: https://www.nyu.edu/employees/benefit/full-time/professional-research-staff/benefits-guide-2025.html

Candidates from diverse backgrounds are encouraged to apply.

The OAG is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to workplace diversity.