Mid-level Qualified Lawyer - Marine and Fisheries

ClientEarth is a non-profit environmental law, science and policy organisation with offices inLondon,Brussels, andWarsaw. We provide dedicated public-interest legal capacity, working with environmental NGOs and other stakeholders and acting as legal advocates for environmental objectives. We work at a policy and legislative level to lobby for strong laws and policies that protect the environment, and we pursue litigation that supports our strategic objectives. Our work is based on the development and execution of clear strategies and productive partnerships to ensure our actions to protect the human right to a clean and healthy environment have maximum impact.

We have an exciting and challenging opportunity for a mid-level lawyer (3-7 years PQE) to join our Biodiversity team inLondonworking on fisheries and leading on the Sustainable Seafood Coalition.

Project Description: Sustainable Seafood Coalition

ClientEarth has created a partnership of seafood industry stakeholders called the ‘Sustainable Seafood Coalition’ (SSC). The SSC seeks to ensure that ‘all fish and seafood sold in theUKis from sustainable sources’. The SSC proposes to do this through the creation and oversight of a series of voluntary codes of conduct connected with seafood sourcing and consumption, the reduction of discards and creation of a sustainable market for unwanted species, data collection, and the harmonisation of labelling. The SSC will seek to build national and global alliances and influence changes atUK, EU and international level.

The SSC is already operational. It currently has 15 members and industry representatives, including 5 major supermarkets, several seafood brands and suppliers as well as celebrity Chef Hugh Fearnley-Whittinsgstall. The SSC will soon be expanding to the foodservice and fishmeal sector to ensure a fully cross-industry membership. We will also be expanding the SSC to other EU Member States.

We now need a mid-level lawyer who will develop the coalition and ensure we achieve our vision of sustainable seafood.

Mid-level qualified lawyer position in London (3-7 years PQE)

The mid-level lawyer will play a key role in advancing the work of the Sustainable Seafood Coalition and supporting the biodiversity team’s work to secure sustainable and ecosystems based fisheries in the EU.

The candidate will facilitate between members of the SSC (and outside) and act as a co-ordinator for the SSC, tasked with advancing the coalition membership to include other sectors of the seafood industry in the UK, and to develop and implement a strategy for expanding the coalition into other EU countries. Therefore the candidate must have strong communication and mediating skills, understand the confidential nature of the businesses involved and use their legal skills be able to transform working group ideas into concrete proposals for voluntary codes.

The candidate will also be required apply legal skills to support the biodiversity team more generally, for example in relation to fisheries related work including on the reform of the EU Common Fisheries Policy.

Qualifications:

• Law degree with relevant experience in advocacy or campaign work

(3-7 years PQE);

• Knowledgeable in one or more of the following areas: EU law and institutions, fisheries/marine law, environmental law;
• Fluent in English – other languages desirable;
• Ability to travel, as necessary, to European cities;
• Confidence working at a high level with industry stakeholders, NGOs and Government bodies;
• Excellent judgment, flexibility, humour, diplomacy, and optimism.

Skills:

• Excellent written and oral communication skills, including proven ability to explain complex legal issues in lay language and ability to modify language, content, and style to address the needs of different audiences;
• Competent at identifying and resolving issues, and capitalising on opportunities; 
• Strong legal research, analytical, and advocacy skills and an interest in performing rigorous legal analysis in support of impactful work;
• Ability to work with colleagues and partners of varied backgrounds and experience in a fast-paced work environment;
• Entrepreneurial spirit and ability to work confidently with limited supervision;
• Team player and strong interpersonal skills;
• Ability to grasp quickly new and complex concepts and adapt to new work strategies accordingly;
• Ability to balance priorities and co-ordinate work effectively with colleagues;
• Energetic and dedicated to working for the environment and fisheries.

Key responsibilities include:

• Interface withUKand other EU seafood industry businesses, Government officials, and NGO’s;
• Develop creative strategies to advance the SSC, supported by sound legal and technical expertise and analysis;
• Organise and facilitate working group and member’s meetings that result in useful outcomes for the development of the voluntary codes of conduct;
• Provide legal and technical advice and guidance;
• Translate ideas from members and advisors into a workable code of conduct to be presented to the members for amendment, agreement and implementation;
• Represent the SSC externally to the media and at relevant meetings with government officials in theUKand EU;
• Develop funding proposals to progress the work of the SSC;
• Monitor and report on the progress of campaign activities;
• Support and contribute to the activities of colleagues within the Biodiversity programme, particularly by providing legal analysis, advocacy and contributing to developing strategy.

The position will be based inLondon, with travel toLondonandEuropegenerally. The position is available starting as soon as possible.

To apply

Please send us a CV and a cover letter, explaining your interest in joining ClientEarth and the contribution you believe you could make to the organisation. Please address your application to James Thornton, Chief Executive, ClientEarth, The Hothouse, 274 Richmond road, London E8 3QW and send it by mail to jobs@clientearth.org. Please include ‘ Marine & Fisheries Lawyer’ in the email subject line, and identify the documents you are sending by including ‘[your name cover letter’ and ‘[your name] CV’ in the file name.

We are re-advertising this position, so please do not re-apply.

Recruitment is open now and you should send your application as soon as possible. Applications are scheduled to close on 21 October 2011. We will review applications as they are received and we may interview candidates before the closing date. Otherwise, interviews are intended to take place in the week commencing 31 October 2011.

If you have any questions about the roles advertised or recruitment process, please contact Patricia Del Rio (pdelrio@clientearth.org)