Clinical Instructor and Supervising Attorney
Pace Environmental Litigation Clinic
The Pace Environmental Litigation Clinic is an innovative program that combines the training of environmental law students with vigorous legal representation for public interest environmental causes. The Clinic’s primary client is the Hudson Riverkeeper. In operation for nearly thirty years, the Pace Environmental Litigation Clinic has pioneered clinical environmental legal education with its unique partnership between a law school clinic and grass roots advocacy organization. Students gain in-depth professional training in environmental law while having a measurable impact on the management of one of the premiere natural resources on the East Coast: the Hudson River-Long Island Sound estuarine system. The Clinic has won a series of precedent-setting cases, prosecuting governments and companies, expanding citizen access to the shoreline, suing sewage treatment plants and landfills to comply with a variety of environmental statutes. Clinic students gain first hand experience in advocacy litigation, including trying cases, arguing motions, negotiating, participating in administrative proceedings on environmental regulations, evaluating scientific data from field studies or scientific analyses, interaction with other community-based citizens organizations, and use of publicity and news media.
Unlike clinical programs that limit students to research roles or drafting policy papers, the Pace Environmental Litigation Clinic emphasizes direct student responsibility for client representation. Under a practice order issued by the Appellate Division, Second Department, Pace Students are authorized to practice law under the supervision of clinical faculty. Clinic students draft pleadings, argue motions in federal and state courts, conduct trials before courts and agencies, advocate environmental causes to public agencies. Clinic students are not mere legal assistants to the Clinic supervising attorneys: the students are the attorneys.
Duties and Responsibilities:
The Supervising Attorney will work with the Clinic Co-Directors on cases representing individuals, community groups and non-profit environmental and conservation organizations. In this role, the Supervising Attorney will also work closely with and supervise Student Legal Interns. The Supervising Attorney is expected to be lead counsel and take primary professional responsibility for the Clinic’s case docket.
This position will have primary responsibility for the full range of tasks associated with litigating cases in a small law firm setting before state and federal courts and state administrative agencies, at both the trial and appellate levels. Cases litigated by the Clinic may range from challenges to administrative agency decisions where judicial review is on the administrative record to full-scale evidentiary trials. The Clinic caseload emphasizes federal environmental citizen enforcement suits.
The Supervising Attorney will have primary responsibility for mentoring and supervising Legal Interns and will co-teach the Clinic seminar and practicum along with the Clinic Co-Directors. The Supervising Attorney will also assist the Clinic Co-Directors in the day-to-day administration of clinic operations.
Education, Skills and Experience:
Required:
- Superb analytical, research, writing and speaking skills.
- Creativity and strong organizational skills.
- At least five years of environmental litigation experience.
- Familiarity with court practice in federal and state trial and appellate courts in New York.
- Member in Good Standing of the New York State Bar
- Strong familiarity with the Clean Water Act, NEPA/SEQRA and other relevant laws.
- Knowledge and experience with water quality issues.
- Excellent written and oral presentation skills.
- Be charismatic, likeable, and have a good sense of humor.
Preferred:
- Demonstrated commitment to the public interest.
- Prior experience representing environmental advocacy organizations
- Technical background in a relevant discipline (e.g. engineering, science).
- Experience as a teacher or mentor to law students or junior attorneys.
Applications are especially encouraged from people of color, individuals of varied sexual and affectational orientations, individuals who are differently-abled, veterans of the armed forces or national service, and anyone whose background and experience will contribute to the diversity of our faculty. Pace is committed to achieving completely equal opportunity in all aspects of University life.
Pace University School of Law is located in suburban White Plains, New York, in Westchester County, approximately 20 miles north of New York City. Our reputation and strong financial aid and scholarship program attract diverse and talented students from several states and a number of foreign countries. The Law School’s primary commitment is to provide its students with the skills, knowledge, and values necessary to be effective and ethical lawyers as well as community leaders.
To apply, please send resume, references, writing sample, and if available, sample publications, teaching materials, and/or evaluations of or by students, to:
Jennifer Ruhle, Clinic Administrator
Pace Environmental Litigation Clinic
Pace University School of Law
78 North Broadway
White Plains, N.Y. 10603
e-mail: