Job Description

Organization Background:

For more than 20 years, Socially Responsible Agriculture Project (SRAP) has served as a mobilizing force to collaborate with communities to protect themselves from the damages caused by industrial livestock operations and to advocate for a food system built on regenerative practices, justice, democracy, and resilience.

Our team includes technical experts, independent family farmers, and rural residents who have faced the threats of factory farms in their communities. When asked for help, SRAP offers free support, providing communities with the knowledge and skills to protect their right to clean water, air, and soil and to a healthy, just, and vibrant future.

Position Overview:

SRAP’s Staff Attorney will work closely with the SRAP Senior Counsel and SRAP Staff from the organization’s four core programs: Community Support; Food and Farm Network; Water Rangers; and Contract Grower Transition. The Staff Attorney will provide direct support and guidance, as well as informational and educational resources, to SRAP staff and communities for advocacy purposes. This position does not involve litigation, but a working knowledge of evidence, discovery, civil procedure, and administrative law is essential. The Staff Attorney will report to SRAP’s Senior Counsel and will have frequent interaction with the Community Support Team and the Community Support Team Director. The Staff Attorney may manage Legal Clerks and Interns.

More specifically, the Staff Attorney will:

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

•       Provide support for SRAP, local communities, and external partners;
•       Participate in assessing and evaluating Community Support matters;
•       Anticipate and respond to Community Support requests for information and resources to assist with advocacy efforts.
•       Identify, develop, and implement legal strategies, including legislative, administrative, and regulatory work on behalf of SRAP. Strategies could relate to general advocacy work, quasi-judicial proceedings, petitions, public comments, or policy issues.
•       Develop appropriate communications and outreach strategies on legal topics, including drafting letters, blogs, fact sheets and other educational materials and designing and conducting trainings for SRAP staff and communities;
•       Participation in coalition meetings and events to strengthen on-the-ground community organizing efforts and the national movement;
•       Support SRAP in the implementation of integrated advocacy initiatives, campaigns, and strategies across SRAP’s four core programs and other advocacy work to further the priorities of SRAP.

Desired Skills and Experience

•       Law school graduate with a minimum of 3 years of relevant legal experience;
•       Admission to a State Bar and be in Good Standing;
•       Demonstrable experience with public information requests, administrative procedures, state and federal rules of evidence, compliance and enforcement sides of environmental laws, land use/zoning laws, and working with experts;
•       Excellent analytical, legal research, and writing skills;
•       Excellent communication and public speaking skills;
•       Self-motivation and proven ability to work as part of a remote team;
•       Strong work ethic, initiative, and sound, yet creative judgment including under short deadlines;
•       Sensitivity to the needs and concerns of and the ability to work with individuals and groups from diverse cultures, backgrounds, and orientations;
•       A strong desire to build a movement to achieve a more just food system;
•       Dedication to public interest principles;
•       Contributes to the creation of a diverse, equitable, and inclusive work community that encourages collaboration and professional growth.
•       Proficiency in Google Workplace and Microsoft Office suites, CM/ECF systems and Pacer, Lexis/Nexis or Westlaw systems, and state/federal public records/FOIA systems.

Work Environment: Position is fully remote with occasional weekend/evening hours and travel expected. This is a full-time, exempt position. Applicants must reside in the United States.

Compensation: Annual salary of $60,000 to $70,000, dependent upon experience. Benefits include fully covered health, vision, dental, and life insurance, monthly communications stipend, annual wellness stipend, a 403b retirement plan and generous paid time off.

How to Apply

To Apply: E-mail a single PDF with the subject line “STAFF ATTORNEY APPLICATION” containing a cover letter expressing interest, curriculum vitae, three references, and a legal writing sample no longer than 10 pages in length to Katie Engelman, Operations and Human Resources Director, at [email protected].

Applications will be screened on a rolling basis until December 22, 2023. Incomplete applications will not be considered. Selected candidates will be contacted in early 2024 for interviews. No telephone calls please.

SRAP is a proud equal-opportunity employer. We consider qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, ancestry, age, sex, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, genetic information, medical condition, disability, marital status, veteran status, or other status protected by law.

SRAP is committed to creating an inclusive organization, and we believe that having a staff that is reflective of the communities we serve will help best advance our mission. We encourage candidates from all backgrounds to apply.

Job Categories: Sustainable Agriculture / Food. Job Types: Full-Time. Job Tags: advocacy, community engagment, community outreach, and Legal. Salaries: See posting for details.

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