Bayou City Driver Seeks Legal Counsel – Citizens’ Environmental Coalition

Bayou City Plumber Seeks Legal Counsel

Bayou City Waterkeeper (BCWK) is looking for an aspiring lawyer to join our team as a full-time legal officer for two years. The fellow will help BCWK use the law to advance the public eye for water justice in Greater Houston. The fellow is expected to start work by 5 September.

Description of work
The Legal Officer will report directly to our Chief Legal Officer and support our ongoing legal work and related advocacy, helping us take bold action to advance water, climate and infrastructure equity in Greater Houston. As one of two full-time lawyers, the Legal Counsel will represent BCWK in civil and administrative litigation, analyze legal strategies for BCWK and our partners, write public comments, help translate our legal work through communications and training, and represent BCWK in coalitions. A legal officer will join our team for a two-year term. This is an entry-level position, but lawyers of any experience level may apply. The fellow will receive hands-on legal work and relevant advocacy experience, as well as regular feedback, mentoring and training.

About Bayou City Waterkeeper
Bayou City Waterkeeper is a water equity organization operating in the Lower Galveston Bay watershed, which spans Greater Houston, for over two decades. Through law and science, we work with local communities to build power, fill regulatory gaps, and confront water injustice and irresponsible development. Our key program areas are clean water, wetland protection and equitable climate change. Find out more on our website.

Our values
Recognizing the complexity of our watershed, the challenges we face in protecting our waters from the damage caused by urban development and industrial activity, and the importance of being responsive to the needs of the communities we serve, our work is guided by five values:
● Connectivity: Collaborate across disciplines and create multiple ways to interact.
● Flexibility: use movement and adaptability in our work.
● Bold Action: Engage in difficult negotiations, break down broken systems, create new structures, bring together unconventional allies, and apply data and research to action.
● Justice and equity: call for and act to eliminate injustice in our watershed
● Regeneration: See water as a place for healing, joy, celebration, reflection, and growth.

Responsibilities
● Manage day-to-day legal work related to sewage and stormwater pollution, sewage and stormwater permits, and other unauthorized pollution.
● Research and analyze legal issues and help formulate strategies, prioritize, investigate, and enforce legal violations in Houston.
● Respond to community members facing water challenges, link them to resources and solutions, and help integrate their priorities into broader strategies.
● Investigate legal issues and investigate facts during litigation; prepare court inquiries of the Board; identify and interview members and draft permanent declarations; write summaries, petitions and memorandums; appear in court and argue; communicate with opposing counsel and partners; and participate in the discovery and review of documents
● Work with academics, policy makers, partners, and community members to develop written and oral comments for permits, rulemaking, and environmental review documents.
● Create and deliver presentations related to our legal work to community groups, partners, and the legal community in person and virtually, and support communications related to legal matters.
● Represent BCWK in local and regional partnerships.
● Download, track, view and analyze information requests.

Qualifications and requirements
Applicants must have the following in order to be considered for this role:
● Doctor of Law by May 2023; And
● Admission to the Texas Bar or plans to take the Texas Bar Exam in July 2023.

Highly competitive candidates will also have some combination of: ***
● Shown interest in developing litigation skills through experience in a law school, court clerk, or litigation-oriented work, including internships or work as a paralegal.
● Committed to developing strong skills in legal writing, analysis and oral defense
● Ease of interpretation of scientific and technical concepts
● Ability to translate legal and technical concepts to community members and partners.
● Understanding the role of lawyers in community oriented advocacy and familiarity with advocacy movements, environmental justice and the concepts of just climate change.
● A commitment to listening carefully to and with members of affected communities, and the ability to build trust and develop equal relationships with community members.
● Commitment to support affected communities
● Commitment to racial justice, anti-racism, and understanding and commitment to using an anti-racist lens to promote equity, equity, diversity, inclusion and accessibility.
● Strong interpersonal skills, self-awareness and enthusiasm for teamwork
● Self-motivated, creative, organizational skills, diligent and efficient work ethic.
● Fluency in Spanish
● Love for our land
***Studies show that women and people of color are more hesitant to apply for a job because they may not meet all of the listed requirements. The hired candidate may not meet all of these requirements, but will demonstrate the desire and ability to grow into the role and fit into our small, tight-knit team. If you are passionate about our efforts and believe you have the skills to contribute to the growth of our organization, we want to hear from you.

Schedule/Location
We allow flexible working hours so that our employees can respond to the needs of society and balance work and personal responsibilities. Our standard week is 36-40 hours. Sometimes it will take more than a normal week, including several evenings and weekends. Some local travel required. Our staff meet in person once a week and, when necessary or beneficial, legal counsel is expected to appear in court, meet partners, or attend other events in person (subject to COVID approval). The rest of our work is virtual. Given the local and community oriented nature of this job, the legal counsel must live in the Lower Galveston Bay watershed.

Salary and benefits
$60,000. Benefits include: unlimited paid leave, paid leave and paid parental leave; subsidized group health care, dental and vision insurance; IRA contribution funded by BCWK; and negotiable flexible hours. This is a full-time, optional, vacant position.

Instructions for use
Equally, send your resume and a letter explaining your interest to [email protected] with “BCWK Legal Fellow” in the subject line. 10th of March. The interview process will consist of three stages. A final decision is expected by the end of May. Membership is expected to start on September 5, but could start as early as June 1 if they have already passed the bar exam.

Our core values ​​drive us to seek a wide range of perspectives and experiences to achieve our mission and maintain an inclusive environment where all employees are valued and respected. As an equal opportunity employer, we are committed to employment practices that ensure that employees and job applicants are given equal opportunity regardless of race, color, national origin, ancestry, gender, age, religion, physical or mental disability, health condition, veteran status, marital status, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, genetic information, or any other non-position related factor.