Center for Food Safety

Staff Attorney

Remote, United States remote Entry $87,000 - $104,400
remote Technology & IT Salary listed Curated
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About the role

Headquarters: San Francisco
URL: https://www.centerforfoodsafety.org/

Staff Attorney

Location: The position is preferred to be based in either Portland, Oregon, or the San Francisco Bay Area, California, in a hybrid home-office model, but fully remote is also considered for the right candidate.

TO APPLY FOR THIS ROLE, PLEASE VISIT THE CENTER FOR FOOD SAFETY JOB BOARD

Who we are

Center for Food Safety (CFS)'s mission is to empower people, support farmers, and protect the Earth from the harmful impacts of industrial agriculture. We defend and promote your right to safe food and a clean environment through groundbreaking legal, scientific, and grassroots action.  

For over 25 years, we have created a new food future, fostering a more powerful food movement against the harmful industrial agricultural system while promoting organic, ecological, and regenerative alternatives. We've won high-profile lawsuits to protect public health and endangered species from pesticides like Monsanto’s Roundup and dicamba. We prevented the introduction of genetically engineered wheat, rice, potatoes, and more to the market and secured meaningful labeling to ensure that we all know what's in our food. We succeeded in embedding animal welfare requirements in the organic standards and protecting the oceans from industrial aquaculture. And much more: Our groundbreaking legal cases that protect pollinators, farmworkers, and farming communities, and the earth from the devastating impacts of industrial farming, are a landmark body of case law on food and much more: Our groundbreaking legal cases that protect pollinators, farmworkers, and farming communities, and the earth from the devastating impacts of industrial farming, are a landmark body of case law on food and agricultural issues, transforming our food system.

About the role

Center for Food Safety (CFS), one of the nation’s top food and environmental nonprofits, seeks a new Staff Attorney to join our team. The Staff Attorney should have at least four years of litigation experience, including clerkships and/or fellowships. CFS Staff Attorneys develop and prosecute precedent-setting cases in furtherance of CFS’s organizational mission and theory of change. The Attorney will participate in and, as appropriate, lead all phases of public interest high-impact litigation and administrative advocacy. CFS Staff Attorneys work with clients, allies, frontline communities, coalitions, and collaborative networks to apply and implement CFS campaigns. Staff Attorneys engage in public speaking and outreach. The Attorney will work on all CFS program areas, including but not limited to:

Consumer Advocacy

Farmworker and Farmer Protection

Food and Climate Change

Food Labeling/Right to Know

Genetically Engineered Organisms and Monocultures

Industrial Animal Agriculture

Industrial Aquaculture

Pesticides & Other Toxins

Pollinator & Wildlife Protection

Public Health

Regenerative Agriculture: Organic & Beyond

What you'll do

Support litigation and advocacy developed by CFS’s Legal Team and Legal Director.

Serve as lead counsel or co-counsel as appropriate in CFS cases.

Fulfill the full range of litigation tasks, including factual investigation, legal research and analysis, discovery and record review, briefing, oral argument, appeals, amicus briefs, settlement, and fee recovery.

Lead the factual development for and litigation of precedent-setting public interest cases, furthering CFS’s theory of change.

Represent CFS and clients in state and federal rulemaking and agency engagement.

Support and engage in federal and state legislative activities connected to CFS litigation and organizational mission.

Work closely with other CFS attorneys, policy and communications staff, scientists, coalition partners, and clients to build cases and support CFS policies and programs.

Engage in public speaking, media, and outreach.

Maintain and develop organizational partnerships with new clients, allies, and coalition partners to implement CFS's strategic litigation and organizational mission.

Oversee fellows and law clerks and engage in recruitment efforts as appropriate.

Desired qualifications and skills

Law school graduate with at least 4 years of litigation experience, including clerkships or fellowships (administrative/environmental/animal law or related area preferred);

Ability to independently manage a litigation docket.

Excellent analytical, legal research, and writing skills.

Excellent communication and public speaking skills.

Oral argument experience.

Self-motivation and willingness to do administrative tasks.

Proven ability to work collaboratively with others in a ,small, team-oriented environment.

Strong work ethic, initiative, and creativity.

Sensitivity to the concerns of and the ability to work with individuals from diverse cultures, backgrounds, and orientations.

Admission to the California or Oregon bar or a willingness to be licensed in either state within one year (or bar admission in an existing remote location).

A passion for enforcing and strengthening environmental laws.

A passion for and/or a background in food and agriculture issues.

Compensation and benefits

Hybrid - San Francisco, CA: $87,000-$133,000 USD/ year (salary)
Hybrid - Washington, D.C.: $82,000-$123,000 USD/ year (salary)

Hybrid - Portland, OR: $77,000-$113,000 USD/ year (salary)

CFS offers a competitive compensation package, a flexible hybrid work environment, and a four-day workweek. In addition to salary, we offer a discretionary annual bonus and employer matching contributions to a retirement plan. Benefits include medical, vision, and dental insurance, disability insurance, a pre-tax medical savings plan, and generous vacation and leave policies. As a 501(c)(3) organization, CFS qualifies as an employer for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) Program.

The pay range for this role is:

87,000 - 133,000 USD per year (West Coast Office - Hybrid)

77,000 - 113,000 USD per year (Pacific Northwest Office - Hybrid)

82,000 - 123,000 USD per year (Washington, DC)

To apply: https://weworkremotely.com/remote-jobs/center-for-food-safety-staff-attorney

Interview prep

Walk in with sharper answers.

Use this as a quick practice sheet before you speak with the employer.

Role
Technology & IT Business Development Human Resources Remote Collaboration Writing remote

Likely questions

  1. Tell us about work you have done that is close to the Staff Attorney role.
  2. How would you approach your first 30 days at Center for Food Safety?
  3. Which of Business Development, Human Resources and Remote Collaboration have you used recently, and what did it help you achieve?
  4. Describe a time you solved a problem without waiting to be told exactly what to do.
  5. How do you stay organised and communicate clearly when working remotely?

Prepare before the call

  • A recent example that proves your experience with Business Development, Human Resources and Remote Collaboration.
  • One short story with a problem, your action, and the result.
  • Two examples that show the strengths listed on your CV.
  • A clear reason why this role and company interest you.
  • Your availability, preferred work style, and salary expectations.

Ask them

  • What would success look like in the first 90 days?
  • What are the main problems this hire should help solve?
  • How does the team give feedback and measure good work?
  • What does a normal working week look like for this role?
Practice line

I am interested in the Staff Attorney role because I can bring practical experience in Business Development, Human Resources and Remote Collaboration, learn the team quickly, and contribute to the outcomes Center for Food Safety needs from this hire.

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