Luke Cole Memorial Fellowship at The Center on Race, Poverty & the Environment

The Center on Race, Poverty & the Environment (CRPE) seeks applicants for the inaugural Luke Cole Memorial Fellowship. Luke Cole co-founded CRPE in 1989 and led it until his death in 2009, training the next generation of environmental justice advocates along the way. CRPE, in collaboration with Luke’s family, created this Fellowship to honor Luke’s memory and institutionalize his pioneering work in the field of environmental justice law. The Fellow will work as part of CRPE’s National Campaign to provide technical and legal assistance to grassroots groups throughout the Country.

CRPE is a non-profit environmental justice organization with offices in Delano and San Francisco, California. Our mission is to achieve environmental justice and healthy sustainable communities through collective action and the law. We have a three pronged approach to our advocacy: 1) building individual capacity over the course of a campaign; 2) fostering community power vis-à-vis decision-makers; and 3) addressing the environmental hazard facing the community. CRPE’s lawyers and community organizers work closely to combine advocacy and organizing in our unique community-based approach. CRPE strongly believes in the maxim that communities should speak for themselves, and that advocates for environmental justice should be on tap, not on top. The two-year, full-time position begins in September 2012, and will be based in our San Francisco office.
Luke Cole Memorial Fellow
Major Responsibilities:

Litigate cases in state and federal court on behalf of grassroots groups throughout the Country;
Represent clients before various administrative agencies responsible for implementation and enforcement of federal and state laws through comment letters and oral testimony;
Build positive relationships with environmental justice allies throughout the Country; and
other responsibilities as necessary.

Minimum Qualifications

2011 or 2012 law school graduate;
Membership in the California Bar or willingness to become admitted;
Working knowledge of California and federal environmental law and/or civil rights law;
Demonstrated commitment to environmental justice;
Excellent legal writing and public speaking skills;
Willingness to travel frequently;
Ability to work independently and under deadline pressure;
Ability to think conceptually, strategically and tactically;
Excellent project implementations skills; and
Ability to work independently with minimal daily supervision, and as a team player.

Preference will be given to applicants with experience in public interest environmental litigation,
the environmental justice movement, civil rights, community organizing, public health, and/or
personal history with communities disproportionately burdened by pollution.

Salary: DOE. CRPE provides employees with an excellent benefits package that includes
health, vision, dental, and a generous vacation package.
To apply please submit the following in one PDF file:

A 1-2 page cover letter that describes:
why you are interested in the Fellowship,
what you will be able to contribute to the Fellowship,
your professional career goals over the next 5-10 years, and
anything else you consider pertinent to your application
Resume
Writing sample, no more than 20 pages

Application materials can be submitted electronically to Marissa Alexander by April 15, 2012.

Center on Race, Poverty & the Environment
47 Kearny Street, Suite 804
San Francisco, CA 94108
malexander@crpe-ej.org

CRPE is an equal opportunity employer that does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, disability, gender, nationality, ethnicity, or sexual orientation. We strongly encourage people of color, women, LGBTIQ, and intersectional candidates to apply.