Staff Attorney

Center for Food Safety (CFS), one of the nation’s top food and environmental advocacy nonprofits, seeks an experienced attorney to fill a Staff Attorney position. The position will be based in the CFS Portland, OR office, but applications will be considered for the San Francisco office.

About Center for Food Safety

For over 20 years, CFS has empowered people, supported farmers, and protected the earth from the adverse impacts of industrial food production. CFS uses legal actions, groundbreaking scientific and policy reports, books and other educational materials, market pressure, and grass roots campaigns through our nearly one million member True Food Network. CFS’s legal work collectively represents a landmark body of case law on food and agricultural issues.

About the Position

The Staff Attorney works with the rest of the Legal team and Legal Director to develop and prosecute cases, both as lead counsel and in partnership with other attorneys. The Staff Attorney will be responsible for developing, coordinating, and pursuing strategic litigation in federal and state courts on an ever-expanding variety of cutting-edge food and environmental issues, in support of CFS’s overall mission and its specific program areas, including:

• Aquaculture
• Climate Change
• Food Labeling
• Food Safety
• Genetically Engineered Organisms
• Industrial Animal Agriculture/ Animal Factories
• Organic Integrity
• Pesticides
• Pollinators
• Soil Protection

Responsibilities

Other responsibilities of legal staff include:

• State and federal rule-making and agency engagement
• Participating in agency, Congressional, and other meetings
• Representing CFS and other clients at hearings and policy events
• Maintaining and developing organizational partnerships
• Working collaboratively with policy, communications, and development staff
• Law clerk/junior staff supervision
• Option to participate in CFS Equity Diversity and Inclusion Task Force

Desired Qualifications & Skills:

• A law degree and at least 3 years litigation experience (administrative/environmental law or related area preferred). While the minimum experience is 3 years, CFS also welcomes applicants with 5+ years of experience.
• A passion for enforcing and strengthening environmental laws
• The ability to independently manage an impact litigation docket consisting of larger, long-term impact cases
• Excellent legal research and writing skills
• Self-motivation and willingness to do administrative tasks
• The ability to work collaboratively with others in small, team-oriented environment
• Admission to the California or Oregon bar or a willingness to be licensed in either state within one year 
• Interest or a background in food and agriculture issues is a plus but not required

CFS is committed to providing equal employment opportunities without regard to race, ethnicity, national origin, age, gender, sex, sexual orientation, physical or mental disability, marital status, pregnancy, medical condition, veteran status, or socioeconomic background.

Compensation

Center for Food Safety offers a competitive compensation package. Salary is $60,000+, depending on experience. We also offer discretionary annual bonus and employer retirement plan contributions. Benefits include medical, vision, and dental insurance, disability insurance, pre-tax medical savings plan, and generous vacation and leave policies.

To Apply: For consideration, apply to Russell Howze, CFS Legal Assistant, jobs@centerforfoodsafety.org. Review of applications will begin immediately and will continue on a rolling basis until the position is filled. Please include a cover letter explaining your interest in the position and how your experience will contribute to a culture of inclusion within CFS and our broader community, a resume, a legal writing sample (not to exceed 10 pages), and three references.