This is a valuable opportunity for a self-motivated lawyer to contribute to ClientEarth’s mission of protecting people and the planet through the power of the law. The position will primarily focus on safeguarding and restoring river ecosystems across Europe, with a particular emphasis on the Balkans. 

The role involves legal research, strategic litigation, advocacy, and capacity building, all aimed at ensuring the development, implementation, and enforcement of strong nature laws. You will be working on strategic litigation interventions to safeguard river ecosystems from harmful projects. 

Meet your Manager

In this role, you will be managed by Marta Klimkiewicz. Marta joined ClientEarth in 2018 and is based in Warsaw. Marta specializes in policy and legal frameworks underpinning nature conservation and restoration, with a focus on establishment and governance of protected areas.

Main Duties

• Carry out research and help lead legal and policy work in the Balkans and selected EU and non-EU countries to protect freshwater ecosystems from harmful projects.
• Support legal cases and regulatory actions by drafting documents like legal briefs, complaints, and policy recommendations to protect key species and habitats in Europe and beyond.
• Contribute to communications efforts, including press releases, social media content, and public awareness campaigns. 

See the job description (below) for a full list of duties for this role.

Role requirements

• Law degree or equivalent 
• Demonstrated understanding of environmental regulations, including national, EU and international legal frameworks 
• Proven experience in environmental law 
• Experience in litigation, regulatory complaints, or legal interventions to influence policy 

See the job description (below) for a full list of requirements for this role.

Note to candidates: We know that long lists of criteria can be daunting and that some candidates will not apply for a role unless they feel they are 100% qualified. If you feel you meet at least some of the essential criteria, we still encourage you to apply.

Further Information

Have a question about this job? Please visit our Careers site for advice on applying, FAQs, and more.

Flexible working:  We are proud to be a Flexa accredited Employer. Visit our Flexa Employer page for more information on our approach to flexible working. Our flexible working policy allows our people the choice to decide to work from home/another location in the country where their contract of employment is issued for 80% of their month, with the other 20% of their month being office-based  See our Benefits page for more as well as our flexible working FAQ.

ClientEarth values diversity and inclusion and the benefits this brings. We aim to appoint the most suitable candidate at all times and welcome applications from people from all different backgrounds. See our equity, diversity and inclusion journey page for more.

Please note that ClientEarth is only able to employ those who have the pre-existing legal right to work in Belgium or Poland.

ClientEarth is not a law firm and does not provide legal advice or legal services to third parties