This guide covers specific types of potential risks related to serving as an expert witness and other consulting work, including legal issues, monetary concerns, and conflicts of interest.
Protecting the Scientific Endeavor
Science Under Siege
The Climate Science Legal Defense Fund has fought for the scientific endeavor since 2011. Our initiatives ensure that scientists can conduct, publish, and discuss their research and advocate for science without the threat of political harassment, censorship, or legal intimidation.
Climate Litigation Toolkit
Our free legal resources explain the best practices for safely and effectively engaging in scientific consulting work.

2023 Impact Report
2023 has been quite a year. Read our impact report to learn what your generous support has made possible.
Updated Report: Open Records Laws
These laws, while critical to government transparency, are frequently misused by groups seeking to harass scientists and slow or halt the scientific endeavor. This report can help scientists and attorneys respond to such inquiries.
Political Action Toolkit
Our free legal resources explain the best practices for safely and effectively engaging in political advocacy.
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Our Work
We provide free legal aid and resources to researchers, educate the scientific community about their rights and responsibilities, and strengthen legal protections to promote scientific integrity.
Silencing Science Tracker
The Silencing Science Tracker is a public database that tracks government efforts to restrict, censor, undermine, and misrepresent science since the November 2016 election. To date, we have documented more than 500 attacks on science. We catalog government efforts to restrict, censor, undermine, and misrepresent science.
Safeguarding Scientific Integrity
We promote scientific integrity reforms to ensure the best available research and data inform government decision-making. And we publish resources to advance understanding of how research institutions and federal agencies approach scientific integrity — and how to strengthen legal protections for science and scientists.
Latest Resources and Activities
This report describes the existing protections for scientific records, and their applications, in each of the 50 states and the District of Columbia.
This guide covers things scientists can do to avoid putting themselves at risk when sending an open letter or signing a public petition.
Scientists: Know Your Rights
The legal risks for any individual scientist are small, but there are actions you can take to protect and defend yourself, especially if you’re involved in scientific advocacy and activism.
Our Expertise in the News
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Press | News Why the CT public record system needs to be overhauledNovember 27, 2023 Hartford Courant
In the face of growing calls for immediate climate action after the world’s hottest summer on record, fossil fuel-funded interests are intensifying efforts to undercut climate research and policies.
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Press | News Groups say Biden’s scientific integrity policy leaves a lot to be desiredOctober 23, 2023 NJToday.net
The first revamped agency scientific integrity policy crafted under a Biden initiative leaves a lot to be desired, according to comments submitted by Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility (PEER) and a coalition of ten public health, transparency, and environmental groups.
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News | Events Protecting scientists through education | GSA Connects 2023October 13, 2023 CSLDF
A critical element of our work at CSLDF is educating scientists about their legal rights to participate in advocacy and…
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Your support helps us fight for scientists and defend scientific integrity.