Work With Us
The Climate Science Legal Defense Fund (CSLDF) provides legal assistance and education to members of the scientific community, and climate scientists in particular. We defend researchers and other experts who share their knowledge, inform the public, and advocate to address climate change and other pressing environmental problems.
Climate Litigation Counsel
The Climate Science Legal Defense Fund (CSLDF) protects the scientific endeavor by putting its legal expertise to work for scientists who are threatened or silenced due to their findings or fields of study. Our work preserves and expands scientists’ rights and strengthens the legal protections that promote scientific integrity.
CSLDF is expanding its work to support and defend scientists who are involved in climate litigation, or who are conducting research that may ultimately be involved in climate litigation. This new role will serve scientists and expert witnesses as they navigate a contentious and shifting legal landscape.
About the Role: CSLDF is hiring an attorney with 3-5 years of litigation experience. This attorney will advise and help defend expert witnesses, advisors, and other scientists whose expertise or research is or may be relevant to climate litigation. This role will be flexible, adapting to the needs that arise. We expect the role to potentially include:
- Advising expert witnesses, advisors, and scientists considering a role in climate litigation, as well as scientists generally conducting research in this space
- Preparing and providing legal education materials and trainings for potential expert witnesses, advisors, and the scientific community more broadly
- Defending scientists in discovery and trial proceedings
- Preparing experts for depositions and trials
- Supporting scientists with protective measures (such as establishing an LLC)
The attorney will help to develop CSLDF’s work in this area, which may include outreach to firms and advocacy organizations. We expect the attorney will work with co-counsel when representing experts.
Desired Skills & Credentials
- J.D. degree from accredited U.S. law school. (Equivalent such as L.L.M. degree may also be considered.)
- At least 3 years of post-law school legal experience, including demonstrated pre-trial and trial practice. Professional or educational experience with climate, environmental, and/or scientific issues is a plus.
- Strong verbal, writing, analytical, and organizational skills; ability to meet deadlines; work well individually and in partnership environment.
- An ability to be flexible, take initiative, and adapt to an evolving legal landscape.
Research shows that underrepresented groups are less likely to apply for roles unless they meet 100% of the qualifications. If you share our commitment to our mission and believe you have the skills to succeed in this role, we encourage you to apply.
We are based in New York City with an office near Columbia University in historic Morningside Heights. Preference will be given to applicants in the New York area, but this position can be either remote U.S. or hybrid.
Salary is $95,000 – $105,000 per year, depending on experience.
Benefits include generous paid time off and flexible pre-tax benefits. Paid health, dental, and life insurance benefits also provided.
You can expect to be part of a team that will support you to learn and gain insights into the front lines of defending climate scientists.
Please email a resume / CV and cover letter to lawyer@csldf.org and include Climate Litigation Counsel in the subject line.
2026 Legal Externship
Who Can Participate: 2Ls and 3Ls with superb research and writing skills.
Description: The Climate Science Legal Defense Fund is a non-profit organization based in New York City. Established in 2011, our mission is to protect the scientific endeavor. We represent scientists—with a particular focus on climate and environmental scientists—who are targeted, silenced, harassed, or otherwise attacked because of the work they do. In addition, we perform significant educational outreach to scientists to help them understand their legal rights and responsibilities, and we proactively work to help ensure the enactment of strong legal protections for science and to promote science-based policy—at both the federal and state level.
Working closely with CSLDF attorneys, the law student will conduct legal research and writing. Projects may include drafting legal memoranda, sections of briefs and motions, policy position papers and reports, and educational materials on legal issues for a scientific audience. The student may potentially also participate in client and witness interviews.
This is an excellent opportunity to hone your legal research and writing skills, and to learn about the intersection of law, science, and policy.
Current matriculation in an ABA-accredited law school, preferably in an environmental law program, is required. We will place preference on students who have demonstrated superb legal research and writing skills through, for example, participation in a law review journal.
This position can be fully remote, or the law student can use a workspace in our office at 475 Riverside Drive in Manhattan. We have a flexible, friendly work environment. Please let us know what flexibility looks like to you.
Time Commitment: 8-20 hours/week or as otherwise agreed upon by CSLDF and the law student prior to their hiring.
New York Bar Pro Bono: This work is likely to be considered “qualifying pro bono work” for purposes of the New York State Board of Law Examiners’ mandatory 50-hour pro bono requirement.
To express interest: Please email a resume / CV, short legal writing sample (5 pages maximum), and cover letter detailing your interest in CSLDF and this position to lawyer@csldf.org. Thank you for considering CSLDF.