Position Description

Duke Law School

Environmental Law and Policy Clinic

Supervising Attorney

Duke University School of Law seeks a dynamic and proven Supervising Attorney with experience as a lawyer, advocate, and teacher to support the Duke Environmental Law and Policy Clinic. The Clinic is a joint project between the Duke Law School and the Nicholas School of the Environment, enrolling students from each school to work on interdisciplinary projects and cases for clients who cannot afford legal and professional environmental services.  

The successful candidate will work closely with the Co-Directors and Staff Scientist to teach in the Clinic’s seminar and supervise student work on cases and projects. The ideal candidate will exhibit:

·         Experience in graduate school level teaching and student mentoring;

·         Substantial legal experience representing clients in environmental law matters.

·         Demonstrated ability and/or willingness to build and maintain connections to environmentally-focused non-governmental organizations and work on behalf of participants in coalitions.

·         Demonstrated experience in combatting environmental injustice.

·         Dedicated interest in developing students’ understanding of the connections between their individual casework and opportunities for systemic and structural change.

·         Successful experience in supervising interdisciplinary teams.

North Carolina Bar membership is required for this position. Preference will be given to those already licensed in North Carolina. Non-members applying for this position would be expected to seek membership as soon as possible. Minimum professional requirements include a J.D. (or foreign equivalent) and at least three years of substantive legal experience providing exemplary representation in environmental law matters.

We would expect the successful candidate to join the Duke Law faculty, full-time, in the summer of 2025. The precise contours of the position will be tailored to the strengths and interests of the successful applicant and formalized with their input. Specific academic title and terms of employment will be determined based upon the successful applicant’s qualifications.

Interested applicants must apply via Academic Jobs Online no later than 5:00 pm on March 7, 2025. Applicants should also submit their letter of interest and résumé via email to Sandra Pettiford at pettiford@law.duke.edu.

Duke aspires to create a community built on collaboration, innovation, creativity, and belonging. Our collective success depends on the robust exchange of ideas-an exchange that is best when the rich diversity of our perspectives, backgrounds, and experiences flourishes. To achieve this exchange, it is essential that all members of the community feel secure and welcome, that the contributions of all individuals are respected, and that all voices are heard. All members of our community have a responsibility to uphold these values.