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Deputy Director - Environmental Law Clinic - School of Law

Position overview

Position title: Deputy Director
Salary range: The UC academic salary scales set the minimum pay at appointment. See the following table(s) for the current salary scale(s) for this position: chrome-extension://efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/https://www.ucop.edu/academic-personnel-programs/_files/2025-26/represented-july-2025-scales/t15-f.pdf The starting full-time salary for this position is salary point 27, currently $177,561.

Percent time: 100%

Anticipated start: November 2025

Position duration: Initial one-year term with eligibility for renewal

Application Window
Open date: October 10, 2025

Next review date: Friday, Oct 24, 2025 at 11:59pm (Pacific Time)
Apply by this date to ensure full consideration by the committee.

Final date: Monday, Nov 10, 2025 at 11:59pm (Pacific Time)
Applications will continue to be accepted until this date, but those received after the review date will only be considered if the position has not yet been filled.

Position description

ELC is a multi-tool advocacy clinic that focuses on environmental health and environmental justice at the local, state, and national level. In our clinic, we train students to be creative problem-solvers by engaging them in a combination of investigation, litigation, legislative drafting, regulatory advocacy, and strategy advising to further our clients' goals. In our companion seminar, we probe the systemic forces (including racial, economic, and gendered injustices) that shape current environmental laws, and strategize about high-leverage avenues for reform. Additionally, in both clinic projects and seminars, we probe the role of media in framing/reframing narratives to effectuate client goals. This includes training students in writing op eds, and working with clients on media campaigns.

Our current docket addresses radioactivity and chemical contamination at insufficiently remediated military sites; toxic chemicals in consumer products; and increasing uptake of residential clean energy.

The Deputy Director will work with the Director to plan, develop, and manage the clinic's docket and operations; to develop and supervise legal and policy projects for the clinic, and complementary media strategy; and to participate in cross-clinic committees, programming, and events.

The Deputy Director will also co-teach the clinical companion seminar. In this seminar, we teach students law and policy skills, including how to interview clients and experts, conduct legal analysis, consult stakeholders (such as community members, advocacy organizations, and public officials) and Native Tribes, craft effective public records requests, and support our clients in broader coalitions and reform campaigns.

The Deputy Director will closely supervise students as they complete written assignments on behalf of clients, whether confidential (e.g., legal, policy, and strategy memos) or public-facing (e.g., litigation briefs and reports).

Under the supervision of the Clinic Director, the Deputy Director will be responsible for:

Clinic Supervision and Advocacy (65%)

• Develop new Clinic matters, both in response to representation requests and proactively, and manage Clinic docket.


• Co-design and co-teach weekly Clinic seminar


• Train and supervise Clinic students each semester (typically, 8 students/2 project teams).


• Travel to offsite meetings as needed, often with students, to work with clients/partners.


• Organize and lead extended site/client visits (typically, 1-2 per semester, 3-4 days duration, some out of state).


• Develop and maintain Clinic relationships with clients, partners, co-counsel, alumni, and other stakeholders.

Clinic Administration (30%)

• Represent Clinic in cross-program meetings and participate in Clinical program events.


• Assist with clinic administration and program planning


• Plan, implement, and maintain procedures, systems, and policies, including maintaining electronic case files and records of student work, email, calendaring, and record-keeping.


• Assist with budget planning and compliance, including fundraising and grant reporting.


• Conceptualize and organize internal and external Clinic events (e.g., topical panels) and participate in outreach to prospective students, alumni, and other constituencies.


• Develop, maintain, and promote Clinic media relations (including social media)


• Assume Acting Director of Clinic during leaves or absence of Clinic Director

Other Duties as Assigned (5%)

• Perform other duties as needed

UC Field Work Supervisors are academic appointees in an organized bargaining unit and are exclusively represented by American Federation of Teachers - Unit 18.

For More Information: https://www.law.berkeley.edu/experiential/clinics/environmental-law-clinic/

Qualifications
Basic qualifications (required at time of application)

• J.D. degree, or equivalent international degree

Additional qualifications (required at time of start)

• A minimum of six years of law practice experience (judicial clerkships may substitute for up to 2 years)


• Admission to practice law in California

Preferred qualifications

• Experience managing programs and client projects and transactions independently.


• Demonstrated commitment to and track record in ELC's core foci of environmental health and justice.


• Experience teaching and/or intensively mentoring law students


• Strong writing, analytic, and legal research skills


• Demonstrated ability to work independently and as part of a team

Application Requirements

Document requirements
Additional materials may be required of applicants.

• Curriculum Vitae - Your most recently updated C.V.


• Cover Letter


• Writing Sample - A sample of written legal work no longer than 12 pages

Reference requirements

• 3 required (contact information only)

Apply link: https://aprecruit.berkeley.edu/JPF05146

Help contact: academicpositions@law.berkeley.edu

About UC Berkeley

UC Berkeley is committed to diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging in our public mission of research, teaching, and service, consistent with UC Regents Policy 4400 and University of California Academic Personnel policy (APM 210 1-d). These values are embedded in our Principles of Community, which reflect our passion for critical inquiry, debate, discovery and innovation, and our deep commitment to contributing to a better world. Every member of the UC Berkeley community has a role in sustaining a safe, caring and humane environment in which these values can thrive.

The University of California, Berkeley is an Equal Opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, or protected veteran status.

For more information, please refer to the University of California's Affirmative Action and Nondiscrimination in Employment Policy and the University of California's Anti-Discrimination Policy.

In searches when letters of reference are required all letters will be treated as confidential per University of California policy and California state law. Please refer potential referees, including when letters are provided via a third party (i.e., dossier service or career center), to the UC Berkeley statement of confidentiality prior to submitting their letter.

As a University employee, you will be required to comply with all applicable University policies and/or collective bargaining agreements, as may be amended from time to time. Federal, state, or local government directives may impose additional requirements.

As a condition of employment, the finalist will be required to disclose if they are subject to any final administrative or judicial decisions within the last seven years determining that they committed any misconduct.

• "Misconduct" means any violation of the policies or laws governing conduct at the applicant's previous place of employment, including, but not limited to, violations of policies or laws prohibiting sexual harassment, sexual assault, or other forms of harassment or discrimination, as defined by the employer.


• UC Sexual Violence and Sexual Harassment Policy


• UC Anti-Discrimination Policy


• APM - 035: Affirmative Action and Nondiscrimination in Employment

Job location
Berkeley, CA


To apply, visit https://aprecruit.berkeley.edu/JPF05146