Centre for Environmental Rights – Advancing Environmental Rights in South Africa

The Centre is looking for an attorney to join our Mining programme in 2016. This position is for an admitted attorney with a passion for environmental rights and justice, with a special focus on the impacts of mining on water, air quality, and the health and well-being of mining-affected communities.

The Centre for Environmental Rights strives to reflect South Africa’s racial, cultural and gender diversity within its staff complement. All suitably qualified candidates are encouraged to apply.

Location

Based in Cape Town

Qualifications, skills and experience

• An LLB or equivalent qualification. We prefer candidates with an LLM, preferably in environmental law, but it is not a requirement for this position.
• Admission as attorney of the High Court of South Africa.
• Post-qualification experience in High Court litigation, particularly Constitutional and administrative law (experience in environmental litigation will be an advantage).
• A sound knowledge of mining law and environmental laws applicable to prospecting and mining.
• A sound understanding of legal and procedural requirements for environmental decision-making and legal challenges.
• A sensitivity to social issues and needs of mining-affected communities.
• Excellent networking skills, and strong capabilities in building support amongst a wide range of stakeholders.
• A commitment to high quality client service, and a passion for social and environmental justice.

Key responsibilities

• Providing hands-on expert legal advice, support and representation to the Centre’s clients, including communities and civil society organisations, on matters related to mining and the environment.
• Providing support to and ultimately leading litigation on behalf of the Centre’s clients, including researching, writing and filing pleadings, motions, briefs, and other court documents.
• Providing expert input into draft environmental policies and legislation.
• Facilitating the upload of available resources onto the Centre’s Virtual Environmental Law Library and other news items on our website, Facebook and Twitter.
• Training and overseeing the work of legal interns and candidate attorneys at the Centre.
• Recording and sharing learning for systemic change.

Salary

The salary offered will be dependent on the level of experience of the successful candidate.