Legal Fellow

2026 Legal Fellowship
Beyond Petrochemicals: People Over Pollution

ABOUT THE OPPORTUNITY

Beyond Petrochemicals: People Over Pollution is seeking a Legal Fellow to join a committed and passionate team that is working to stop the build out of the petrochemical industry, reduce demand for plastics, and support the movement of grassroots advocates fighting petrochemicals.

The ideal candidate will have a demonstrated interest in environmental law, public health, and/or civil rights. This is a special opportunity to help grow a new organization and make a significant contribution in the climate change fight and stop the build out of the petrochemical industry. The fellowship is a one-year position. 

ABOUT BEYOND PETROCHEMICALS

Beyond Petrochemicals is a fiscally sponsored project of the Resources Legacy Fund (RLF), launched in September 2022 by Bloomberg Philanthropies after seeing unprecedented growth in the petrochemical industry, which contributes to climate change and its detrimental impact on the health of the communities. 

Drawing on the success of Bloomberg’s Beyond Coal and Beyond Carbon campaigns, Beyond Petrochemicals is turbocharging existing efforts led by frontline communities to block the expansion of more than 120 proposed petrochemical projects concentrated in three target geographies – Louisiana, Texas, and the Ohio River Valley. Beyond Petrochemicals is also working to establish stricter rules for existing petrochemical plants to safeguard the health of American communities. 

POSITION SUMMARY 

The Legal Fellow for Beyond Petrochemicals is a full-time, exempt position and will work with the Legal Director to: 

• Develop relationships with partner groups and offer legal support, including through research and drafting of documents.
• Collaborate with the Communications and Campaign teams to provide rapid legal support when necessary.
• Support the Legal Director in legal capacity building, strategy development, and responses to partner organization requests.
• Participate in meetings with external partners and local stakeholders to support the work of the team.
• Conduct legal research and present on legal topics at meetings, including through presentations and briefing memos.

As a Legal Fellow, you will have access to mentorship and professional development opportunities to support your career development. You will help to shape and implement Beyond Petrochemical’s legal strategy. Your role may evolve based on your skills and interest.

Beyond Petrochemicals does not engage in direct litigation.

QUALIFICATIONS

Note: These qualifications are guidelines, not hard and fast rules, so if you have 75% of the qualifications listed, we encourage you to apply. Experience can include paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work that helped you to build the competencies, knowledge, and skills needed for this position. Applying gives you the opportunity to be considered.

Strong candidates will offer:

• Strong interpersonal and time-management skills, cross-cultural awareness and the ability to work collaboratively with people from diverse backgrounds and cultures, including in a virtual environment.

• Experience in research and legal theory development in the areas of environmental, administrative, government, property, civil rights, human rights, and/or consumer law.

• Ability to synthesize information from multiple sources into clear and cohesive oral, written, or visual products. 

• Ability to respond to changing priorities, objectives, and situations.

This position is open to recent law school graduates with 0-3 years of experience, and people participating in state-approved licensure through apprenticeship programs. A law license is not necessary for this position.

Lived experience in an environmental justice community in Louisiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas, or West Virginia is highly desirable. Language skills, especially in Spanish, are also highly desirable.

LOCATION

Remote with East Coast hours strongly preferred.

ABOUT RESOURCES LEGACY FUND

Beyond Petrochemicals is a fiscally sponsored project of Resources Legacy Fund (RLF). RLF delivers transformative outcomes for our planet and its people through trusted partnerships and creative campaigns. Rooted in California and expanding across Western North America and beyond, we have a 25-year track record of supporting initiatives at every scale. We host fiscally sponsored projects that reach across the globe, reinforcing the efforts of change makers worldwide. To learn more about Resources Legacy Fund, visit https://resourceslegacyfund.org.

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS 

Compensation and Benefits: The salary for this position is $75,000. RLF offers an alternate Fridays off work schedule (employees work 40 hours one week, 32 hours the next week) and a comprehensive benefit package including medical, dental, and vision insurance, 401k plan with a 5% match, and generous paid time off. RLF also offers a technology allowance, student loan repayment assistance, the Calm app, mental health benefits and approximately 17 paid holidays per year. 

TO APPLY

Submit a one-page cover letter and a one-page resume via Workable. All application materials must be submitted by May 29, 2026.

Candidates selected for interviews may be asked for references and an official or unofficial transcript. Candidates pursuing a law license through an apprenticeship program as allowed by state law will be considered.

The selected candidate must complete a conflict-of-interest screening prior to commencing work at Beyond Petrochemicals.

If you need accommodation to complete this application or need more information, please contact [email protected].

COMMITMENT TO NONDISCRIMINATION

We are committed to providing a work environment free from discrimination, where all team members feel valued, respected, and included. We know that our work is enriched by the varied voices and perspectives of every staff and board member, so we are committed to making an earnest effort to recruit, welcome, train, develop, and retain talented individuals from all backgrounds. We believe that a welcoming culture expands our creative capacity to do our work and achieve greater outcomes for people and the natural world.

RLF participates in E-Verify, potential candidates can review the information here and here.