Senior Lawyer*, Energy Regulations (Regional Focus)

This is an excellent opportunity for a senior lawyer with a strong energy law, policy and regulatory background and an in-depth knowledge of climate and environmental policies in Southeast Asia and Japan to make a key contribution to the work of ClientEarth’s in the region.

You will use advanced legal and regulatory expertise to identify priorities for improving and strengthening laws and legal systems that better protect people and nature in Southeast Asia and Japan. Working with the Acting Associate Director, you will help set the strategic direction of the team’s energy regulatory work and ensure the effective delivery of ClientEarth’s priorities through advocacy, capacity-building and other legal levers.

In this role, you will engage with partners across Southeast Asia and Japan to establish and strengthen energy regulations for renewable energy scale-up and fossil fuels and false solutions scale down/phase-out – towards accelerating the low-carbon transition and addressing climate change. You will build and strengthen a network of relationships, and actively scope and further develop ClientEarth’s energy regulatory work, conduct legal, technical and factual research and drafting; and support our legal capacity-building work across the region.

ClientEarth is a group of international legal experts on climate, energy and the environment. We use the law in partnership with governments, the private sector and civil socity to address climate change, capture the opportunities of the low-carbon transition and protect nature.
This is a one year contract.

Important dates to note:

• Deadline to submit an initial application: 18th of October
• If your profile passes initial screening, you will be asked to submit additional information in the form of 3 additional questions.
• The deadline to submit your answers to these questions is the 23rd of October
• If we do not receive a response to these questions by the deadline we will assume you are no longer interested in the role.
• Interviews will take place the week beginning 2nd of November

Please also review the "Our Hiring Process" section at the bottom of this advert to learn more about the stages involved for this specific role.

Main duties

• Conduct and oversee complex legal research and analysis, identify opportunities, and help shape and deliver our strategy to increase climate ambition, accelerate the energy transition and protect biodiversity, utilising energy laws and regulations as well as commercial, administrative, constitutional, and environmental laws.
• Lead engagement and, where appropriate, complex negotiations with energy-sector decision-makers, regulators, corporates, investors, government bodies, think tanks and civil society organisations. Use these relationships to influence regulatory and policy change that accelerates renewable-energy scale-up and fossil-fuel phase-out or scale-down while strengthening climate and environmental policies.
• Support and provide expert input into regional programme strategy, capacity planning, resource allocation and relevant budget-planning decisions, including monitoring the effective use of resources within the role’s area of work.

See the job description (below) for a full list of duties for this role.

Role requirements

• Fluent in English (CEFR level C2)
• High level (CEFR level C1 or C2) in and at least one South East Asian language
• Law degree or equivalent
• Relevant legal professional qualification in any relevant jurisdiction
• Experience in energy and climate law, policy and regulation
• Specific experience in and in-depth knowledge of at least one relevant Asian jurisdiction and its energy law and regulatory landscape

See the job description (below) for a full list of requirements for this role.

Note to candidates: We know that long lists of criteria can be daunting and that some candidates will not apply for a role unless they feel they are 100% qualified. If you feel you meet at least some of the essential criteria, we still encourage you to apply.

Further Information

Have a question about this job? Please visit our Careers site for advice on applying, FAQs, and more.

Flexible working: We are proud to be a Flexa accredited Employer. Visit our Flexa Employer page for more information on our approach to flexible working. See our Benefits page for more as well as our flexible working FAQ.

ClientEarth values diversity and inclusion and the benefits this brings. We aim to appoint the most suitable candidate at all times and welcome applications from people from all different backgrounds. See our equity, diversity and inclusion journey page for more.

Please note that ClientEarth is only able to employ those who have the pre-existing legal right to work in the countries listed at the top of this job advert.

ClientEarth is not a law firm and does not provide legal advice or legal services to third parties.