LEGAL CLINIC CONSULTANT - School of Law Environmental Law %26 Policy Clinic

This is a FULL-TIME, TEMPORARY 17-MONTH, GRANT-FUNDED, IN-PERSON POSITION.  The individual in this role will not represent the University of Pittsburgh in a legal capacity or serve as an attorney for the institution nor will they perform any litigation duties in this position or for the University of Pittsburgh.

This position offers an exceptional opportunity for an attorney experienced in public utility law to collaborate on a research project focused on electricity governance. The Legal Clinic Consultant (LCC) will work directly with the principal investigators at the University of Pittsburgh’s School of Law and the School of Public and International Affairs (SPIA). The LCC will apply legal and social science research methods and analysis to specific questions on electricity governance (1) decision-making at the Public Utility Commission of Pennsylvania (PA PUC) and the Public Utility Commission of Ohio (PUCO) pertaining to clean energy issues and (2) public participation at PA PUC and PUCO. The LCC will be credited as a co-author on the research papers and articles submitted for publication. Research support will be provided by law students currently at the School of Law.

The Environmental Law & Policy Clinic (ELPC) is a cordial and supportive work environment and home to clinic students who are passionate about clean energy and environmental issues. ELPC works closely with faculty, staff and students at other units at the University of Pittsburgh that are focused on sustainability, including SPIA, the Center for Energy, and the Mascaro Center for Sustainable Innovation; with other law clinics, including the CELC; and with the American Bar Association Section on Energy, Environment and Natural Resources (ABA SEER).  

The ELPC director will provide career mentoring to the Staff Attorney, including introductions to the network of researchers and lawyers at the University of Pittsburgh, the energy and environmental community in PA and OH, and lawyers at the ABA SEER. Prof. Miranda Leppla, Director of CELC, who has decades-long experience representing clean energy clients at PUCO proceedings, and who has mentored other staff attorneys, will provide additional mentorship. Prof. Shanti Gamper-Rabindra, of the School of Public & International Affairs, will share her preliminary research design and preliminary list of prospective interviewees to jumpstart the collaborative research. The ELPC director, in collaboration with the CELC director, will support the overall project goal on building expertise in energy governance by developing curriculum and teaching law students about electricity markets and governance and building collaborations with other law clinics.