Energy Unit Managing Attorney

Job Description

Job Description

CLS is a non-profit public interest agency providing free civil legal services to low-income Philadelphia residents. As the largest provider of free civil legal services in the Philadelphia area (over 80 lawyers and 180 staff overall), CLS is both locally and nationally renowned as a premier legal services provider dedicated to ensuring access to justice for all low-income individuals and communities. We provide high-quality direct legal representation, engage in systemic policy advocacy with the goal of effectuating broad-based change, and conduct community education and outreach. CLS has multiple legal units working in three offices, covering a wide range of civil legal services. You can see more about our services at

The Energy Unit includes seven (7) staff working in two offices. The Unit advocates zealously so that people have access to affordable water, heat, and electricity in their homes. The Energy Unit uses a cutting-edge, varied toolkit to increase access to affordable utility service for low-income Philadelphians, engaging in client representation, strategic litigation, multi-party administrative litigation, administrative and legislative advocacy at all levels of government, and media outreach and strategic communications. We also serve as Philadelphia’s Public Advocate in some utility issues, protecting the interests of consumers in rate setting and other proceedings. And in a growing area of focus, the Energy Unit works with community groups and other stakeholders to ensure that the voices of low-income people are centered in the climate and environmental justice movements. Our innovative work promotes health, safety, and housing stability in Philadelphia and across Pennsylvania.

The Managing Attorney of the Energy Unit will lead the Energy Unit’s advocacy and provision of legal services, overseeing intake, individual case representation, systemic policy work and litigation, communications, and community education and outreach. The Managing Attorney will also provide leadership support, supervision, and mentorship for Energy Unit members. The position requires a high level of visibility and engagement with a variety of stakeholders in the City of Philadelphia, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, utility agencies, advocacy groups, and communities that we serve.

Essential Functions of the Position:

• Advocacy and Issue Leadership:
• Use a wide array of legal tools, including policy and legislative advocacy, community education, and litigation to support multifaceted impact advocacy campaigns and racial justice advocacy.
• Engage with legal services leaders, programs, and the overall advocacy community to advance a policy advocacy agenda at the local, state, regional, and national levels.
• Collaborate with other CLS units around areas of substantive overlap (e.g., Housing, language access, income supports, etc.).
• Provide advice and representation to a small caseload of individual clients.
• Engage in and co-counsel policy work (administrative and legislative), appellate work, complex and major litigation, and other special projects with Unit members.

Team Leadership and Management:

• Work with the Director of Supervision and Professional Development and with supervisors within the Unit to strengthen supervision skills and to ensure opportunities for professional development for all Unit members.
• Directly supervise staff, including hiring, mentoring, completing performance evaluations, and supporting supervisees’ substantive legal work.
• Work collaboratively with Unit members and upper management to jointly develop, implement, and supervise litigation and/or advocacy strategies to address systemic legal problems.

Stakeholder and Partner Relationships:

• Build, strengthen, and maintain relationships with directly impacted community members and stakeholders, agency heads and elected officials.
• Work in coalition with other legal, non-profit, and community-based advocacy organizations to collectively advance the Unit’s and CLS’s advocacy objectives.

Required Qualifications:

• Licensed to practice law in Pennsylvania or ability to become licensed.
• Experience working with low-income and/or hard-to-reach people from a variety of backgrounds while demonstrating cultural humility.
• Commitment to working with diverse populations, advocating for racial and economic justice, and public interest.
• Excellent research, writing, and advocacy skills.
• Willingness to learn and use new software, technology, case management systems, etc.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, etc.).

Preferred Qualifications:

• Seven or more years of experience as a practicing attorney
• Experience as a supervisor or team manager
• Experience with energy/utility law or advocacy.
• Experience in a legal services or non-profit environment.

To Apply: CLS will accept applications on a rolling basis until the position is filled. However, candidates are highly encouraged to submit their application by October 5, 2026, for first round consideration. You can submit your application on CLS’s website online at   OR "Apply Now". You can also reach out to Crystal Stackhouse (Hiring Coordinator)  View email address on ziprecruiter.com. for any questions or concerns.

What to Include in your application: Please include a cover letter, resume, three professional references (at least two being past or current supervisors)  identifying your relationship , and one brief writing sample (10 pages or less).

What to include in the cover letter:

• Why are you interested in the Managing Attorney of Energy position at CLS Philadelphia. ·
• Additional professional and/or personal experiences, if any, that inform your qualifications for this position and are not otherwise obvious from your resume.
• Confirmation that the published salary range meets your requirements.

CLS Policy on the Use of AI in job applications:
Strong writing skills are a required skill for this position.  CLS requires all application materials to be the applicant’s own, and prohibits the use of AI in application materials, including the cover letter, writing sample, and position-specific writing assessment if requested.  CLS reserves the right to decline to interview a candidate or rescind a job offer if an applicant misrepresents the originality of their application materials.

Community Legal Services, Inc. welcomes applicants of all backgrounds to apply, including people who have experienced poverty or housing instability, people of color, people who identify as LGBTQ, people with disabilities, and people who have had prior contact with the juvenile, criminal, or child welfare systems to apply. 
CLS invites all applicants to include in their cover letter a statement about how your unique background and/or experiences would motivate you to work toward CLS’s mission and would contribute to the vitality and perspective of our organization.

COMPENSATION & BENEFITS:

This is a full-time exempt position. Salary range is $96,000 to $120,000 depending on skills and experience. The candidate must be local to the region or willing to relocate. A modest moving allowance may be available if the candidate lives more than 50 miles from the CLS Center City Office.

CLS offers a very generous and competitive benefits package including 100% employer paid medical insurance for employees and family, coverage for gender affirming care, life insurance, short/long-term disability benefits, a 403(b) retirement plan with employer contribution, and generous leave package. CLS offers a hybrid work environment where staff work both in the office and remotely each week. The Managing Attorney may be required to work in the office more frequently. This position carries a six (6) month probationary period.

Community Legal Services, Inc. , is an equal opportunity employer. CLS, Inc. does not discriminate in the selection of employees on the basis of race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, sexual identity, genetics, age, national origin, disability, or veteran status. In addition to federal law requirements, CLS complies with all applicable state and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall and transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training.

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