Climate & Environmental Attorney
Social Action
Port Harcourt or Abuja, Nigeria
Closing Date:
Monday, 10 August 2026
Open
About the African Climate Legal Fellowship Program
This role is part of the African Climate Legal Fellowship Program, an 18-month program designed to build capacity at African public interest law organizations, further strategic climate and environmental legal action, and bring new attorneys to the public interest sector.
Now entering its second cohort, the Fellowship places participants (“Fellows”) in climate and environmental legal organizations in Africa (“Host Organizations”) for a fulltime, 18-month placement to advance strategic legal action, therefore helping organizations achieve their critical missions.
Fellows join a cohort-based learning journey that includes:
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Tailored climate, legal and leadership development modules
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Professional coaching and support
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Peer learning and community exchange
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Access to professional networks in climate and environmental law
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Launch convening (in-person in an African location)
About the Organisation
Social Development Integrated Centre (Social Action) is a leading Nigerian civil society organisation committed to advancing environmental justice, human rights, democratic governance, and accountable natural resource governance. Through strategic legal action, policy advocacy, research, civic engagement, and community mobilisation, Social Action works to strengthen democratic institutions, promote transparency, and expand access to justice for vulnerable communities.
We work alongside affected communities, lawyers, researchers, regulators, and civil society partners to address environmental harm, strengthen corporate accountability, influence public policy, and promote rights-based governance of Nigeria's extractive sector.
About the Job
The Attorney will join Social Action’s multidisciplinary team to support strategic litigation, legal research, policy advocacy, stakeholder engagement, and community centered environmental justice initiatives.
The Fellowship is designed for lawyers with strong analytical, research and advocacy skills who wish to develop specialist expertise in environmental law and justice, climate governance and extractive sector accountability. Previous experience in environmental law is welcome but not essential. Fellows will receive structured mentoring while contributing meaningfully to strategic litigation, legal research, policy development and community-centred legal initiatives.
Key Responsibilities
Contribute to strategic public interest litigation and case development.
Undertake legal research, comparative analysis, and prepare legal opinions, briefs, pleadings, and policy submissions.
Support advocacy on climate governance, environmental justice, corporate accountability, and energy transition.
Participate in field missions, community consultations, stakeholder meetings, and court proceedings.
Draft reports, publications, training materials, and knowledge products.
Represent Social Action, where appropriate, in engagements with partners, regulators, civil society, and development partners.
Contribute to programme design, monitoring, and fundraising support where legal expertise is required.
Requirements
Qualified lawyer with at least four (4) years of post-qualification experience.
Excellent legal research, drafting, analytical, and advocacy skills.
Demonstrated experience managing complex legal or policy assignments.
Strong written and oral communication skills.
Interest in environmental justice, public interest law, and human rights.
Willingness to travel within Nigeria.
To apply
To apply, send your CV and AA bio form to recruitment@actionappointments.co.za by Monday 10th August. Further submission instructions will be shared with candidates during the process.
