At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead legal strategies to drive impactful environmental advocacy and campaigns.
- Company: Join WWF-UK, a global leader in conservation and sustainability.
- Benefits: Enjoy 26+ days of annual leave, flexible working, and a strong pension contribution.
- Other info: Hybrid role with a vibrant office environment at the Living Planet Centre.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in tackling climate change and restoring nature.
- Qualifications: Qualified solicitor or barrister with experience in environmental law and advocacy.
12-month Fixed Term Contract, full time (35 hours) Up to £56,350 + Excellent benefits Woking, Surrey GU21 4LL / Hybrid Working (minimum 40% in person collaboration per month)
About the role
We’re excited to be recruiting for a Lawyer – Advocacy and Campaigns to help WWF use the law as a powerful tool to advance our advocacy and influencing agenda. At WWF-UK, we’re working to tackle the greatest environmental challenges facing our planet and build a future where people and nature thrive together. The future of our world is in our hands and it’s time to accelerate the action urgently needed to restore nature.
In this role, you will lead and support the use of legal strategies to strengthen WWF’s campaigns, policy work and business advocacy interventions. You will help identify opportunities where the law can drive meaningful change and support our strategic objectives, including tackling deforestation and supporting more sustainable supply chains and financial systems for climate and nature.
Working across priority portfolios and alongside colleagues in the UK and across the WWF network, you will provide and commission strategic legal advice that helps shape and strengthen our advocacy work. You will also identify and manage impactful legal interventions that advance WWF’s public interest objectives, while ensuring legal, reputational and strategic risks are effectively managed.
You will play a key role in ensuring WWF remains up to date with legislative and regulatory developments relevant to our influencing priorities and will build and maintain strong relationships with external legal counsel to support advocacy and campaigning work. This role will act as WWF’s primary internal expert on how the law can be used to support and accelerate our strategic advocacy goals. We are open to the possibility of this role being on a job share basis.
Skills and experience
- Essential
- Qualified solicitor or barrister holding a current UK practising certificate, or equivalent relevant experience or qualifications
- Significant post-qualification experience relevant to WWF’s aims, including experience supporting advocacy, campaigning or policy work
- Detailed knowledge and experience of advising on environmental, public or international law, with strong litigation skills
- Experience commissioning and managing external legal advice
- Sound legal judgement, with the ability to identify opportunities for legal advocacy to support influencing priorities
- Strong strategic and systems thinking skills, with the ability to see how legal interventions can drive wider systemic change
- Excellent communication skills, with the ability to explain complex legal issues clearly to non-expert audiences
- The ability to work collaboratively across multiple teams and priorities, including in matrix environments in the UK and globally
- A proactive, organised and adaptable approach, able to respond to changing priorities while maintaining focus on strategic outcomes
- Commitment to the mission and values of WWF
- Desirable
- Knowledge and experience of ESG, financial services regulation and company law
- Understanding of legal issues relating to climate and nature-related risks and opportunities for companies and financial institutions
- Experience supporting legal interventions connected to environmental campaigns or public interest litigation
- Experience working in or alongside NGOs, advocacy organisations or mission-driven organisations
What we offer
- Annual leave starting at 26 days a year pro-rated, rising one day each year to 31 days plus bank holidays
- Flexible working options, to support your work life balance
- 5% employer contribution to pension, rising to 10% with employee contribution
- Learning and development opportunities to help you grow
- Regular wellbeing initiatives to support your health and happiness.
This is a UK based contract, and you are required to have the Right to Work in the UK. Unfortunately, we’re unable to offer sponsorship and any offer of employment will be subject to evidence of your Right to Work in the UK. This role is hybrid with a minimum 40% of your contracted hours spent at our beautiful UK head office, the Living Planet Centre in Woking, Surrey, where you’ll hot desk among trees and gardens.
About WWF-UK
We're a global conservation charity with millions of supporters and hundreds of projects around the world. At WWF-UK, we’re bringing our world back to life. Protecting what’s left isn’t enough. We’re racing to restore nature and prevent catastrophic climate change. And it’s a race we can win with everyone’s help. We’re courageous, passionate, and driven by science. For more than 60 years we’ve been at the forefront of global efforts to protect wildlife and the natural world. We work with integrity, collaboration and deep respect for those we partner with.
How to apply
Click the link to apply via our website. You’ll be asked to complete an application form and upload your CV and a supporting statement that tells us why you’ll be a great addition to WWF-UK. Application closing date - 04/06/2026
Our Diversity Promise to You
At the heart of our mission is a simple truth: the planet needs everyone. That means you - in all your uniqueness, regardless of age, disability, gender identity, marital status, race, faith or belief, sexual orientation, socioeconomic background, or how you choose to express yourself. We don’t do stereotypes. We work together with purpose, driven by passion and enhanced by respect, courage, and integrity. We pull together from all walks of life to fight for a better future, and we want you to feel supported every step of the way. We’re proud to be a Disability Confident employer and are committed to creating an inclusive workplace where everyone feels they belong. We actively encourage applications from people of all backgrounds and identities. So, if there’s anything we can do to make your application or interview experience more comfortable or accessible, just give our Talent Acquisition Team a shout via our website.
Safeguarding Commitment
Just as we celebrate diversity in all its forms, we are equally dedicated to creating a safe environment for every person we work with or encounter. Our commitment extends to children, adults at risk, and individuals experiencing any form of vulnerability, whether temporary or permanent. We proudly stand behind CAPSEAH (Common Approach to Protection from Sexual Exploitation, Sexual Abuse and Sexual Harassment) and put this commitment into action through clear policies, thorough training, and recruitment checks tailored to each role, which may include external vetting. If you ever have a concern, however big or small, know that there are confidential channels ready to support you at WWF-UK. We promise to respond promptly and with care, because protecting every individual is at the heart of everything we do.
Lawyer - Advocacy and Campaigns in Woking employer: WWF
WWF-UK is an exceptional employer, offering a dynamic work culture that prioritises collaboration and innovation in tackling environmental challenges. With generous benefits including flexible working options, extensive annual leave, and a commitment to employee growth through learning opportunities, you will thrive in a supportive environment at our stunning Living Planet Centre in Woking. Join us in making a meaningful impact while enjoying a fulfilling career dedicated to protecting our planet.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Lawyer - Advocacy and Campaigns in Woking
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the legal and environmental sectors. Attend events, webinars, or even casual meet-ups. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings or can put in a good word for you.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching WWF-UK’s recent campaigns and legal strategies. Show us that you’re not just passionate about the role but also knowledgeable about our mission. Tailor your responses to highlight how your skills can directly contribute to our advocacy goals.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your pitch! Be ready to explain complex legal concepts in simple terms. We want to see how well you can communicate with non-experts, so think of examples where you've done this successfully in the past.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen. Plus, it shows us you’re serious about joining the WWF-UK team. Make sure to include a strong supporting statement that reflects your passion for our mission.
We think you need these skills to ace Lawyer - Advocacy and Campaigns in Woking
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Supporting Statement:Make sure to customise your supporting statement to highlight how your skills and experiences align with WWF-UK's mission. Use specific examples that demonstrate your legal expertise in advocacy and campaigns, especially in environmental law.
Show Your Passion for the Cause:Let your enthusiasm for environmental issues shine through in your application. We want to see your commitment to tackling climate change and restoring nature, so share any relevant experiences or projects that showcase your dedication.
Keep It Clear and Concise:When writing your CV and supporting statement, clarity is key! Avoid jargon and complex language; instead, aim for straightforward communication that makes it easy for us to understand your qualifications and motivations.
Apply Through Our Website:Don’t forget to apply via our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets to us directly. Plus, you’ll find all the details you need about the role and our values right there.
How to prepare for a job interview at WWF
✨Know Your Legal Stuff
Make sure you brush up on your knowledge of environmental, public, and international law. Be ready to discuss how these areas can support WWF's advocacy goals. Think about specific cases or examples where legal strategies have made a difference in environmental campaigns.
✨Show Your Passion for the Cause
WWF-UK is all about protecting nature and tackling climate change. During the interview, express your commitment to these values and share any relevant experiences that demonstrate your dedication to environmental issues. This will show that you're not just qualified, but also genuinely invested in their mission.
✨Prepare for Scenario Questions
Expect questions that ask how you would handle specific legal challenges related to advocacy and campaigning. Think through potential scenarios where legal interventions could drive systemic change and be ready to articulate your thought process clearly.
✨Build Rapport with Interviewers
Remember, interviews are a two-way street! Engage with your interviewers by asking insightful questions about their work and the team dynamics. This not only shows your interest but also helps you gauge if the role and organisation are the right fit for you.
