Clara Derby

Associate Attorney

Clara’s works centers on forest and public lands litigation, water litigation, and environmental justice advocacy. Originally from Bismarck, North Dakota, Clara is motivated by SELC’s “justice work happening thanks to our creative, results-driven advocacy skills.”

“Having a sense of place and building relationships with the land is deeply important to me, and SELC’s power is in its place-based advocacy,” they said. “The South experiences some of the worst environmental harms, but it is also the cradle for so much of the movement to fight back. I wanted to be at ground-zero for this work and with one of the best organizations doing the work.”

After Hurricane Helene devastated Asheville, where Clara works for SELC, they helped with disaster relief in nearby Yancey County. The work deepened their connection with the rural area that is home to Mount Mitchell and was hard-hit in the storm. “Working together in the aftermath of a disaster creates a special bond I’ll have for the rest of my life.”

• J.D. and Master of Environmental Law and Policy, Vermont Law and Graduate School, summa cum laude
• B.S. and B.A., Minnesota State University Moorhead