Our free, confidential counseling services are available to scientists from all disciplines dealing with harassment or legal intimidation. We also help those who find themselves involved in legal discussions about their work, correspondence, public statements, or science advocacy.
These sessions enable researchers to better understand their situation and how to respond. Our attorneys also assist in circumstances where a scientist’s legal interests differ from their institution’s legal interests.
To request a confidential consultation with one of our attorneys, write to lawyer@csldf.org or call (646) 801-0853.
We help scientists subjected to legal challenges by supplying pro bono representation, providing support during litigation proceedings, and raising funds for their defenses, which can cost hundreds of thousands of dollars. We also help scientists proactively defend against threats to their research by filing scientific integrity or whistleblower complaints.
If a scientist is sued or is the subject of litigation, their employer may take the lead on defense. In these cases, we offer pro bono services in concert with the institutional effort, adding critical issue-specific expertise.
Sometimes scientists become involved in cases as an individual. In these cases, we defend scientists directly, pro bono. Our extensive network of lawyers provides additional support as needed.
We file amicus briefs, also known as “friend-of-the-court” briefs, which are legal documents filed in court cases by non-litigants to provide additional information or arguments that the court might choose to consider.
These briefs add valuable historical and policy context to the court’s knowledge of cases due to our niche knowledge in the specialty area of defending scientists against invasive open records requests and other intimidation tactics.
Scientific societies, advocacy groups, and industry researchers often sign on to our amicus briefs to show their support for protecting the integrity of the scientific endeavor.
Hear directly from climate scientists about what it's like to be threatened with legal attacks or harassed by politically and ideologically motivated groups.
Read about some of our most important cases and recent developments in climate and the law.
The undersigned 136 organizations committed to good government principles across political affiliations are united by our desire for accountability for taxpayer-funded government activities. We support credible free speech rights for whistleblowers who expose fraud, waste of funds or abuse of authority in federal spending.
Most state and local officials worked tirelessly — often at risk to their own health and lives — to protect the public. But as was true at the federal level, senior state and local officials repeatedly failed to live up to the trust the public placed in them. Across the country, state and local leaders meddled in research and data and retaliated against experts in order to improve their political standing and cover up mismanagement.
On September 20, CSLDF participated in one of two virtual public listening sessions held by the U.S. National Science Foundation, and today we followed up with additional written comments about how to better protect federal science and scientists.
We need lawyers and firms to assist us on a pro bono basis by advising scientists. Send us a message to start a conversation.
Our attorneys are happy to talk with journalists about our work and topics at the intersection of climate and the law.
Science is under sustained attack. Your support help us fight for scientists and defend scientific integrity.