Associate Counsel, Strategic Legal Advocacy

Earthjustice is the nation’s largest, oldest, and most active public interest environmental law organization. With a team of over 550 staff, including over 200 litigators, we wield the power of law and the strength of partnership to protect public health, address environmental injustice, defend magnificent places and irreplaceable ecosystems, transition our economy to 100% clean energy, and combat climate change. We partner with thousands of groups, tribes, individuals, and communities to address the environmental crises of our time. We are here because the earth needs a good lawyer.

Earthjustice’s Strategic Legal Advocacy team works to identify and address changes in judicial doctrines — such as standing, remedies, and interpretation — that affect our clients’ ability to vindicate their rights. It serves as a resource within Earthjustice by, for example, providing research and drafting assistance on novel or difficult legal issues that arise in our litigation and convening litigators from across Earthjustice to develop organizational responses to new legal doctrines. It also works to provide similar engagement and support across the broader environmental and progressive legal community. The team’s focus is on high-risk cases that may be or are pending before en banc courts and the U.S. Supreme Court.

Earthjustice is looking for an early-career attorney to join this team as an Associate Counsel. The attorney will work with the Director and two Senior Counsels, supported by the Litigation Assistant & Legal Practice Administrator, to expand the team’s capacity to serve as an internal and external resource.

Applicants who can work from our Washington D.C. office will be preferred, but applicants who can work remotely with access to our offices in fourteen other cities are also welcome to apply.

Job Responsibilities:

•   Serve as a partner and resource to Earthjustice litigation teams, such as by providing drafting and research assistance or being a moot court judge
•   Track developments in federal and state courts that impact Earthjustice’s docket
•   Represent Earthjustice in communications with clients, partners, co-counsel, and experts
•   Develop skills to serve as a spokesperson with media

Candidate Qualifications 

•    J.D. from an accredited U.S. law school
•    Licensed to practice law wherever located
•    1-5 years of litigation experience, including any clerkships
•    Appellate clerkship and/or appellate practice experience strongly preferred
•    Excellent legal research, writing, analytical, and communication skills
•    Strong work ethic, good judgment, initiative, creativity, and sense of humor
•    Ability to work independently and as a collegial team member
•    Commitment to public interest work and a passion for Earthjustice's mission
•    Ability and desire to contribute to a diverse, equitable, and inclusive work culture.

Salary and Benefits

We offer a mission- and employee-focused work environment and a competitive compensation package, including excellent benefits. Earthjustice is an equal opportunity employer and highly values diversity.

Compensation:

Salary is based on experience and location.

•    Salary range in Washington, D.C.: $106,400 - $125,300
•    Salary range for remote and other Earthjustice locations: $95,200 - $131,900

To Apply:

Interested candidates should submit the following via Jobvite: 

•   Resume
•   One- to two-page cover letter that explains why you are drawn to this position and what prior experience of yours lends itself to this role

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis as they are received.

Earthjustice is driven by a passion for justice, partnership and excellence. Our core values lead us to seek a broad range of perspectives and backgrounds to achieve our mission and to maintain an inclusive environment where all staff are valued and respected. As an equal opportunity employer, we are committed to employment practices that ensure that employees and applicants for employment are given equal opportunities without regard to race, color, national origin, ancestry, sex, age, religion, physical or mental disability, medical condition, veteran status, marital status, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, genetic information or any other factor that is not related to the position.

For positions located within the City and County of San Francisco: Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

For positions located within the City of Los Angeles: We will consider qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with the Los Angeles Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring.