Associate Attorney, Clean Energy – apply by 8/11

Associate Attorney, Clean Energy – Apply by 8/11

Earthjustice

New York | Chicago | Philadelphia | Washington DC | San

Francisco | Los Angeles

Earthjustice is seeking Associate Attorneys and 2025

Summer Law Clerks – visit earthjustice.org/jobs

for details.

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Earthjustice seeks an Associate Attorney to join our growing

team of lawyers who work to accelerate a shift from coal- and gas-fired

electricity generation, and to advance clean energy throughout the country.  The Associate Attorney will

reside in our Clean Energy Program,

focusing on litigation, advocacy and strategy before state public utility

commissions, administrative bodies, and in courts in support of an equitable

transition to clean, affordable, and reliable energy. The work will include

combatting fossil-fuel-fired generation, with a focus on emerging climate

threats in the near-term that could jeopardize progress toward a clean energy

future.  

 

Earthjustice is the premier nonprofit environmental law

organization. We take on the biggest, most precedent-setting cases across the

country. We wield the power of law and the strength of partnership to protect

people’s health; to preserve magnificent places and wildlife; to advance clean

energy; and to combat climate change. We partner with thousands of groups to

engage on the critical environmental issues of our time and bring about

positive change. We are here because the earth needs a good lawyer.

 

Founded in 1971, Earthjustice has a distinguished track

record of achieving significant, lasting environmental protections. We achieve

this by hiring people who share a passion for justice and a healthy

environment. Our headquarters is in San Francisco with offices in Anchorage,

Bozeman, Chicago, Denver, Honolulu, Houston, Juneau, Los Angeles, Miami, New

York City, Philadelphia, Seattle, Tallahassee, and Washington, DC.

 

The Associate Attorney position is a three-year position

with the opportunity for extension. Many Associates have gone on to other more

senior positions within Earthjustice or have joined other public interest

organizations. The Associate Attorney program is designed to help attorneys who

are in the early stages of their careers to develop into thoughtful,

professional, and effective advocates skilled in the various phases of public

interest litigation.

 

Earthjustice understands that attracting, developing, and

retaining attorneys whose backgrounds represent our nation’s rich diversity

makes us more effective and is integral to our values of excellence,

partnership, justice, and inclusion.

 

Our goal is to produce the highest quality legal work in a

diverse, inclusive, supportive, and collegial environment. 

 

The Associate Attorney position will be based in one of the

Clean Energy Program’s home offices: New York, NY; Washington, DC;

Philadelphia, PA; Chicago, IL; San Francisco, CA; or Los Angeles, CA

office. The team works on a hybrid schedule.

 

Responsibilities

 

Associate Attorneys perform a range of work, in partnership

with senior attorneys and professional staff, to investigate, develop, and

prosecute administrative appeals and litigation including: factual

investigation, legal research, case development, record review, client

engagement and development, expert evidence and witness development, motions

practice and brief writing, oral advocacy, and appellate advocacy. 

 

As Associate Attorneys gain experience, their case load may

include cases for which they have primary responsibility under the supervision

of a senior attorney, in addition to matters on which they work in a supporting

role with senior attorneys.  Specific responsibilities include: 

• Work
• closely with Earthjustice attorneys and professional staff to investigate,
• develop and advance litigation and administrative advocacy that serves a
• diverse set of clients.
• Participating
• in the full range of tasks involved in energy advocacy and litigation,
• including factual investigation, legal research and analysis, memo and
• brief writing, expert testimony, hearings and more. 
• Engaging
• in proceedings before state and federal courts, public utility
• commissions, and other administrative tribunals. Representing Earthjustice
• at remote and in-person venues and meetings with clients, partners,
• co-counsel, opposing counsel, technical experts, and agency staff.
• Prepare
• comments on proposed agency actions, permits, and environmental review
• documents.
• Supporting
• efforts to ensure a diverse, equitable, and inclusive work culture that
• encourages and celebrates differences.
• Developing
• skills required to serve as a spokesperson to media.
• Participating
• in hiring and supervision of student law clerks and externs.
• With
• appropriate training, serve as spokesperson with print and other media.
• Assist
• with hiring and supervision of student law clerks.

 

Qualifications

• Juris
• Doctorate Required
• Licensed
• to practice law in the US jurisdiction in which the attorney will be
• located, or a willingness and qualifications to apply for membership
• within fourteen months of employment.  
• 2-5
• years of litigation and legal advocacy experience, with energy advocacy
• experience preferred. 
• Excellent
• research, analytic, writing, and communication skills.
• Strong
• and demonstrated work ethic, good judgment, initiative, and creativity.
• Ability
• and willingness to travel as needed for case work, court appearances, and
• presentations.
• Ability
• to work effectively both independently and in collaboration with others.
• Excellent
• interpersonal skills, including the ability to build relationships and work
• collaboratively with a
• diverse set of clients and partner organizations. 
• High
• level of emotional intelligence.
• Demonstrated
• awareness and sensitivity to the needs and concerns of individuals from
• diverse cultures, backgrounds, and orientations. 
• Ability
• and desire to contribute to the creation of a diverse, equitable, and
• inclusive work culture that encourages and celebrates differences.
• Commitment
• to public interest work and a passion for the role of Earthjustice and its
• mission, including a desire to fight for the right of all to a healthy
• environment. 

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.  As a 501(c)(3) organization, Earthjustice is a qualifying

employer for purposes of the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF)

Program.       

 

Compensation is based on experience and location.

Salary range in New York, NY; San Francisco, CA: $117,000

– $131,900

Salary range in Washington, DC; Los Angeles, CA; Chicago,

IL: $111,200 – $125,300

Salary range in Philadelphia, PA: $105,300 – $118,700

 

To Apply

Interested applicants should submit via Jobvite:

• Resume.
• One-
• or two-page cover letter explaining your interest in this position; what
• draws you to Earthjustice’s mission; and the aspects of your background
• that are relevant to the qualifications listed above. Please also indicate
• the Earthjustice office location(s) where you would prefer to work. 
• Writing
• sample, preferably a legal brief or memorandum that primarily reflects
• your work. Please include a cover sheet explaining the extent of editing
• by someone else.

Applications from candidates graduating from law

school in 2024 will not be considered. 

We are looking to hire a candidate who is available to start

between September 2024 and January 2025.

 

Preference will be given to candidates who apply by

August 11, 2024. After that, applications may be reviewed on a rolling

basis until the position is filled.       

 

Please reach out to [email protected] if you are having

technical difficulties submitting your application. No phone calls, drop-ins,

or hard copies.

 

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.

 

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