Associate Attorney, Coal

Earthjustice is now accepting applications for an Associate Attorney to join our team of lawyers and advocates who are working to reduce the U.S.’s dependence on coal-fired power and to promote clean energy in its stead.  The position will be based preferably in our Philadelphia, PA office or our soon-to-be-opened Chicago, IL office, although applicants seeking to work in other locations where Earthjustice has an office will also be considered.  As Earthjustice handles coal litigation around the country, the position may entail significant travel.

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, supporters, individuals and communities to engage 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 are in San Francisco with offices in Anchorage, Juneau, Los Angeles, Tallahassee, Miami, Honolulu, New York, Philadelphia, Denver, Seattle, Bozeman, and Washington, DC.

The Coal Program uses hard-hitting litigation and administrative advocacy to work to end our nation’s reliance on dirty, expensive, and outdated coal-fired power, and to transform our country’s energy sector into one that is clean, renewable, and modern.  Our docket includes litigation to secure and strengthen stringent environmental standards for coal plants, lawsuits challenging government or industry failure to implement such standards, and challenges to utility proposals to spend hundreds of millions of dollars or more on aging coal plants rather than investing in clean energy.   We also have a growing docket focused on challenging proposed new gas plants that would crowd out clean energy development.  For more information about the Coal Program, please visit http://earthjustice.org/about/offices/coal

The Associate Attorney position is a three-year position, with potential for extension. 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.  As Associate Attorneys gain experience, they gradually take on more independent responsibility for their cases, but work throughout their tenure under the supervision of a Staff Attorney or the Deputy Managing Attorney or Managing Attorney.  Many Associates have gone on to other positions within Earthjustice and with other public interest organizations. 

Responsibilities:

• Work closely with Staff Attorneys, Deputy Managing Attorney, Managing Attorney, and clients to investigate, develop, and prosecute cases.
• Participate in the full range of tasks involved in complex litigation, including factual investigation, legal research and analysis, discovery, briefing, witness preparation, and oral advocacy.
• Engage in proceedings before state and federal courts, public utility commissions, and other administrative tribunals.
• Prepare comments on proposed agency actions, permits, and environmental review documents.
• Interact with clients, coalition partners, and experts, and learn how to handle press work.
• Hire and supervise law students who work at Earthjustice as interns or clerks.

Qualifications:

• Law school graduates who are admitted, or willing to apply for admission, to the state bar where they are located.
• Up to four years of litigation experience.
• Excellent research, analytic, writing, and communication skills.
• Strong work ethic and initiative, and sound yet creative judgment.
• Strong desire to fight for the right of all to a healthy environment.
• Ability to work both independently and in collaboration with others.
• Willingness to travel at least 15% of the time.
• Commitment to serving the public interest.
• Demonstrates an awareness and sensitivity to the needs and concerns of individuals from diverse cultures, backgrounds, and orientations.
• Contributes to the creation of a diverse, equitable, and inclusive work culture that encourages and celebrates differences.

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.

Application Procedure: 

Interested candidates should submit a:

• Resume.
• One or two page cover letter that addresses each of the following: (1) aspects of your background that are relevant to the qualifications listed above; (2) why you are drawn to Earthjustice’s mission and whether there are particular legal, environmental, or justice issues that inspire you; and (3) how your time at Earthjustice would contribute to your career aspirations.
• Writing sample, preferably a legal brief or memorandum that primarily reflects your work.
• Law school transcript.
• List of three references.

Applications are due by 4/19, and will be reviewed on a rolling basis from 4/22 onwards. 

Please reach out to jobs@earthjustice.org 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 provided with 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.