Associate Attorney, Toxics

Earthjustice is now accepting applications for an Associate Attorney to join our team of lawyers and advocates who are working to reduce exposures to toxic chemicals in communities, workplaces, and homes. The position will be based in our New York City office. 

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, Honolulu, New York, Philadelphia, Denver, Seattle, Bozeman, Chicago, and Washington, DC.

The Healthy Communities program is at the heart of Earthjustice’s mission to defend the right of all people to a healthy environment. This program encompasses work on clean air, clean water, toxic chemicals, pesticides, and waste facilities, as well as related domestic and international issues.  The Associate Attorney will help develop and implement innovative legal strategies – at the state and federal level -- designed to identify and reduce exposures to toxic chemicals, including through advocacy to defend sound, independent science.

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 aspects of public interest law.  As Associate Attorneys gain experience, they gradually take on more independent responsibility for their cases, but work throughout their tenure under the supervision of more-senior attorneys.  Many Associates have gone on to other positions within Earthjustice and with other public interest organizations. 

Responsibilities:

• Work closely with other attorneys and professional staff 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.
• Advocate in proceedings before state and federal courts, and other administrative tribunals.
• Develop and engage in legal advocacy, including draft and review legislation; draft rulemaking petitions, comments to agencies, letters, fact sheets and other materials; and, participate in coalition meetings and events.
• Handle other legal work to further the work of the Healthy Communities program.
• Engage with clients, coalition partners, and experts.
• 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.
• Science background preferred.
• Excellent research, legal writing, analytical 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 well both independently and in collaboration with others.
• 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) why you are drawn to working to reduce human exposures to toxic chemicals; (2) aspects of your background that are relevant to qualifications listed above; and (3) how your time at Earthjustice would contribute to your career aspirations.
• Writing sample, preferably a legal brief or memorandum that is either unedited or lightly edited by someone other than you. Please include a cover sheet explaining the extent of editing by someone else.
• Law school transcript.
• List of three references with contact information.

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. 

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. 

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.