Associate Attorney, Fossil Fuels Program

Description:

Earthjustice seeks an Associate Attorney to join the Fossil Fuels Program. This position will focus on oil and gas infrastructure and related projects in the U.S. Gulf region, particularly Louisiana and Texas. The attorney in this position will be based in the New Orleans' satellite office space shared with other Fossil Fuel Program staff.
Earthjustice is the nation's leading environmental law organization. Wielding the power of law, Earthjustice partners with our clients to take on the most critical fights of our time — fights to protect the incredible biodiversity and wild places of the planet; to avert climate disaster by transitioning society away from fossil fuels toward clean energy; to safeguard the right of all people to a healthy environment. 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, Bozeman, Chicago, Denver, Honolulu, Houston, Juneau, Los Angeles, Miami, New Orleans, New York, Seattle, Tallahassee and Washington, D.C.

The Associate Attorney position is a three-year position with the potential for extension, 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 Senior Attorneys, Deputy Managing Attorneys, or the Managing Attorney. Many Associates have gone on to other positions within Earthjustice and with other public interest organizations.

Earthjustice's Fossil Fuels Program uses the power of law to support communities fighting industry's aggressive plans to lock in new oil and gas infrastructure in the form of petrochemical facilities, pipelines, crude oil and gas export terminals and other projects that would dramatically increase pollution, harm our environment and contribute to climate change. We are committed to advancing equity and justice in the way we partner with communities charting a path toward health and thriving communities. For more information about the Fossil Fuel program's work, visit https://earthjustice.org/about/offices/fossil-fuels.

Responsibilities:
Associate attorneys perform a range of litigation and advocacy-related tasks that can include:

• Conducting legal and factual research and preparing memoranda on issues related to ongoing or potential new cases.
• Reviewing and analyzing administrative records and technical documents.
• Drafting motions, briefs, and other legal and factual documents in support of litigation.
• Participating in proceedings before federal and state courts and agencies.
• Working with clients and experts and learning how to handle press work.
• Hiring and supervising law students who work at Earthjustice as interns or clerks.

Qualifications:

• Law school graduate admitted to, or qualified and willing to apply for admission to, the Louisiana Bar.
• 1-5 years of post-law school legal 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 constructively and in a highly professional manner in a diverse, dynamic, and hard-working team-oriented atmosphere.
• 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.
• Emotional intelligence and sensitivity to the needs and concerns of individuals associated with diverse cultures, backgrounds and orientations.
• Ability and willingness to travel as needed for case work, court appearances, and presentations.

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 Orleans, LA: $97,600 - $112,100

To Apply:
Interested applicants should submit via Jobvite:

• Resume
• One- or two-page cover letter that addresses: 1) aspects of your experience that are relevant to the qualifications listed above; 2) why you are drawn to the work of Earthjustice's Fossil Fuels Program; and 3) any particular legal, environmental or justice issues that inspire you;
• Writing sample, preferably a legal brief or memorandum that has not been edited by anyone else;
• Law school transcript.

For this position, we are looking to hire a candidate who is available to start in September 2026. Preference will be given to candidates who apply by March 15, 2026. After that, applications may be reviewed on a rolling basis until the position is filled. Earthjustice brings our associate attorneys on board on a quarterly schedule, during the months of January, April, June, and September.

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