Description:

An Environmental Law Firm seeks a senior attorney to join the National Climate team to advance rules, policies, and decisions to limit and prevent the federal permitting of climate-damaging infrastructure projects across the country. The position will focus primarily on litigation and advocacy to prevent federal permitting of fossil fuel projects like gas pipelines and liquefied natural gas export terminals.

An Environmental Law Firm is the premier nonprofit environmental law organization. Our team of more than 550 staff — including more than 200 lawyers — wields the power of law and the strength of partnership to protect public health, address environmental injustice, defend and restore magnificent places and irreplaceable ecosystems, and transition our economy to 100% clean energy while working to protect people and the planet from 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.

Founded in 1971, An Environmental Law Firm has a distinguished track record of achieving significant, lasting environmental protections. We achieve this by hiring staff 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, Philadelphia, Seattle, Tallahassee, and Washington, D.C.

The National Climate team litigates and advocates in federal courts and before administrative agencies to curb the devastating effects of climate change. We engage in strategic litigation against the federal approval of fossil fuel projects like gas pipelines and liquefied natural gas export projects across the country. We participate in regulatory processes to advocate for stricter federal permitting standards for fossil fuel projects and more careful review of the need for and harmful impacts of these projects. We work with partners and communities to raise awareness on the need to stop approving more fossil fuel projects and rapidly transition to clean energy.

An Environmental Law Firm has a longstanding record of success with our litigation and advocacy to attack climate pollution and to protect communities from unneeded fossil fuel projects. We engaged in successful litigation against the approval by federal and state agencies of large interstate gas pipelines. We have fought back against efforts to weaken the permitting structures governing the review of fossil fuel projects. We have developed successful strategies to force federal agencies to better account for the economic and environmental costs of unfettered federal approval of fossil fuel infrastructure.

The Senior Attorney position will focus on our federal energy regulatory practice to stop fossil fuel infrastructure projects, which involves advocacy and litigation before federal agencies, including the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, the Department of Energy, and the Army Corps of Engineers, and federal courts.

Our practice increasingly emphasizes a mentorship culture for staff at all levels, and we expect that every Senior Attorney will help nurture the development of early career attorneys and other staff. Senior Attorneys supervise associate attorneys, fellows, and litigation assistants in connection with their work on projects.

This position can be based in any location where An Environmental Law Firm has an office, although applicants seeking to work remotely will also be considered.

Responsibilities:

Develop, lead, and conduct complex litigation, primarily in federal courts.
Conduct and supervise advocacy before agencies, state and local governments, and courts as warranted.
Manage new and existing litigation matters from start to finish, including working with technical experts as appropriate.
Develop, coordinate, and execute non-litigation advocacy strategies in collaboration with attorneys, policy staff and communications staff as appropriate.
Conduct factual investigations and develop legal theories for possible advocacy or litigation advancing the goals of our clients.
Supervise the work of Associate Attorneys, Paralegals, and Law Clerks.
Develop and manage relationships with co-counsel and with a diverse group of clients and coalition partners.
Work effectively with other departments within An Environmental Law Firm, including Policy and Legislation, Communications, Development, and Operations.
Serve as spokesperson for An Environmental Law Firm, clients, and partners.
Join other staff in long-term planning, strategy development, goal setting, and work plan management that advances An Environmental Law Firm work.
Participate as an active member of a learning and mentorship culture and engage with colleagues in a manner that is respectful, professional, and supportive.
Participate actively in organizational and office-specific efforts to create a diverse, equitable, and inclusive workplace, and personally engage with colleagues, clients, and partners in a manner that is consistent with those efforts.

Qualifications:

Juris Doctorate (JD) degree from an ABA accredited law school.
A minimum of eight years of relevant litigation and advocacy experience, including significant lead counsel experience.
Admitted to the bar of the state in which they reside.
Knowledge of, and experience in, environmental and administrative law.
Experience as lead counsel in federal appellate litigation is a plus.
Experience related to federal regulation of gas transmission and export projects is a plus.
Strong skills in communicating litigation and advocacy goals and messages to the media.
Excellent legal research, writing, and oral advocacy skills.
Initiative, good judgment, a collegial work style, and a strong work ethic.
Proficient at working with technical issues and experts.
Ability to develop and maintain partnerships with community-based or other grassroots groups interested in litigation and other advocacy in the attorney's area of focus.
Ability and willingness to travel as needed for case work, court appearances, presentations, staff meetings, and conferences.
Ability to effectively supervise and mentor early career staff in connection with litigation and advocacy projects.
Demonstrated awareness of and sensitivity to the needs and concerns of individuals from diverse cultures, backgrounds, and orientations.