Closing Date: 30th September, 2025
Description:
Position Summary:
The Southeast Program Defends Imperiled Species and Their Habitats and Seizes Proactive Opportunities to Protect Them. Attorneys at The Center Bring Cutting Edge Cases that Are Designed to Have a Conservation Impact that Addresses Key Threats to Biodiversity. the Staff or Senior Attorney
Will Manage an Active Docket of Environmental Cases; Track Relevant Legislation and Policy; and May Participate in Strategic Litigation Decision Making for The Program. the Ideal Candidate Will Have Excellent Research, Writing, and Public Speaking Skills with An Ability to Think Strategically and Creatively. Attorneys Are Motivated and Use Their Experience in Law and Activism to Develop Cases and Win Campaigns. the Working Environment Is Dynamic, Exciting, Fun, and Supportive.
Essential Job Duties and Responsibilities:
Senior Attorney Specific Responsibilities
Essential Qualifications and Skills
Working Conditions:
This Position Will Preferably Work from A Regional Office with A Typical Schedule of Monday-Friday with Some Morning, Night and Weekend Work Required at Times Due to Deadlines, but The Program Is Open to Remote Work Depending on Circumstances, Where Stable and Fast Internet from Your Home Office Is Required (the Center Provides a Home Office Stipend). the Position Will Require Travel for Meetings, Conferences, Hearing, Field Visits, and Court Appearances.
You Will Need to Travel to State Capitols and Courthouses and Various Hearings and Meetings. You Will Occasionally Need to Travel to Remote Locations on Tribal Lands to Meet with Tribal Leaders. You Will Occasionally Work in The Field Occasionally in The Elements with Nature.
Physical Requirements:
The Ideal Candidate Must Be Able to Complete All Physical Requirements of This Job with Or without A Reasonable Accommodation. This Is Not a Complete Description of All Workplace Conditions, and Conditions Are Subject to Change per The Organization's Discretion.
Cognitive
Physical:
Location Conditions
Essential Job Duties and Responsibilities:
- Work with Frontline Communities and Conservation Organizations in Local and Regional Coalitions to Proactively Protect Vulnerable Species, Ecosystems, and Public Lands and Waters While Also Opposing Destructive Projects;
- Identify, Develop, and Litigate Cases, Rulemaking Petitions, and Administrative Actions to Further the Programs Campaign Goals;
- Draft Legal And/or Scientific Comments on Proposed Rules and Environmental Review Documents;
- Work Closely with The Southeast Program Manager and Other Center Staff on Legal and Campaign Strategies and Actions;
- Draft Legal Briefs, Petitions and Technical Comment Letters on Environmental Issues, Permitting Processes, Proposed Rules, and Other Actions Across Numerous State and Federal Regulatory Agencies;
- Produce Consistently High-Quality Work, Including Delivering Regular Legal Work Such as Briefs, Memos, Petitions, Technical Comment Letters, or Oral Arguments, as Needed;
- Build and Maintain Relationships with Partner Organizations and Activists and Decisionmakers;
- Represent the Center in Coalitions and Meetings Related to Active Campaigns and Litigation;
- Conduct Media Advocacy, Including Drafting Press Releases, Fact Sheets, Drafting Opinion Editorials, and Delivering Effective Statements to Reporters;
- Engage the Public Through Campaign Activities Such as Action Alerts and Public Speaking;
- Collaborate Regularly, Including on Case Development, Feedback and Review of Writing, and Strategic Thinking, with The Southeast Program Manager and Team;
- Build and Maintain Relationships with Partner Organizations, Coalitions, Government Officials, and Scientists;
- May Include Supervision of Law Clerks and Legal Fellows;
- Occasional Travel Required (meetings, Conferences, Hearings, Oral Arguments, Field Visits, Etc.);
- Perform Other Job-Related Duties as Assigned.
Senior Attorney Specific Responsibilities
- Mentor And/or Supervise Law Clerks, Legal Fellows, Associate Attorneys, Staff Attorneys And/or Paralegals;
- Advise Program Staff and Attorneys on Environmental Law Matters, and Review and Provide Feedback on Legal Documents;
Essential Qualifications and Skills
- Law School Graduate Admitted to (or Prepared to Waiver Into) Bar in A State in The Southeast U.S.;
- Minimum Two Years of Civil Litigation Experience for Staff Attorney and Eight Years for Senior Attorney;
- Environmental Law Experience at Federal And/or State Levels Highly Preferred, Including Familiarity with The Endangered Species Act, Clean Water Act, Administrative Procedure Act, and National Environmental Policy Act;
- Familiarity Working with Communities in The Southeast Preferred;
- Excellent Writing, Communication, Research, and Oral Advocacy Skills;
- Self-Driven and Proactive Approach to Identify Opportunities, Solve Problems, and Take Initiative to Drive Projects Forward;
- Strong Work Ethic, Time Management, and Organizational Skills;
- Ability to Develop Cases and Manage a Full Docket of Multiple Matters at Once;
- Literacy in Public Lands and Endangered Species Law and Processes;
- A Demonstrated Commitment to Social Justice and Environmental Protection;
- Commitment to Principles of Justice, Equity and Inclusion;
- A High Degree of Scientific Literacy;
- Ability to Work Independently and As a Part of An Effective and Close-Knit Team.
Working Conditions:
This Position Will Preferably Work from A Regional Office with A Typical Schedule of Monday-Friday with Some Morning, Night and Weekend Work Required at Times Due to Deadlines, but The Program Is Open to Remote Work Depending on Circumstances, Where Stable and Fast Internet from Your Home Office Is Required (the Center Provides a Home Office Stipend). the Position Will Require Travel for Meetings, Conferences, Hearing, Field Visits, and Court Appearances.
You Will Need to Travel to State Capitols and Courthouses and Various Hearings and Meetings. You Will Occasionally Need to Travel to Remote Locations on Tribal Lands to Meet with Tribal Leaders. You Will Occasionally Work in The Field Occasionally in The Elements with Nature.
Physical Requirements:
The Ideal Candidate Must Be Able to Complete All Physical Requirements of This Job with Or without A Reasonable Accommodation. This Is Not a Complete Description of All Workplace Conditions, and Conditions Are Subject to Change per The Organization's Discretion.
Cognitive
- Ability to Process and Analyze Information: [ ] Rarely [ ] Occasionally [x ] Frequently
- Exchange Accurate Information: [ ] Rarely [ ] Occasionally [ X ] Frequently
- Communicate and Express Oneself with Others: [ ] Rarely [ ] Occasionally [ X ] Frequently
- Interaction with Other Colleagues: [ ] Rarely [ ] Occasionally [ X ] Frequently
- Interaction with The Public/co-Collaborators: [ ] Rarely [ ] Occasionally [ X ] Frequently
Physical:
- Reading (ingest Data): [ ] Rarely [ ] Occasionally [ X ] Frequently
- Working on A Computer: [ ] Rarely [ ] Occasionally [ X ] Frequently
- Typing: [ ] Rarely [ ] Occasionally [ X ] Frequently
- Writing by Hand: [ ] Rarely [ X ] Occasionally [ ] Frequently
- Sitting: [ ] Rarely [ ] Occasionally [ X ] Frequently
- Walking: [ ] Rarely [ X ] Occasionally [ ] Frequently
- Standing: [ ] Rarely [ X ] Occasionally [ ] Frequently
- Lift/carry 0-25 Lbs: [ X ] Rarely [ ] Occasionally [ ] Frequently
- Lift/carry 25-75 Lbs: [ X ] Rarely [ ] Occasionally [ ] Frequently
- Hiking: [ ] Rarely [ X ] Occasionally [ ] Frequently
- Climbing up Or Down Stairs: [ ] Rarely [ X ] Occasionally [ ] Frequently
- Bending: [ ] Rarely [ X ] Occasionally [ ] Frequently
- Squatting: [ ] Rarely [ X ] Occasionally [ ] Frequently
- Reaching Overhead: [ X ] Rarely [ ] Occasionally [ ] Frequently
- Repetitive Motions: [ ] Rarely [ ] Occasionally [ X ] Frequently
- Ability to Drive: [ ] Rarely [ ] Occasionally [ X ] Frequently
Location Conditions
- In Person Required (versus Remote Work): [ ] Rarely [ X ] Occasionally [ ] Frequently
- Travel Required: [ ] Rarely [ X ] Occasionally [ ] Frequently
- Night or Weekend Work: [ ] Rarely [ X ] Occasionally [ ] Frequently
- Work in Outdoor Conditions: [ X ] Rarely [ ] Occasionally [ ] Frequently