Associate Attorney, National Climate

Associate Attorney, National Climate

Earthjustice is seeking an Associate Attorney to join our team of lawyers who work to curb greenhouse gas emissions and protect communities by advancing rules, policies, and decisions to limit and prevent the federal permitting of climate-damaging infrastructure projects across the country. The position will be part of the National Climate, Fossil Fuel Infrastructure team whose members are in multiple locations; applicants seeking to work in locations where Earthjustice has an office will be considered.

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; and 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.

About the Role

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

Earthjustice’s National Climate, Fossil Fuel Infrastructure team litigates and advocates in federal courts and before administrative agencies to achieve a swift and equitable shift away from fossil fuels and to curb the devastating effects of climate change. Our work includes opposing harmful fossil fuel infrastructure, including oil and gas pipelines and liquefied natural gas export terminals, and advocating for stricter federal permitting standards for fossil fuel projects and more careful review of the need for and harmful impacts of these projects. The Associate Attorney position will focus on our federal energy regulatory practice, 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.

Responsibilities

• Conducting legal and factual research.
• Reviewing and analyzing administrative records and technical documents.
• Drafting motions, briefs, and other legal and factual documents in support of litigation and administrative advocacy.
• Participating in proceedings before federal courts and agencies.
• Cultivating relationships with clients, experts, allies, and coalition partners.
• Integrating media and legislative advocacy into litigation and other legal strategies and working with colleagues in Earthjustice’s Policy Advocacy and Legislation and Communications departments.
• Hiring and supervising law students as Earthjustice interns or clerks.

Qualifications

• Law school graduate
• 2-6 years of legal experience and admitted to, or willing and eligible to apply for admission to the bar of the state in which they reside.
• Excellent research, analytic, writing, and communication skills.
• Strong and demonstrated work ethic, good judgment, initiative, and creativity.
• Strong desire to fight for the right of all to a healthy environment.
• Ability to work well independently and in a team-oriented atmosphere.
• Commitment to serving the public interest and a passion for the role of Earthjustice and its mission.
• Demonstrated awareness and sensitivity to the needs and concerns of individuals from diverse cultures, backgrounds, and orientations.
• Ability and desire to contribute to the creation of a diverse, equitable, and inclusive work culture that encourages and celebrates differences.
• High level of emotional intelligence and excellent interpersonal skills.

What We Offer

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.

Salary depends on experience and location.

• New York, NY & San Francisco, CA: $119,100 – $135,900
• Chicago, IL, Los Angeles, CA, Seattle, WA, Honolulu, HI & Washington, DC: $113,100 - $129,100
• Juneau & Anchorage, AK, Denver, CO, Philadelphia, PA: $107,200 - $122,300
• Houston, TX, New Orleans, LA, Miami & Tallahassee, FL, Bozeman, MT: $101,200 – $115,500

To Apply

Interested Candidates Should Submit Via Jobvite

• Resume.
• One- or two-page cover letter explaining your interest in this position, what life experiences draw you to Earthjustice’s mission, and/or the skills you would bring to it. Please also indicate the Earthjustice office location(s) where you would prefer to work.
• Writing sample, preferably a legal brief or memorandum that primarily reflects your work.
• Law school transcript.
• List of three references.

For this position, we are looking to hire a candidate that is available to start in June or September 2026. Preference will be given to applicants who apply by March 13, 2026. After that, applications will 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.

Please reach out to [email protected] if you are having technical difficulties submitting your application. No phone calls, drop-ins, or hard copies.

Key skills/competency

• Environmental Law
• Climate Change Litigation
• Fossil Fuel Infrastructure
• Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC)
• Administrative Law
• Legal Research
• Legal Writing
• Public Interest Law
• Policy Advocacy
• Interpersonal Skills