Sr. Attorney-Public Interest Litigation
Introduction
The Environmental Law & Policy Center is the Midwest’s premier environmental legal advocacy organization, among the nation’s leaders. We engage in both effective strategic litigation and policy advocacy and put into practice our core sustainability principle that environmental progress and economic development can be achieved together. We advance climate solutions by accelerating clean renewable energy alternatives to conventional power plants and advancing clean transportation solutions. We protect the Great Lakes and defend the Midwest’s wild and natural places, and we advocate for safe, clean water and healthy clean air for all. ELPC combines effective public interest litigation with strategic policy advocacy, sound science, and economic analysis. ELPC produces strong results for the environment in the courtrooms, boardrooms, and legislative hearing rooms across the pivotal Midwest states and in Washington D.C.
TITLE: Senior Attorney
LOCATION: Washington DC Office with a hybrid work environment
HOURS PER WEEK: Full time
JOB SUMMARY: This new Senior Attorney will work across ELPC’s Clean Air and Water, Clean Energy, Climate Solutions, and Great Places – Great Lakes programs by focusing on appellate litigation involving federal administrative agency rulemakings (e.g., US EPA, US DOI, US DOE, USDA) and in comments and intervention before the agencies to help persuade, shape and inform the rulemakings.
This is a great position for an experienced appellate court and regulatory litigator who is interested in working across program areas to help achieve a better future for people and our planet. This is an extraordinary time in which ELPC’s effective legal and policy advocacy – backed by sound science, strong economic analysis and public engagement – are essential to protect core environmental values.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Work with ELPC’s Executive Director and Program Leads to develop overall appellate litigation and regulatory advocacy strategies involving federal administrative agencies.
- Lead attorney responsibility for drafting effective and compelling appellate briefs and related litigation documents (D.C. Circuit and others), and rulemaking and other formal legal comments before key federal administrative agencies on a range of environmental issues.
- Work with ELPC’s development team and program leads on fundraising to support ELPC’s litigation and policy advocacy on these issues.
- Provide effective supervision, development and mentorship to junior attorneys.
EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE:
- 11+ years of complex litigation experience in federal courts, especially Courts of Appeals, and demonstrated knowledge and expertise with environmental laws.
- At least 5 years of experience with a public interest litigation organization, USDOJ, state AG office with hands-on appellate experience.
- An understanding and ability to engage in strategic public policy advocacy that integrates media and legislative action together with economics, science and policy analysis to achieve strong results.
- Demonstrated experience working with a team of skilled professionals, including attorneys, scientists, policy experts, and media specialists.
- J.D. from an accredited and recognized law school.
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS & ABILITIES:
- Excellent legal brief writing and persuasive oral advocacy abilities in litigation and regulatory forums.
- An inspired and demonstrated commitment to public interest advocacy and the ability to work productively in a fast-paced environment with a team of skilled professionals
- Familiarity with strategic advocacy that involves media, legislative, economic and policy analysis and organizing approaches coordinated with legal advocacy.
- Proficiency in Microsoft suite, especially Word.
- Ability to operate independently as well as part of a geographically dispersed, multidisciplinary team, work on various other assignments as needed and manage multiple priorities with defined deadlines
SALARY:
ELPC offers a highly attractive salary and benefits package that is competitive with leading national and regional environmental non-profit advocacy organizations. Depending on experience, the salary for the Senior Attorney position ranges from $170,000-$200,000 with upward growth potential following sustained, demonstrable successes.