Associate Attorney – Agricultural Water & Environmental Law

RINKE-NOONAN; Saint Cloud (MN); On-site; USD 105,000 - 133,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Dental insurance

Life insurance

Long-term disability insurance

401(k) plan

Paid CLEs

Job summary

RINKE-NOONAN is searching for an Associate Attorney to join their Agricultural Water and Environmental Law practice in St. Cloud, Minnesota. This role offers opportunities for new law school graduates and lateral attorneys, focusing on water management, environmental compliance, and land-use matters.

Successful candidates will enjoy mentorship, the chance to work closely with clients, and the potential for equity ownership. Strong writing and problem-solving skills are essential for engaging with a diverse clientele.

Qualifications

• New law school graduates or attorneys awaiting bar results are encouraged to apply.
• Interest in water management and agricultural law is preferred.
• Willingness to learn and receive mentorship.

Responsibilities

• Represent landowners and farmers on water and land-use matters.
• Negotiate easements and address environmental compliance issues.
• Work closely with clients and colleagues in various legal matters.

Skills

Strong writing skills

Analytical skills

Interpersonal skills

Problem-solving skills

Education

Juris Doctor (JD)

Admitted to practice in Minnesota or North Dakota

Job description

Rinke Noonan is seeking an Associate Attorney to join our Agricultural Water and Environmental Law practice in St. Cloud, Minnesota. New law school graduates, attorneys awaiting bar results, and lateral attorneys with experience are welcome to apply.

This is a role for a lawyer who wants more than a job. It is for someone who wants to build a career in a challenging, highly practical, and economically important area of law; work directly with clients; learn from hands‑on mentors; earn increasing responsibility; and develop the judgment, skill, and client trust necessary to be considered for future equity ownership in the firm.

Our practice represents landowners, farmers, agricultural interests, counties, watershed districts, and county water resource districts in Minnesota and North Dakota on water, wetland, drainage, environmental compliance, conservation, easement, and land‑use matters. The work sits at the intersection of government law, property law, environmental law, regulatory law, contract law, tax issues, negotiation, and litigation.

The right candidate will be interested in the legal and practical issues that shape agricultural production, water management, rural land use, conservation compliance, wetlands, drainage systems, and disputes between neighboring landowners or public and private interests. A farm background is not required. Respect for agricultural communities, comfort working with farmers and rural landowners, and genuine curiosity about hydrology, engineering, environmental science, agriculture, and water management are strongly preferred.

What You Will Do

The Associate Attorney can expect to work on matters involving:

• Representation of landowners, farmers, and agricultural interests in water, wetland, drainage, easement, environmental compliance, and land‑use matters.
• Representation of counties, watershed districts, and county water resource districts on statutorily authorized water management projects in Minnesota and North Dakota.
• Conservation compliance and conservation program issues involving federal, state, and local regulatory frameworks.
• Easement negotiations involving water management, wetland restoration, conservation, access, drainage, and neighboring landowner issues.
• Public drainage, water resource, and watershed management proceedings.
• Regulatory counseling, negotiation, drafting, administrative proceedings, public hearings, and litigation support.
• Coordination with engineers, hydrologists, surveyors, appraisers, environmental consultants, government staff, landowners, and elected or appointed boards.
• Client meetings, board meetings, public hearings, field visits, negotiations, and strategic planning.
• Close work with litigating attorneys on litigation strategy and case development for matters involving agricultural water, drainage, wetlands, easements, and regulatory issues.

This role will include direct work with Kale R. Van Bruggen and other attorneys across the firm. The Associate Attorney will receive mentorship, training, and increasing responsibility, while also being expected to take ownership of assignments, develop practical judgment, and contribute to excellent client service.

The work will include time in the office, time with clients, time in the field, and time working with lawyers and professionals on complex legal and factual problems. Many clients use remote technology, but travel throughout Minnesota and North Dakota will be part of the practice.

Who Should Apply

We are looking for a candidate who:

• Wants to work hard in a meaningful and demanding practice area.
• Is interested in agriculture, water, wetlands, environmental compliance, public infrastructure, rural land use, or natural resources.
• Wants early responsibility and direct client contact.
• Has strong writing, analytical, interpersonal, and problem‑solving skills.
• Is willing to learn the technical, legal, and practical issues involved in water and agricultural land matters.
• Can communicate effectively with farmers, landowners, engineers, local government officials, board members, agency staff, attorneys, and judges.
• Is comfortable in both professional and rural settings.
• Wants mentorship and is willing to be coached.
• Wants to earn trust, build loyalty within the firm, and work toward the opportunity to be considered for future equity ownership.
• Understands that ownership is earned through judgment, production, client service, professionalism, initiative, and commitment to the firm’s long‑term success.

Admission Requirements

Candidates admitted to practice in Minnesota or North Dakota are encouraged to apply. Candidates awaiting bar results will also be considered. The expectation is that the successful candidate either is admitted, or will become admitted, in both Minnesota and North Dakota.

Location

This position is based in Rinke Noonan’s St. Cloud, Minnesota office. The practice includes work throughout Minnesota and North Dakota, with some travel required for client meetings, board meetings, public hearings, field work, negotiations, and litigation‑related matters.

Business Development

The firm has substantial existing work in this practice area. The Associate Attorney will not be required to bring a book of business. However, a candidate who wants to grow professionally, expand relationships, market the practice, develop new geographic opportunities, and help build the firm’s client base will have that opportunity and will be supported in doing so.

Compensation and Benefits

Starting salary range: $105,000 to $133,000, depending on experience, qualifications, admission status, and placement within the firm’s associate tier structure. The compensation range provided is in compliance with state specific laws.

Rinke Noonan offers a competitive benefits package, which may include health insurance, dental insurance, life insurance, long‑term disability insurance, profit sharing and 401(k) plan, paid CLEs, paid professional dues and memberships, mentorship, training, administrative support, and other firm benefits.

The firm maintains associate advancement criteria that consider experience, productivity, receipts, professional development, client service, and other objective and subjective factors. Future advancement, compensation growth, and any opportunity for equity ownership are based on demonstrated performance, professional development, firm needs, and the judgment of the firm’s ownership group.

• A cover letter explaining how you meet the expectations of this position and why you are interested in agricultural water and environmental law.
• Resume.
• Law school transcript.

Applications and inquiries will be held confidential.