Clean Energy Staff Attorney

Environmental Law & Policy Center Of The Midwest Inc; Chicago (IL); Hybrid; USD 127,500 - 145,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Attractive benefits package

Job summary

The Environmental Law & Policy Center Of The Midwest Inc is seeking a Clean Energy Staff Attorney in Chicago, IL. This full-time position focuses on litigating utility regulatory cases and ensuring equitable access to clean energy resources.

Candidates should have a Juris Doctor degree and 7-10 years of relevant legal experience. The position offers an attractive salary range of $127,500 to $145,000, hybrid work environment, and comprehensive benefits.

Qualifications

• 7-10 years of legal experience with focus on clean energy.
• Experience with administrative litigation preferred.
• Strong interests in equity and environmental justice.

Responsibilities

• Litigate cases impacting electric and gas industries.
• Represent ELPC before regulatory commissions.
• Engage with community organizations for advocacy.
• Monitor legal and market developments in clean energy.
• Assist in fundraising for the clean energy program.

Skills

Legal research

Oral advocacy

Strategic analysis

Clean energy policy

Equity-centered advocacy

Education

Juris Doctor degree

Job description

Position Title

Clean Energy Staff Attorney (full time)

Reports To

Managing Attorney, Clean Energy Program

Location

Chicago, IL (hybrid work environment with required days in office each week)

Job Summary

The Clean Energy Staff Attorney will handle critical litigation of utility regulatory cases in support of ELPC’s clean energy program in Midwest states. This is an excellent opportunity in an area of growing strategic importance at the local, regional and national level: fighting climate change by equitably decarbonizing the energy sector through rapid deployment of demand side resources, distributed solar, battery storage, electric vehicles and other distributed energy resources.

Essential Job Functions

• Litigate a range of cases focused on electric and gas industry planning, distributed energy resource deployment, and equitable access to clean energy. Responsibilities will routinely include identifying key cases, developing and managing clients and client coalitions, working with experts to develop testimony, managing and coordinating discovery, cross‑examining witnesses, drafting briefs and making oral arguments, and managing associate attorney(s), among other litigation responsibilities.
• Represent ELPC before state public utility commissions, FERC, administrative agencies and appellate courts.
• Engage with impacted community and partner organizations to ensure advocacy reflects equity and environmental justice priorities.
• Monitor emerging legal, regulatory and market developments affecting clean energy and utility regulation.
• Work to execute multi‑faceted clean energy policy campaigns, with assistance from other ELPC attorneys, communications experts, policy advocates, legislative advocates, and in coordination with colleagues from other regional and national advocacy organizations and industry representatives.
• Develop and refine strategic direction for ELPC’s clean energy program, including assisting in fundraising to help the program grow.
• Mentor junior attorneys, fellows and/or legal interns as applicable.
• Other duties, as assigned.

Education & Experience

• Juris Doctor degree.
• Minimum of 7–10 years of relevant legal experience, with a strong background and demonstrated interest in clean energy policy and electric/gas utility regulation.
• At least two years of administrative litigation experience before state utility commissions or similar regulatory bodies preferred.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Excellent legal research, writing, oral advocacy and strategic analysis skills.
• Ability to manage complex legal matters independently, as well as work collaboratively.
• Commitment to environmental protection, decarbonization and equity‑centered advocacy.
• Familiarity with utility planning processes, including IRPs and distribution planning.

Estimated Travel

• 10–20% domestic travel.

Salary

For candidates who fully meet the requirements, the salary range is $127,500 – $145,000. ELPC also offers a very attractive benefits package competitive to leading national environmental non‑profits.