Project Attorney, Oceans

National Legal Aid & Defender Association; San Francisco (CA); Hybrid; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Earthjustice, the nation’s leading environmental law organization, seeks a Project Attorney for its Oceans Program for a 2.5-year term beginning January 2027. The hybrid role is based in Seattle or San Francisco and requires regular in‑person attendance.

You will work with Earthjustice attorneys and partner organizations to strengthen U.S. ocean protections, perform factual and legal research, draft memos, and support complex litigation and advocacy.

Job description

Position Description

The Oceans Program focuses both domestically and internationally on protecting marine wildlife and ocean ecosystems and combatting the causes and consequences of a rapidly changing climate. We do this through litigation and advocacy to: (1) Protect marine biodiversity and the marine ecosystem from destructive industrial fishing practices and other harmful human activities and advocating to build/restore resilience in critical ecosystems; and (2) Combat climate change and protect the ocean ecosystem from harm caused by expanded and unfettered offshore oil and gas drilling. Our team currently consists of ten full-time attorneys, a full-time litigation paralegal, and a part-time litigation paralegal. The person in this position would work on oceans matters in the United States. For more information about the work of the Oceans Program, visit https://earthjustice.org/about/offices/oceans

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.

This position is for a 2.5-year term beginning January 2027. At the end of this term, we expect that the Project Attorney will be prepared and well-positioned to contribute to the broader oceans conservation community, having gained experience, relationships, strategic orientation, and cross-organizational perspective. This is a hybrid role based in our Seattle or San Francisco office and requires regular in‑person attendance.

Responsibilities

• Work closely with Earthjustice attorneys and coordinate with colleagues in partner organizations on strategies to strengthen and reform the legal frameworks governing U.S. ocean protection.
• Conduct factual and legal research, analysis, drafting, and cross-organizational coordination.
• Along with Oceans Program attorneys, represent Earthjustice in virtual and in‑person meetings with partner organizations.
• Work closely with Earthjustice attorneys, scientists, and professional staff to build cases and support policies that serve a diverse set of clients.
• Participate in the full range of tasks involved in administrative advocacy and complex litigation, including factual investigation, legal research, memo writing, briefing, and oral advocacy.
• Interact with clients and work with experts to develop a clear understanding of the facts involved in each case and, ultimately, to support our litigation goals.