Senior Attorney, Clean Energy

Earthjustice; San Francisco (CA); Hybrid; USD 169,000 - 196,000; Full time

Job summary

An established industry player is seeking a Senior Attorney to join their Clean Energy Program. This role focuses on litigation and advocacy to support a clean energy transition, tackling critical issues at state public utility commissions and other regulatory bodies. The ideal candidate will lead complex cases, mentor junior staff, and collaborate with diverse clients to promote environmental justice. This position offers a unique opportunity to make a significant impact in the fight against climate change while working in a supportive and inclusive environment. If you are passionate about environmental law and eager to contribute to meaningful change, this role is perfect for you.

Benefits

Excellent Benefits

Competitive Compensation

Mission-Focused Work Environment

Qualifications

• 6+ years of litigation experience and a strong background in energy law preferred.
• Ability to manage litigation dockets and lead teams effectively.

Responsibilities

• Lead complex climate and energy cases before regulatory agencies and courts.
• Collaborate with clients and partners to achieve positive legal outcomes.

Skills

Litigation

Legal Advocacy

Energy Law

Research Skills

Analytical Skills

Communication Skills

Interpersonal Skills

Education

Law School Graduate

Job description

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; 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.

Earthjustice’s Clean Energy Program litigates and advocates in state and federal courts and before energy regulators across the country to advance an equitable clean energy transition. Our work includes expanding and increasing access to clean energy resources, including energy efficiency, solar, wind, demand response, and storage; advancing electrification; and opposing efforts to build new gas-fired power plants. We represent diverse clients individually and as part of coalitions.

This Senior Attorney role will reside in our Clean Energy Program, focusing on litigation and advocacy strategies at state public utility commissions and before state regulators to prevent the buildout of fossil-fueled generation, eliminate barriers to clean energy adoption, and to secure policies and practices that support a transition to clean, affordable, and reliable energy. The Senior Attorney will work on issues that span multiple states and will focus on electric load growth issues.

This position can be performed hybrid in one of our primary program offices (New York City, Philadelphia, Chicago, Washington DC, Los Angeles, or San Francisco). This role requires approximately one day per week in office.

Responsibilities

• Lead complex climate and energy cases before state public utility commissions, state air agencies, federal agencies, and state and federal courts.
• Lead litigation and advocacy efforts, and perform the full range of litigation tasks, including conducting factual investigations, developing legal theories, securing expert testimony, submitting comments, petitions, briefs, and oral arguments.
• Collaborate in team problem solving, litigation strategy, and project management.
• Prepare discovery, pleadings, testimony, cross-examination, briefs, and oral argument in state and federal regulatory proceedings and court proceedings.
• Collaborate with and oversee the work of technical experts.
• Work with our media and policy and legislation teams, as well as clients and partners, to leverage legal advocacy to obtain positive change and results.
• Supervise and mentor Associate Attorneys, interns, and litigation assistants.
• Collaborate and manage relationships with co-counsel, clients, and coalition partners to investigate, develop, and litigate cases.
• Join other staff in long-term planning, strategy development, goal setting, and work plan management that advances Earthjustice’s work.
• Build and maintain effective working relationships with new and diverse clients and other partner organizations.
• Serve as spokesperson for Earthjustice, clients, and partners and help develop and execute effective media strategies.
• Support and contribute to a positive, respectful, supportive, and collegial work environment and help to advance Earthjustice’s efforts to create a diverse and inclusive workplace that centers around equity and justice.

Qualifications

• Law school graduate admitted, or eligible for admission to the applicable bar within 14 months of employment.
• 6+ years of litigation and legal advocacy experience, working both independently and in a coalition setting, and a background in energy law is strongly preferred.
• Licensed to practice law in the US jurisdiction in which the attorney will be located, or a willingness and qualifications to apply for membership within fourteen months of employment.
• Ability to develop cases, manage a litigation docket effectively, lead a litigation team, and work collaboratively with colleagues and partner organizations.
• Creativity, initiative, good judgment, and a strong work ethic.
• Ability to work effectively with technical experts, especially with respect to new technologies and emerging climate and health threats.
• Excellent research, analytic, writing, and communication skills.
• Ability to work effectively both independently and in collaboration with others.
• Ability and willingness to travel as needed for case work, court appearances, and presentations.
• Excellent interpersonal skills, including the ability to build relationships and work collaboratively with a diverse set of clients and partner organizations.
• Demonstrated awareness and sensitivity to the needs and concerns of individuals from diverse cultures, backgrounds, and orientations.
• Able to contribute to the creation of a diverse, equitable and inclusive work culture that encourages and celebrates differences.
• Commitment to public interest work and a passion for the role of Earthjustice and its mission, including a desire to fight for the right of all to a healthy environment.

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.

Salaries at Earthjustice are determined by experience level and location.

Salary in New York, NY & San Francisco, CA: $169,900+

Salary in Washington, DC, Los Angeles, CA & Chicago IL: $161,400+

Salary in Philadelphia, PA: $152,900+

To Apply:

Interested candidates should submit via jobvite:

• Resume.
• One or two page cover letter that addresses (1) why you are drawn to Earthjustice’s mission and (2) any experience you have working on energy issues, including work before state Public Utilities Commissions, state courts, and/or state administrative venues, or why you are interested in this work.
• Writing sample, preferably a legal brief or memorandum that reflects your own work.

We are seeking a candidate that is available to start as soon as possible. Preference will be given to candidates who apply by May 4, 2025. After that, applications may be reviewed on a rolling basis until the position is filled.

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

Earthjustice is driven by a passion for justice, partnership, and excellence. Our core values lead us to seek a broad range of perspectives and backgrounds to achieve our mission and to maintain an inclusive environment where all staff are valued and respected. As an equal opportunity employer, we are committed to employment practices that ensure that employees and applicants for employment are provided with equal opportunities without regard to race, color, national origin, ancestry, sex, age, religion, physical or mental disability, medical condition, veteran status, marital status, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, genetic information, or any other factor that is not related to the position.

For positions located within the City and County of San Francisco: Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, we will consider for employment-qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

For positions located within the City of Los Angeles: We will consider qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with the Los Angeles Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring.

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