Senior Attorney, Enforcement

Earthjustice; United States; Hybrid; USD 159,000 - 223,000; Full time

Job summary

Earthjustice is seeking a collaborative and experienced litigator to join our enforcement group as a Senior Attorney. The Senior Attorney will report to the Director of Enforcement and help shape the group’s strategic plan, develop enforcement advocacy, and lead federal enforcement cases across the United States for communities harmed by environmental harm.

This is a hybrid role requiring two days per week in an Earthjustice office.

Qualifications

• Juris Doctorate (JD) degree required or equivalent.
• Admitted to practice law or willing to seek admission wherever located.
• At least eight years litigating complex matters, including e‑discovery and trial work.
• Experience in federal environmental enforcement litigation preferred.
• Ability to develop cases, manage a docket, and lead a team.
• Excellent research, writing, and communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Case development and litigation: develop, investigate, and pursue enforcement cases; lead complex litigation tasks.
• Building enforcement infrastructure: strategic planning, resource development, training, and metrics.
• External engagement: work with journalists, partners, and stakeholders to advance enforcement goals.

Skills

Legal research

Analytical thinking

Written communication

Oral communication

Interpersonal skills

Mentoring

Collaboration

Strategic planning

Education

Juris Doctorate (JD)

Admitted to practice law or eligible

Tools

e-discovery tools

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; 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.

Earthjustice is seeking a collaborative and experienced litigator to join our newly established enforcement group as a Senior Attorney. Earthjustice’s enforcement docket focuses on holding polluters accountable for violating the federal environmental laws that protect our land, air, and water. This is a cross-organizational effort, with the opportunity to develop and pursue cases in venues throughout the United States on behalf of communities directly impacted by environmental harm.

The Senior Attorney will report to the Director of Enforcement and work closely with the Director to shape the enforcement group’s strategic plan, develop enforcement‑related advocacy efforts, and build out infrastructure to support enforcement work throughout the organization. The Senior Attorney will also take the lead in identifying, developing, and litigating federal enforcement cases.

This is a hybrid position that requires two days per week in an Earthjustice office.

Responsibilities:

Case development and litigation (60%)

• Work with clients, other attorneys, experts, and partners to investigate, develop, and pursue enforcement cases.
• Lead complex cases and conduct the full range of litigation tasks, including fact and expert discovery, motions practice, oral argument, and trial.
• Collaborate in team problem‑solving, litigation strategy, project management, and trial work.
• Cultivate new allies and maintain effective working relationships with external partners, including Tribal entities, community groups, organizations, and coalitions.

Building enforcement infrastructure (35%)

• Participate in strategic planning, prioritization, and establishment of metrics to advance enforcement efforts.
• Develop cross‑cutting resources to support enforcement litigation.
• Train Earthjustice staff in enforcement strategies and litigation skills.
• Work directly with attorneys, paralegals, and litigation assistants in other Earthjustice programs and offices to provide hands‑on training and mentoring in enforcement cases.

External engagement and communications (5%)

• Work with colleagues at Earthjustice, clients, and partners to help develop and execute effective media and legislative strategies.
• With the support of Earthjustice’s communications team, engage journalists and thought leaders to advance our environmental enforcement and broader mission goals.

Qualifications:

• Juris Doctorate (JD) degree.
• Admitted or willing to seek admission to practice law wherever located.
• At least eight years of experience litigating complex matters, including e‑discovery and trial experience. A background in federal environmental enforcement litigation is strongly preferred.
• Ability to develop cases, manage a litigation docket effectively, and lead a litigation team.
• Ability to work effectively with technical experts.
• Excellent research, analytic, writing, and communication skills.
• Excellent interpersonal skills, including the ability to build and maintain coalitions and partnerships, understand and influence stakeholders, listen to and learn from others, and motivate and inspire coworkers.
• Experience mentoring and training others.
• A network of relevant professional relationships that can be drawn on to help the enforcement program achieve its goals.
• Commitment to public interest work and a passion for the role of Earthjustice and its mission.
• Excellent emotional intelligence, self‑awareness, and cultural humility.
• Awareness and sensitivity to the needs and concerns of individuals from diverse cultures, backgrounds, and orientations.
• Willingness to travel as needed for case work, court appearances, and presentations.
• Creativity, initiative, good judgment, and a strong work ethic.
• A positive attitude, a sense of humor, and a willingness to have fun.

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.

Salary depends on experience and location.

Salary range in San Francisco, CA or New York, NY : $186,600 - $222,800

Salary range in Seattle, WA, Washington, D.C., Chicago, IL, Los Angeles, CA:$177,300- $211,700

Salary range in Alaska, Denver, CO, Philadelphia, PA : $167,900 - $200,500

Salary range in Texas, Florida, Bozeman, MT, New Orleans, LA :$158,600 - $189,400

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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