Counsel, Strategic Legal Advocacy

Earthjustice is the nation’s largest, oldest, and most active public interest environmental law organization. With a team of over 550 staff, including over 200 litigators, we wield the power of law and the strength of partnership to protect public health, address environmental injustice, defend magnificent places and irreplaceable ecosystems, transition our economy to 100% clean energy, and combat climate change. We partner with thousands of groups, tribes, individuals, and communities to address the environmental crises of our time. We are here because the earth needs a good lawyer .

Earthjustice’s Strategic Legal Advocacy team works to identify and address changes in judicial doctrines—such as standing, remedies, and interpretation—that affect our clients’ ability to vindicate their rights. The team’s litigation work is focused on high-risk cases that may be or are pending before en banc courts and the U.S. Supreme Court. Along with that litigation work, the SLA team serves as a resource within Earthjustice by, for example, providing research and drafting assistance on novel or difficult legal issues that arise in our organization’s cases and convening litigators from across Earthjustice to develop organizational responses to new legal doctrines. It also works to provide similar engagement and support across the broader environmental and progressive legal community.

Earthjustice is looking for a mid-career attorney to join this team as a Counsel. The attorney will work with the Director, two Senior Counsels and the Supreme Court Counsel, and an Associate Counsel, supported by the Litigation Assistant & Legal Practice Administrator, to expand the team’s capacity to serve as an internal and external resource.

JOB RESPONSIBILITIES

• Serve as a partner and resource to Earthjustice litigation teams, such as by reviewing drafts, providing drafting assistance, being a moot court judge, or serving as lead counsel on cases or amicus briefs
• Identify cases raising important administrative law issues for possible Earthjustice engagement, and participate in development and litigation of those cases
• Represent Earthjustice in communications with clients, partners, co-counsel, and experts
• Develop skills to represent Earthjustice as a spokesperson to peer organizations and other external audiences at public events, and with media

CANDIDATE QUALIFICATIONS

• J.D. from an accredited U.S. law school
• Licensed to practice law wherever located
• A minimum of 5 years of litigation experience is strongly preferred, including any clerkships
• Appellate clerkship and/or appellate practice experience strongly preferred
• Excellent legal research, writing, analytical, and communication skills
• A network of relevant professional relationships (e.g., private firm and nonprofit attorneys or professors) that can be drawn on to help the SLA team achieve its goals
• Strong work ethic, good judgment, initiative, creativity, and sense of humor
• Ability to work independently and as a collegial team member
• Commitment to public interest work and a passion for Earthjustice's mission
• Ability and desire to contribute to a diverse, equitable, and inclusive work culture.

SALARY AND BENEFITS

COMPENSATION

Salary is based on years of experience and location.

Salary range in Washington, D.C.: $157,600-$211,700

Salary range in San Francisco, CA or New York, NY: $165,900-$222,800

Salary range in Seattle, WA, Chicago, IL, Los Angeles, CA: $157,600-$211,700

Salary range in Alaska, Denver, CO, Philadelphia, PA: $149,300-$200,500

Salary range in Texas, Florida, Bozeman, MT, New Orleans, LA: $141,000-$189,400

TO APPLY

Interested, qualified applicants should submit an electronic copy of their resume and cover letter to the search consultants listed below:

• Resume
• One- to two-page cover letter that explains why you are drawn to this position and how you prior experience lends itself to this role

Incomplete applications will not be considered. Applications received by December 4, 2026 will receive priority review. Subsequent applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.

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.