Associate Attorney, Sustainable Food and Farming

Earthjustice’s Sustainable Food and Farming Program seeks an Associate Attorney to assist with legal advocacy and litigation. This position will begin ideally in September 2023.  The position will be based preferably in our New York, NY, or Washington, DC offices, although applicants seeking to work in other locations where Earthjustice has an office will also be considered.

Earthjustice is the premier nonprofit environmental law organization. We take on the biggest, most precedent-setting cases across the country. We wield the power of law and the strength of partnership to protect people’s health; to preserve magnificent places and wildlife; to advance clean energy; and to combat climate change. We partner with thousands of groups to engage on the critical environmental issues of our time and bring about positive change. 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 is in San Francisco with offices in Anchorage, Juneau, Los Angeles, Tallahassee, Miami, Honolulu, New York, Philadelphia, Denver, Chicago, Seattle, Bozeman, and Washington, DC.

The Sustainable Food and Farming Program, within the Healthy Communities Department, engages in litigation and advocacy to improve our nation’s food system, from crop selection and farming practices to food processing and sustainability. Working in partnership with communities, advocacy groups, scientists, and others, we fight for safe and healthy food, climate-friendly farming, reduced reliance on dangerous pesticides and chemical fertilizers, and animal farms—not animal factories. We take on cases with regional and national scope.

The Associate Attorney position is a three-year position with the opportunity for extension. Many Associates have gone on to other positions within Earthjustice and with other public interest organizations. The Associate Attorney program is designed to help attorneys who are in the early stages of their careers to develop into thoughtful, professional, and effective advocates skilled in the various phases of public interest litigation. As Associate Attorneys gain experience, they gradually take on more independent responsibility for their cases, but Associates work throughout their tenure under the supervision of a Senior Attorney or the Managing Attorney.

Responsibilities

Associate attorneys perform a range of litigation and advocacy-related tasks that can include:

• 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.
• Represent Earthjustice on telephone calls and at meetings with clients, partners, co-counsel, and experts.
• Develop skills required to serve as spokesperson with print and other media.
• Assist with hiring and supervision of student law clerks.

Qualifications

• Law school graduate admitted to, or qualified and willing to apply for admission to, the New York Bar for the New York role or Washington, DC Bar for the Washington, DC role.
• 2-4 years of post-Law School legal experience.
• Ability and desire to contribute to the creation of a diverse, equitable, and inclusive work culture that encourages and celebrates differences.
• Demonstrated awareness of and sensitivity to the needs and concerns of individuals from diverse cultures, backgrounds, and orientations.
• Excellent legal research, writing, analytical, and communication skills.
• Strong work ethic, good judgment, initiative, and creativity.
• Ability to work independently and as a collegial team member.
• Commitment to public interest work and a passion for the role of Earthjustice and its mission.
• Contributes to the creation of a diverse, equitable, and inclusive work culture that encourages and celebrates differences.

We offer a competitive salary and excellent benefits that are comprehensive and competitive. We also offer a congenial work environment and a casual dress code.  As a 501(c)(3) organization, Earthjustice is a qualifying employer for purposes of the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) Program.

Compensation is based on experience and location.

Salary range in New York, NY: $102,300 - $112,000

Salary range in Washington, DC: $97,200 - $106,400

To Apply

Interested applicants should submit via Jobvite:

• Resume
• One-page cover letter that addresses at least the following subjects: (1) your legal skills; (2) your interest in Earthjustice’s mission and any particular legal, environmental, or social justice issues; and (3) aspects of your background that show competence to work with diverse clients and colleagues.
• Writing sample, preferably a legal brief or memorandum that is either unedited or lightly edited by someone other than you. Please include a cover sheet explaining the extent of editing by someone else.
• Unofficial Law school transcript; and
• List of three professional or academic references.

For this position, we are looking to hire a candidate that is available to start in September 2023. Preference will be given to candidates who apply by May 28, 2023. After that, applications may be reviewed on a rolling basis until the position is filled.

Earthjustice brings our associate attorneys on board on a quarterly schedule, during the months of January, April, June and September.

Please reach out to jobs@earthjustice.org 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 given 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.