Supreme Court 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 is looking for a collaborative and experienced appellate attorney to join its Strategic Legal Advocacy team. The team focuses primarily on Earthjustice’s own advocacy, serving as a resource to Earthjustice’s talented teams by, for example, providing research and drafting assistance on novel or difficult legal issues and developing responses to new legal doctrines. The team also collaborates across the broader environmental and progressive legal communities, for example, by assisting litigants with their amicus strategy and providing expert advice and drafting assistance in cases pending before en banc courts and the U.S. Supreme Court.

Earthjustice is hiring a Supreme Court Counsel to join this team.  This attorney will expand the program’s capacity to identify and track cases that may be vehicles for doctrinal change, to help coordinate strategy in high-stakes cases before state high courts, federal en banc courts, and the U.S. Supreme Court, and to serve as a resource internally and externally in cases before those courts. They will also be an equal participant in the team’s broader work.

Applicants who will work from our Washington D.C. office are strongly preferred, but candidates who would work remotely with access to one of our fifteen offices may be considered.

JOB RESPONSIBILITIES:

Litigation strategy, support, and leadership (70%)

• Identify and track cases that implicate Earthjustice’s work that are—or are likely to be—pending in state high courts, federal en banc courts, and the U.S. Supreme Court,
• Serve as a resource to Earthjustice litigation teams and partners in such cases,
• Develop Earthjustice’s role as a go-to resource and partner for our partners in the broader environmental and progressive litigation community in such cases, and
• Participate in the broader portfolio of the Strategic Legal Advocacy team.

Engagement and Communications (30%)

• Represent Earthjustice to peer organizations and other external audiences at public events, such as convenings or panel discussions on recent cases, and
• Educate the public about Earthjustice’s strategic advocacy program, including through Earthjustice’s website, public speaking, media interviews, and other channels.

CANDIDATE QUALIFICATIONS

Education and requirements:

• J.D. from an accredited U.S. law school, and
• Licensed to practice law wherever located.

Experience:

• A minimum of 10 years of legal experience, with a strong preference for candidates with state or federal appellate clerkships,
• Experience coordinating large litigation teams or representing disparate client groups,
• Substantial experience drafting appellate briefs, including U.S. Supreme Court briefs, as lead drafter,
• Substantial experience arguing cases before appellate courts, including arguing before multiple en banc courts or before the U.S. Supreme Court, and
• A deep knowledge of, and practice experience with, administrative law and related relevant public constitutional law doctrines.

Skills:

• Superior legal research, brief writing, and oral advocacy skills,
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, including the ability to build and maintain partnerships, understand and influence stakeholders, and motivate and inspire peers, and
• A network of relevant professional relationships (e.g., attorneys outside of Earthjustice or law school professors) that can be drawn on to help the strategic advocacy program achieve its goals.

Personal Traits and Attributes:

• Passion for the role of Earthjustice and its mission, including our commitment to furthering racial and social justice through our programmatic agenda,
• Excellent emotional intelligence, self-awareness, and cultural humility,
• Interest and commitment to mentoring interns and more junior staff, and
• A positive attitude, a sense of humor and a willingness to have fun.

SALARY AND BENEFITS
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.

Compensation:
Salary is based on experience and location.
Salary range in Washington, D.C.: $221,040 - $245,600
Remote: $197,820 - $258,500

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 what prior experience of yours lends itself to this role

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.

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