Temporary Counsel, Conflicts & Lobbying Compliance

Earthjustice’s Office of General Counsel is seeking a Temporary Counsel, Conflicts & Lobbying Compliance. This position is designed to fill in temporarily for a staff member on leave and will not lead to permanent employment at Earthjustice. The employer of record for this role will be an external staffing agency, and pay for this role will be processed through that agency.

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 combat climate change. We partner with thousands of groups, supporters, individuals, and communities to engage the critical environmental issues of our time and bring about positive change. We are here because the earth needs a good lawyer.

Earthjustice’s Office of General Counsel is seeking a Temporary Counsel, Conflicts & Lobbying Compliance while the Sr. Counsel is on leave. The Temporary Counsel will be responsible for Earthjustice’s (c)(3) and (c)(4) lobbying compliance, as well as compliance with professional responsibility rules with particular emphasis on conflicts of interest applicable to legal professionals.

This is a full-time (37.5 hours/week) role that reports to the Deputy General Counsel. We anticipate the Temporary Counsel working from early-March through late-July 2025. This position can be remote, or, if preferred, the successful candidate may work a hybrid schedule from one of our offices.

Responsibilities:

Lobbying and Compliance (65%)

• Conduct research on laws governing lobbying including lobbying registration and reporting in federal, state, and local jurisdictions for our 501(c)(3) and (c)(4) entities.
• Advise and assist Earthjustice attorneys and staff regarding lobbying, including overseeing registration and reporting.
• Advise and assist staff working on Earthjustice Action, our 501(c)(4) on campaigns and compliance issues, and assist with registrations, compliance and research regarding state and federal law.
• Support the development of policies and best practices related to lobbying and lobbying registration and reporting compliance.
• Support in preparing training on lobbying to staff.
• Audit/revise lobbying registrations and periodic reports.
• Consult outside counsel on lobbying rules when appropriate.
• Participate in lobbying budgeting and strategy development.
• Other duties as assigned.

Law Practice & Professional Responsibility (35%)

• Advise and assist Earthjustice attorneys and staff in connection with professional responsibility matters, primarily the identification and resolution of conflicts of interest.
• Work with the Deputy General Counsel to advise Earthjustice attorneys and staff regarding professional responsibility and risk mitigation, primarily conflict of interest issues associated with new matters, negotiation of client engagement terms, review of lateral attorney/paralegal/legal assistant/law clerk candidates, and integrity of ethical walls.
• Identify, analyze, and resolve or make recommendations for the conflicts of interest resolution and other ethical issues related to new Earthjustice matters across all practice groups.
• Conduct research on professional responsibility matters, including conflicts of interest.
• Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications:

• JD required.
• Active law license and in good standing in state where you reside and/or as otherwise required.
• 5+ years of relevant experience.
• Non-profit experience (can be pro bono) required.
• 501(c)(4) experience.
• Knowledge of state and federal lobbying laws.
• Knowledge of Rules of Professional Conduct and current state of professional responsibility issues.
• Prior experience with conflicts of interest resolution or risk management in a law firm environment highly preferred.
• Excellent written and verbal skills required to communicate complex legal issues.
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail required to handle numerous matters simultaneously.
• Ability to quickly grasp, research and assess a broad range of professional responsibility or lobbying issues and present sensible solutions and alternatives.
• Ability to learn new technology and leverage our conflicts review, matter management, and matter intelligence platforms.
• Demonstrated integrity, strong work ethic, and sound judgement.
• Demonstrated awareness and sensitivity to the needs and concerns of individuals from diverse cultures, backgrounds, and orientations.

Compensation:

Compensation is determined by experience level and working location. Remote applications should indicate in their application the city and state from which they will be working to confirm the salary range for that location. Any benefits will be offered and administered by the employer of record.

Hourly pay range for Temporary Counsel: $80.82 - $105.64 per hour

• Hourly rate for San Francisco, CA & New York, NY: $95.08 - $105.64
• Hourly rate for Seattle, WA; Washington, D.C.; Massachusetts; Chicago, IL; Los Angeles, CA; and Honolulu, HI: $90.31 - $100.36
• Hourly rate for Philadelphia, PA; Juneau, AK; Anchorage, AK; Providence, RI; and Denver, CO: $85.59 - $95.08
• Hourly rate for Tallahassee, FL; Miami, FL; Bozeman, MT; Madison, WI; and Maine: $80.82 - $89.79
• Hourly rate for Remote (US): varies by location

To Apply:

Interested candidates should submit the following via Jobvite. Applications will be accepted until the role is filled and will be reviewed on a rolling basis. Incomplete applications will not be considered.

• Resume.
• Cover Letter.

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 only considers applications submitted for current openings via Jobvite. Unsolicited resumes or resumes for posted positions that are not submitted via Jobvite will not be reviewed or retained.

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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