Associate Attorney, Rocky Mountain Clean Energy

The Rocky Mountain Office of Earthjustice, located in Denver, Colorado, is seeking an Associate Attorney to focus on our clean energy work in Colorado, Arizona, and nearby states.  The Associate Attorney will primarily focus on our office’s work to promptly and equitably transition the electric, transportation, and building sectors from fossil fuels to clean energy.  This work will involve litigation and other advocacy before state public utilities commissions, state air agencies, the courts, and other state and federal agencies to advance clean energy and a healthy climate.

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 Rocky Mountain Office’s work focuses on Colorado, Utah, and Arizona, and its cases primarily involve (1) protecting public lands and wildlife from fracking, mining, and other threats; (2) quickly shifting Colorado and nearby states from dirty to clean energy; and (3) protecting communities disproportionately impacted by pollution and other environmental harms.  This Associate position will focus on the Rocky Mountain Office’s work to make Colorado and Arizona national leaders on clean energy by advancing distributed solar, energy efficiency, electric vehicles, beneficial electrification, and other renewable and distributed energy resources.  This Associate position may also work on cases to oppose, retire, and reduce pollution from coal-fired and gas-fired power plants.  While the Associate Attorney will focus primarily on electric sector and transportation sector work, depending on the Rocky Mountain Office’s staffing needs, the Associate will also work on public lands and healthy communities cases.

The Associate Attorney position is a three-year position 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 work throughout their tenure under the supervision of a Staff Attorney or the Managing Attorney.  Many Associates have gone on to other positions within Earthjustice and with other public interest organizations. 

The Rocky Mountain office is located in the heart of downtown Denver near the federal and state courthouses, public transportation, and the vibrant LoDo, RiNo, and Capitol Hill neighborhoods.  We are also a bike-friendly office, located near many of Denver’s bike paths.  The successful candidate will be housed in our Denver office (although the Associate Attorney will work remotely while Earthjustice’s offices are closed due to COVID-19).

Responsibilities:

• Work closely with Staff Attorneys and clients to investigate, develop, and prosecute cases.
• Participate in the full range of tasks involved in complex litigation, including factual investigation, legal research and analysis, discovery, briefing, and oral advocacy.

Qualifications:

• Law school graduate by spring of 2020 admitted to, or willing to apply for admission to, the Colorado State Bar.
• 2-5 years of post-grad litigation experience with a specialization in clean energy litigation.
• Excellent research, analytic, writing, and communication skills.
• Strong work ethic and initiative, and sound yet creative judgment.
• Strong desire to fight for the right of all to a healthy environment.
• Ability to work well in a team-oriented atmosphere.
• Commitment to serving the public interest.
• Demonstrates an awareness and sensitivity to the needs and concerns of individuals from diverse cultures, backgrounds, and orientations.
• Contributes to the creation of a diverse, equitable, and inclusive work culture that encourages and celebrates differences.

Salary depends on experience and location.
Salary range in Denver, CO: $80,190 - $94,320
2-5 years' experience

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.

To Apply: 

Interested candidates should submit the following via Jobvite:

• Resume.
• One or two page cover letter that addresses each of the following: (1) aspects of your background that are relevant to the qualifications listed above; (2) why you are drawn to Earthjustice’s mission and whether there are particular legal, environmental, or justice issues that inspire you; and (3) how your time at Earthjustice would contribute to your career aspirations.
• Writing sample, preferably a legal brief or memorandum that primarily reflects your work.
• Law school transcript.
• List of three references.

Click here to apply: https://app.jobvite.com/j?cj=ov2tefwY&s=Hispanic_National_Bar_Association

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until the position is filled. 

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 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.