Senior Attorney, Midwest Regional Office

Earthjustice seeks an experienced Senior Attorney to join the Midwest Regional Office. The senior attorney will have the opportunity to lead the strategic growth of our docket in the Midwest. In addition, they will develop and pursue litigation and advocacy seeking to protect communities — especially frontline communities.

Earthjustice is the nation’s leading environmental law organization. Wielding the power of law, Earthjustice partners with our clients to take on the most critical fights of our time—fights to protect the incredible biodiversity and wild places of the planet; to avert climate disaster by transitioning society away from fossil fuels toward clean energy; to safeguard the right of all people to a healthy environment. 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 are in San Francisco with offices in Anchorage, Bozeman, Chicago, Denver, Honolulu, Houston, Juneau, Los Angeles, Miami, New Orleans, New York, Seattle, Tallahassee and Washington, D.C.

The Midwest Regional Office works across all three of Earthjustice’s program areas — climate, healthy communities, and lands and wildlife. Our work includes cases opposing pipelines and mining that will have devastating impacts on the environment and tribal interests; and fighting for clean air, soil, and water. We are committed to working with communities across the Midwest with special attention to Detroit and Flint, Chicagoland including Northwest Indiana, and St. Louis.

Our practice increasingly emphasizes a mentorship culture for staff at all levels, and we expect that every Senior Attorney will help nurture the development of early career attorneys and other staff. Senior Attorneys supervise associate attorneys, fellows, and litigation assistants in connection with their work on projects.

Responsibilities:

• Conduct and supervise advocacy before agencies, state and local governments, and courts as warranted.
• Manage new and existing litigation matters from start to finish, including working with technical experts as appropriate.
• Develop, coordinate, and execute non-litigation advocacy strategies in collaboration with attorneys, policy staff and communications staff as appropriate.
• Conduct factual investigations and develop legal theories for possible advocacy or litigation advancing the goals of our clients.
• Supervise the work of Associate Attorneys, Litigation Assistants, and Law Clerks.
• Develop and manage relationships with co-counsel and with a diverse group of clients and coalition partners.
• Work effectively with other departments within Earthjustice, including Policy and Legislation, Communications, Development, and Operations.
• Serve as spokesperson for Earthjustice, clients, and partners.
• Help develop and execute effective media strategies with the help of communications professionals.
• Join other staff in long-term planning, strategy development, goal setting, and work plan management that advances a collective vision for future Midwest Regional Office work.
• Participate as an active member of a learning and mentorship culture and engage with colleagues in a manner that is respectful, professional, and supportive.
• Lead complex climate and energy cases before state public utility commissions, state air agencies, federal agencies, and state and federal courts.
• Prepare discovery, pleadings, testimony, cross-examination, briefs, and oral argument in state and federal regulatory proceedings and court proceedings.
• Work with our media and policy and legislation teams, as well as clients and partners, to leverage legal advocacy to obtain positive change and results.
• Train and mentor junior attorneys, interns, and litigation assistants, including building their litigation skills in the course of legal advocacy.
• Cultivate new allies and engage in partnerships with, and potential representation of, community groups, environmental justice organizations, and Tribal entities.
• Join other staff in long-term planning, strategy development, goal setting, and work plan management that advances Earthjustice’s work.
• Contributes towards an equitable and inclusive work culture that encourages partnership, active listening, and integrating diverse perspectives.

Qualifications:

• Juris Doctorate (JD) degree.
• Admitted or willing to seek admission to the Illinois bar.
• At least eight years of legal experience, including substantial experience with litigation and regulatory proceedings.
• Excellent research, analytic, writing, and communication skills required; trial skills and appellate litigation skills are a plus.
• Experience engaging in advocacy on clean energy and energy justice issues strongly preferred.
• Proficient at working with technical experts.
• Ability to develop and maintain partnerships with community-based or other grassroots groups interested in energy litigation and other advocacy.
• Ability to manage a litigation docket effectively, lead a litigation team, and work independently and collaboratively with colleagues and partner organizations.
• Experience mentoring and supervising others.
• Supports Earthjustice’s core values of partnership, inclusion, justice and excellence.
• Commitment to public interest work and a passion for the role of Earthjustice and its mission, including a desire to fight for the right of all to a healthy environment.
• Ability and willingness to travel for case work and court.

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. As a 501(c)(3) organization, Earthjustice is a qualifying employer for purposes of the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) Program.

Salary depends on experience and location.

Salary range in Chicago, IL for 8+ years of experience: $173,000+Salary range in remote Midwest locations for 8+ years of experience: $154,800+

For litigators and advocates committed to saving the planet and the people who depend on it, Senior Attorney at Earthjustice is the best job on the planet. Learn more about our Senor Attorney careers and work online here: https://earthjustice.org/about/jobs/senior-attorney

To Apply:

Interested applicants should submit the following via Jobvite:

• Resume
• A cover letter that addresses at least the following subjects:
  1. Why you are drawn to this position and whether there are particular legal, environmental, or justice issues that inspire you;
  2. Aspects of your background that demonstrate competence to work with diverse clients and colleagues.
• Writing sample that reflects your own legal analysis and writing (i.e., with minimal input or editing by other people).

Preference will be given to candidates who apply by August 27, 2025. After that, applications may 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 only accepts resumes submitted for positions that are currently open. Unsolicited resumes or resumes for posted positions that are not submitted via the online application process (where available), 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.

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