Senior Attorney, Fossil Fuels

Earthjustice seeks a Senior Attorney to join the Fossil Fuels Program. We use the power of the law to challenge the onslaught of new oil and gas infrastructure development that threatens climate, communities, and the environment. This position will focus on oil and gas infrastructure and related projects in the U.S. Gulf region, particularly Louisiana and Texas. The attorney in this position will be place-based in the New Orleans’ satellite office space shared with other Fossil Fuel Program staff New Orleans, Louisiana. Earthjustice is the nation's leading environmental law organization. We wield the power of law and the strength of partnership to protect people’s health, preserve magnificent places and wildlife, advance clean energy, and combat climate change. We are here because the Earth needs a good lawyer. Driven by a passion for justice, inclusion, partnership, and excellence, our core values lead us to seek a broad range of perspectives and backgrounds to achieve our mission and maintain an inclusive environment where all staff are valued and respected. Our headquarters are in San Francisco with offices in Anchorage, Bozeman, Chicago, Denver, Honolulu, Houston, Juneau, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, Philadelphia, San Francisco, Seattle, Tallahassee, and Washington, DC. Earthjustice’s Fossil Fuels Program uses the power of law to support communities fighting industry’s aggressive plans to lock in new oil and gas infrastructure in the form of petrochemical facilities, pipelines, crude oil and gas export terminals and other projects that would dramatically increase pollution and increase damage to our climate. We’re partnering with those communities to chart a path forward toward a healthy, sustainable climate — while working to advance equity and justice. For more information about the program’s work, visit https://earthjustice.org/about/offices/fossil-fuels.

Responsibilities:

• Lead complex cases and the full range of litigation tasks, including factual investigation, legal research, discovery, briefing, witness preparation, trials, and oral advocacy.
• Develop cutting-edge legal theories and strategies.
• Work with clients, other attorneys, and partners to investigate, develop, and litigate cases.
• 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, including building their litigation skills in the course of legal advocacy.
• Build and maintain effective working relationships with a diverse range of clients and other partner organizations.
• Develop and lead litigation campaigns and strategically integrate legal, advocacy, communication, and organizing strategies to achieve campaign goals.
• Engage in activities, including work with partners, funders, the media, and communities, that enhance the organization’s reputation and the attorney’s role as an “ambassador” of the organization.

Qualifications

• Admitted to, or eligible for admission to, the Louisiana Bar.
• 6+ years of litigation experience.
• Experience working with environmental law statutes and issues surrounding community and environmental health, oil and gas infrastructure, strongly preferred.
• Excellent research, analytic, writing, and communication skills required; trial skills a plus.
• Excellent interpersonal skills, including the ability to build relationships and work collaboratively with a diverse set of clients and partner organizations.
• Demonstrated commitment to Earthjustice’s values of Justice, Excellence, Inclusion, and Partnership.
• Skill in leading diverse teams with emotional intelligence and cultural competence; fosters growth mentorship, effective communication, and constructive feedback while hiring and developing team talents to align with organizational needs.

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 is based on experience and location. Salary range in New Orleans, LA: $ 144,400-$184,500

To Apply: Interested applicants should submit the following:

• Resume
• One- or two-page cover letter that addresses (1) what draws you to the Program mission; and (2) any experience you have working on environmental, environmental justice, and/or oil and gas issues.
• Writing sample, preferably a legal brief or memorandum that primarily reflects your work.

For this position, we are looking to hire a candidate who is available to start as soon as possible. Preference will be given to candidates who apply by January 14, 2026. 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 is driven by a passion for justice, partnership, inclusion 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 specified under applicable laws that is not related to the position. #LI-Hybrid

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