Staff Attorney

STAFF ATTORNEY

Hybrid Remote or Remote

ABOUT US:

The Surfrider Foundation is a non-profit environmental organization dedicated to the protection and enjoyment of the world’s ocean, waves, and beaches for all people through a powerful activist network. The Surfrider Foundation has achieved many important victories by persuading state, federal, and local decision makers to protect vital coastal and ocean resources. These accomplishments demonstrate the important role of recreational users in advancing coastal and ocean stewardship.

By joining the Surfrider Foundation, you will be welcomed into an open and inclusive network of incredibly supportive and collaborative people who work hard and play hard. You will have the opportunity to work with dedicated people who are also passionate coastal users with their feet in the sand and toes in the water. You help bring together diverse voices and perspectives to provide our community with the leadership and tools necessary to make a difference at their beach and in coastal communities across the United States. At Surfrider, we build leaders and we are problem solvers; our culture sets us apart and influences everything we do. Coastal recreation is fun and working at Surfrider is too.

THE OPPORTUNITY:

Location: Remote or Hybrid (with office in San Clemente, California available)

Level: Surfrider Foundation is looking for an attorney to join our Legal Department. This is a full-time employee with a minimum of five years of relevant legal experience preferred. A Juris Doctorate degree from a U.S. law school and an active bar membership in a U.S. state where Surfrider conducts mission work are required.

Description: Surfrider Foundation seeks a talented and dedicated full time attorney to join the Legal Department as a Staff Attorney, to work alongside the legal team and to report to the Senior Legal Director. The successful candidate will be an attorney with excellent analytical and communications skills, along with a strong commitment to protecting coastal areas. This position will work towards fulfillment of the organization’s mission of “protection and enjoyment of the world’s ocean, waves and beaches, for all people” by advancing our legal campaigns throughout the U.S. and assisting with in-house counsel duties. Surfrider Foundation engages in litigation, as well as legislative and policy advocacy, at the forefront of ocean and coastal law. The legal team also ensures that Surfrider is meeting federal and state requirements applicable to 501c(3) non-profit organizations. This team member will assist our Senior Attorney and Senior Legal Director manage a jam-packed docket of legal issues facing our organization, including a wide range of legal, programmatic, and administrative work undertaken by our nationwide grassroots network of 80 local Chapters and over 130 school clubs. The Staff Attorney work involves a mix of non-profit in-house counsel issues and substantive environmental law. This position will involve development of solutions through legal strategies to address coastal threats at the local, state and national level, including impediments to beach access, water pollution, offshore energy development, oil spill response, plastic pollution, and impacts from climate and rising sea levels. The Staff Attorney must be able to work both independently and collaboratively, and will be responsible for leading multiple projects.

This position will be responsible for in-house compliance activities, including providing advice to chapters and headquarters on complying with federal and state lobbying, filing or assisting others to file appropriate lobbying documentation, reviewing communications to ensure they comply with nonpartisan requirements, and other compliance tasks. This position will also lead our volunteer lawyer program, welcoming volunteer lawyers, engaging volunteers through regular communication, and leading outreach to volunteers when appropriate projects arise. This position will spearhead our intern program, taking the lead on recruiting and sharing supervision duties as appropriate. This position would also involve evaluating potential litigation and legal advocacy campaigns; working with outside counsel to analyze and execute litigation strategy; reviewing, commenting on, and drafting legislative and other policy language; testifying before administrative and legislative bodies; and working with our staff and grassroots Chapter network and coalition partners to promote healthy and accessible beaches. This position will advise and provide leadership to Surfrider staff and chapters on legal campaigns, strategies and solutions, and work with outside counsel, experts, legal advisors and coalition legal teams, while managing litigation. We are seeking a candidate who works well in a team setting and is a collegial colleague. The ideal applicant is not only bright and thoughtful, but also enthusiastic and motivated to address pressing issues facing our coasts and ocean.

Reports to: Senior Legal Director

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

The successful candidate will be able to assist in advancing organizational priorities, with primary responsibility for some matters, while also working collaboratively with outside counsel, staff, and Chapter members of the Surfrider Foundation.

• Lead our volunteer lawyer program, welcoming volunteer lawyers, engaging volunteers through regular communication, and leading outreach to volunteers when appropriate projects arise;
• Advise Surfrider headquarters staff on questions related to 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations and related matters that arise;
• Oversee compliance with federal, state, and local lobbying laws, and assist staff with lobbying-related matters including registration and reporting when required
• Spearhead our intern program, taking the lead on recruiting and sharing supervision duties as appropriate;
• Assist in creation and execution of legal strategies to advance the Surfrider mission, in support of and in collaboration with other staff and chapter volunteers;
• Locate qualified outside expert counsel for litigation and manage relationships with outside counsel during litigation, including strategizing about legal tactics, reviewing and/or contributing to pleadings and briefs, and providing substantive and strategic feedback;
• Collaborate with coalition partners to advance campaign work;
• Perform duties with self-sufficiency and resourcefulness, as well as thoughtful collaboration;
• Advocate for coastal conservation measures at the national, state and local level, including through litigation, administrative advocacy and legislative work; and
• Engage in public outreach and communication through the Surfrider Foundation website, action alerts, blogging, media responses, Chapters conferences and meetings, etc.
• Provide guidance on various issues that arise in the operation of a grassroots 501c(3)organization including intellectual property, operation of contests, issues relating to hosting events, etc.
• Continue to hone expertise and learn new areas of law to competently advise on new and unique legal questions and challenges;

REQUIREMENTS:

• A Juris Doctorate from a U.S. law school and active bar membership in a state where Surfrider conducts mission-related work is required.
• At least 5 years’ experience with environmental litigation and advocacy, with a focus on public interest coastal issues is preferred.
• An effective team member with strong written and oral advocacy, research, analysis, and campaign and leadership skills, including a track record of demonstrated success and a commitment to environmental protection.
• A bright, creative individual who has a strong work ethic, sound judgment and ability to work efficiently and effectively in a collegial setting.
• A supportive and collaborative colleague, able to contribute towards the overall positive culture at Surfrider Foundation.
• A person who enjoys ocean and coastal recreation.
• Ability to independently manage multiple short and long term projects simultaneously and meet deadlines with minimal oversight
• Broad knowledge of environmental laws, and the ability to expand expertise and research laws in the various jurisdictions in which Surfrider operates.
• Willingness to occasionally travel to campaign locations and in assistance to grassroots chapters around the nation, with prior scheduling and ample notice.

PREFERRED EXPERIENCE (NOT MANDATORY)

• Bar admission in Florida or Hawaii
• Knowledge of coastal law issues, including the public trust doctrine, state shoreline laws related to climate change adaptation and resilience, public beach access, and plastic pollution.
• Experience with federal, state, and/or local government policy, local government issues, including litigation or adopting legislation or ordinances.
• Experience with advocacy before federal, state or local government agencies and tribunals.
• Knowledge of lobbying reporting requirements and nonpartisan issues relating to nonprofit status.
• Experience responding to discovery requests and using ediscovery systems such as Logikull or DISCO.
• A supportive and collaborative colleague, able to contribute towards the overall positive culture at Surfrider Foundation.

SALARY AND BENEFITS:

Category Level: Staff Attorney (Legal Department Member, reporting to Senior Legal Director)

Salary Range: $75,000 Minimum - $113,000 Maximum

How Does the Surfrider Foundation Establish Salary Ranges?

The Surfrider Foundation researches, evaluates, and compares like-sized non-profit organizations to establish ranges for each position level to ensure that employees are justly compensated. The established range takes multiple factors into account; experience, educational background, scope and complexity of work, special skills, added value to the organization, geographic cost-of-living, inflation/current market demand, equity, and more. The Surfrider Foundation prides itself on a high rate of retention, with 32% of staff having been employed with the organization for 10+ years. Please keep in mind that the maximum end of our ranges also account for longevity and tenure within the role.

BENEFITS:

• Health: Medical, dental and vision benefit premiums are paid 100% by Surfrider Foundation for employee-only coverage. Dependents may be added on at an additional cost.
• Retirement: 401(k) plan offering a match of .50¢ of every dollar contributed by the employee up to a maximum of 4% of earnings (in other terms, a 2% employer match).
• Vacation Accrual: Enjoy a generous allotment of vacation days per year. Rollover unused days to the following year, subject to company maximum accrual policy.
• Sick time Accrual: 12 sick days/year
• Holidays: 20 paid holidays total in 2025
• Happy Healthy Summer Fridays: We provide several half Fridays to get outside and enjoy an early start to your weekend!
• Parental Leave: Surfrider provides 6 weeks of paid parental leave following the birth of an employee’s child or the placement of a child with an employee in connection with adoption or foster care.
• Other Benefits: Long-Term Disability Insurance, Life Insurance, Employee Assistance program (EAP), Flexible Spending Account (FSA)

TO APPLY:

Please submit a cover letter (additional details below), writing sample (no more than 10 pages) and resume via the application portal instructions provided via the following link:

Cover Letter Instructions: In the cover letter, please detail your experience independently managing a heavy docket of work and explain the breadth of your environmental law, coastal policy, and 501(c)(3) experience. We are also very interested in your specific desire to work for Surfrider and why you think you would be a good fit for the organization.

Deadline for receiving submissions: June 30, 2025

Earlier submissions are encouraged, but will be accepted through 6/30/25.

Questions? For any questions related to this position, please contact careers@surfrider.org

JEDI COMMITMENT:

The Surfrider Foundation is committed to fostering a just, equitable, diverse, and inclusive organization for all people who protect and enjoy the world’s ocean, waves, and beaches. Our success and impact depend on learning from our community, standing in solidarity with our allies and working towards a more just future, both for our organization and the environmental movement as a whole.

The Surfrider Foundation is proud to be an equal opportunity workplace that is committed to attracting and retaining a diverse workforce. Together we strive to create and maintain working and learning environments that are inclusive, equitable and welcoming. We are committed to equal employment opportunities regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status, disability, gender identity, Veteran status, or any other protected class.

To learn more about our Justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion commitments, please visit: https://www.surfrider.org/pages/diversity-equity-inclusion

BENEFITS:

• Health: Medical, dental and vision benefit premiums are paid 100% by Surfrider Foundation for employee-only coverage. Dependents may be added on at an additional cost.
• Retirement: 401(k) plan offering a match of .50¢ of every dollar contributed by the employee up to a maximum of 4% of earnings (in other terms, a 2% employer match).
• Vacation Accrual: Enjoy a generous allotment of vacation days per year. Rollover unused days to the following year, subject to company maximum accrual policy.
• Sick time Accrual: 12 sick days/year
• Holidays: 20 paid holidays total in 2025
• Happy Healthy Summer Fridays: We provide several half Fridays to get outside and enjoy an early start to your weekend!
• Parental Leave: Surfrider provides 6 weeks of paid parental leave following the birth of an employee’s child or the placement of a child with an employee in connection with adoption or foster care.
• Other Benefits: Long-Term Disability Insurance, Life Insurance, Employee Assistance program (EAP), Flexible Spending Account (FSA)