Staff Counsel

Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility (PEER) is a national nonprofit service organization that works with current and former federal, state, local, and tribal professionals who uphold environmental laws and values, including protection of public health. We work with public servants– including scientists, attorneys, land managers, rangers, and other specialists–in several ways to shine the light on improper or illegal government actions. Our work includes challenging improper and prohibited personnel actions against public employees, defending whistleblowers, working to improve environmental and civil service laws through affirmative litigation and advocacy, seeking information through Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests and litigation, and supporting the work of other nonprofit organizations.

Position Description: Provide legal counseling and representation to public employees in federal and state court and administrative proceedings; initiate administrative and/or federal litigation related to issues identified by public employees, and help orchestrate campaigns for environmental, public lands, and public health reforms. Staff counsel will report to PEER’s General Counsel.

Key responsibilities

Working at the confluence of law, policy, and media, PEER staff counsel will:

• Respond to employee requests for assistance and determine the legal services or other support that PEER may provide based on the nature of the request.
• Develop and implement legal, communications, and other strategies to remedy employee-identified problems including, but not limited to, analyzing legal claims and defenses, drafting FOIA and other information requests, and drafting formal and informal requests for federal or state investigation of improper, unethical and/or illegal activity.
• Research and draft filings for administrative proceedings and federal and state litigation, legal memoranda, agency comments, FOIA requests, letters, and other types of advocacy materials.
• Represent clients in all aspects of administrative and federal court litigation, mediation, and settlement.
• Conduct legal and policy research and assist in executing environmental, public lands, and public health campaigns.
• Monitor relevant policy issues to identify instances where PEER should consider getting involved in litigation or in regulatory advocacy.
• Serve as a media spokesperson on related legal and policy matters.
• Leverage relationships within the legal community to support PEER’s work, to help carry out our mission, and to strengthen our continued organizational growth and sphere of influence, including fostering opportunities for PEER staff to build deeper professional relationships.
• Coordinate with teams across the organization in the development of strategic narratives and other media to help educate the philanthropic community, legal community, and progressive communities on pressing issues.

Qualifications:

All candidates must have a J.D. from an accredited law school and active membership in good standing in the District of Columbia Bar, or membership in good standing in another state bar with the ability to become admitted in D.C.

Candidate must also possess: Excellent oral and written advocacy skills are required; ability to work well both independently and on a team; ability to work in a fast-paced environment, handle multiple concurrent assignments, and meet deadlines; ability to develop and maintain relationships with clients and partner organizations, including initiating new relationships and developing and managing coalitions; commitment to workplace inclusion; and ability to contribute affirmatively to a just and equitable workplace culture.

The ideal candidates will have at least six years of legal experience with three or more of the following:

• Civil litigation or administrative litigation experience, including the development of potential claims, drafting pleadings (such as complaints, briefs, substantive motions), managing all aspects of affirmative and defensive discovery, building factual records, and preparing for and/or participating in federal court and/or federal administrative hearings and arguments. Preference for civil litigation experience in federal court and/or administrative litigation experience.
• Investigations conducted by a federal agencyspecific
• Inspector General (e.g. EPA, DOI), the Office of Special Counsel, and/or cases over which the Merit Systems Protection Board has jurisdiction.
• Familiarity with legal doctrines applicable to regulatory development and implementation, including statutorily required rulemaking obligations for federal and/or state governments. Experience with the federal Administrative Procedure Act is a plus but not required.
• Familiarity with the federal regulatory process, either via litigation, notice-and-comment rulemaking, or other administrative processes. Prior federal employment a plus.
• Deep engagement with federal regulatory agencies that address issues related to the environment, public lands, and/or public health such as EPA, DOI, and NOAA.
• Writing and advocacy focused on environmental, labor, or governance issues.
• Ability to learn and become proficient in new issue areas and contribute to creative, rigorous, and analytical approaches to address them.

Start Date: Immediately, but willing to negotiate based on individual circumstances.

Salary Range: $90,000 to $110,000 with a generous leave package, flextime, and benefits. Full-time remote work is possible.

Generous leave package, flextime, and benefits. Full-time remote work is possible.