Senior Attorney

Senior Attorney

The Senior Attorney engages in legal advocacy and develops and litigates cases under federal environmental and natural resources law to advance Defenders' conservation policies to protect biological diversity. As an experienced litigator and senior member of the legal team, the Senior Attorney supervises staff attorneys, legal fellows, and law clerks and advises Defenders staff on legal questions and legislative matters.

Essential duties and responsibilities include:

• Developing innovative litigation strategies and litigating cases to protect imperiled wildlife and habitats brought under the Endangered Species Act, National Environmental Policy Act, Clean Water Act, National Forest Management Act, Administrative Procedure Act, Freedom of Information Act, and other relevant federal and state wildlife, public lands, and natural resource statutes.
• Working across disciplines using law, science, policy, and communications to engage in legal advocacy, including drafting comment letters and speaking at public hearings.
• Advising Defenders staff on legal questions and legislative matters.
• Supervising and mentoring staff attorneys, legal fellows, and law clerks in Defenders' Conservation Law department.
• Working across departments within Defenders to generate written products to advance Defenders' conservation work, such as comment letters, blog posts, op-eds, and presentations.
• Performing all other related duties as assigned.

Qualifications:

Education: JD required; appropriate state bar license(s) required

Experience: 10 years of relevant experience; 5 years supervisory experience

An equivalent combination of education and experience may be accepted as a satisfactory substitute for the specific education and experience listed above.

Substantial knowledge of the Endangered Species Act, National Environmental Policy Act and other federal natural resources, public lands, and wildlife conservation laws, including related regulations and policies.

Substantial knowledge of the Freedom of Information Act.

Substantial experience reviewing and commenting on draft permits, draft regulations, draft environmental impact analyses, and other actions subject to notice and comment.

Substantial experience litigating in federal district and appellate courts, including reviewing administrative records, drafting declarations, pleadings, and motions, and participating in oral argument.

Excellent research and writing skills with a proven ability to quickly and accurately analyze legislative and administrative proposals and critique them in a way that is readily understood by others.

Strong media and communications skills, including the ability to advocate persuasively for conservation policy in a range of public speaking venues.

Demonstrated commitment to public interest advocacy, environmental protection and natural resources conservation.

An ability to work effectively in a team and independently, and strong coordination, interpersonal, and organizational skills.