Associate/Sr. Associate Attorney-Clean Water/Great Lakes Protection

Job Description

Job Description

About ELPC:
The Environmental Law & Policy Center (ELPC) is the Midwest’s premier public interest environmental legal advocacy and eco-business innovation organization and is among the nation’s leaders. We develop and lead strategic environmental legal and policy advocacy campaigns to improve environmental quality and protect our natural resources. We are public interest environmental entrepreneurs who engage in creative business dealmaking with diverse interests to put into practice our sustainability principles that environmental progress and economic development can be achieved together.

ELPC drives transformational environmental policy changes at the national and regional level. We advance climate solutions with a focus on clean energy alternatives. We protect the Great Lakes and defend the Midwest’s wild and natural places and resources, and we fight for safe, clean water and healthy clean air for all. We combine effective public interest litigation and strategic policy advocacy, sound science and economic analysis. ELPC produces strong results in the courtrooms, boardrooms, and legislative and administrative hearing rooms across the Midwest and in Washington, D.C.

ELPC’s growing multidisciplinary staff of talented public interest attorneys, policy advocates, data scientists and communications specialists bring a strong and effective combination of skills to solve environmental problems and improve the quality of life in our communities. Our headquarters is in downtown Chicago, with additional offices and staff across the Midwest states and in Washington, DC. ELPC’s annual budget is about $15 million. Please visit

ELPC is proud to be the honored by receiving the American Bar Association's 2023 Award for Excellence in Environmental, Energy, and Resources Stewardship. This prominent national award recognizes ELPC’s significant accomplishments and demonstrated leadership on sustainable environmental and energy advocacy.

Come join our winning team of talented, mission-driven professionals, who passionately work together to protect the environment and natural resources in the Midwest region.

Job Summary:
The Clean Water/Great Lakes Protection Associate Attorney will litigate and advocate to protect access to safe, clean water for people around the Midwest, and to protect the Great Lakes, which is a global ecological gem, provides safe clean drinking water supplies to 40 million people, and support enjoyable recreational opportunities and fisheries for the region.  The Great Lakes is where we live, work and play.

The Associate Attorney (2-3 years of experience) or Senior Associate Attorney (4-6 years of experience) will engage in federal court strategic litigation, state court and administrative cases to tighten or enforce Clean Water Act permits, and federal and state policy initiatives to advance protection and restoration of the Great Lakes and safe, clean drinking water for all.

ELPC’s recent and ongoing clean water and Great Lakes protection work includes, for example: (1) successful federal court litigation on behalf of community group clients to stop the Army Corps of Engineers’ misguided proposed new toxic dredged wastes landfill along the Lake Michigan shoreline in Chicago’s Southeast Side environmental justice community; (2) federal and state court litigation and policy advocacy to reduce industrial water pollution from large steel mills in Northwest Indiana; (2) federal court litigation to alleviate toxic algae blooms in western Lake Erie by agricultural pollution in Northwest Ohio and in Michigan; (4) successful litigation before the Michigan Supreme Court to reverse a permit for the proposed Line 5 oil pipeline tunnel running through the Straits of Mackinac; and (5) a multi-faceted campaign to reduce cancer-causing nitrates in Iowa’s drinking water.

Title:
Associate/Sr. Associate Attorney - Clean Water/Great Lakes Protection Program

Reports To:
Senior Attorneys in ELPC’s Clean Water-Clean Air and Great Places, Great Lakes Programs

Location: 
Chicago, IL with a hybrid work environment that includes two required days in the office each week (Tuesdays and Wednesdays) to spur effective collaboration.

Essential Job Functions:

• Litigate a range of cases to protect access to clean water and safeguard the Great Lakes
  • Conduct factual and legal research to develop and prosecute claims
  • Draft major briefs and a range of pleadings, declarations, motions and discovery requests
  • Coordinate with expert witnesses
  • Engage with clients, partner organizations, and impacted communities
• Draft comments on proposed rules from U.S. EPA and other agencies
• Collaborate with communications team to promote program work through engagement with the media and public education
• Contribute to policy initiatives to promote clean water and Great Lakes protection
• Assist in fundraising
• Other duties, as assigned.

Education & Experience:

• Juris Doctor degree
• 2 - 6 years of relevant legal experience with an emphasis on litigation skills

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities:

• Strong legal writing, research and analysis, and oral presentation skills
• Ability to work independently and collaborate with colleagues
• Commitment to environmental protection
• Knowledge/experience with the Clean Water Act and NEPA is a plus

Estimated Travel:
Up to 10 % -20% domestic travel

Salary:
For candidates who fully meet the requirements, the salary range is $98,940 – $120,360 depending on years of experience and ELPC’s internal salary equity considerations. ELPC provides a very robust benefits package competitive to leading national and regional environmental non-profits. 

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