Associate/Sr. Associate Attorney-Appellate Focus

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 and transportation 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 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 and nationally during these extraordinary and challenging times.

JOB SUMMARY:
The Associate/Senior Associate Attorney (depending on experience) will focus on appellate litigation across ELPC’s Clean Air – Clean Water, Clean Energy, Climate Solutions, and Great Places – Great Lakes programs.  ELPC’s appellate docket includes active litigation before federal appellate and district courts involving federal agency actions (e.g., US EPA, US DOI, US DOE, USDA, FERC), and federal rulemakings and other administrative proceedings, and litigation before state supreme courts to achieve better outcomes for our environmental and vital natural resources, people and communities, and the planet.

POSITION TITLE: Associate Attorney (2-3 years of experience) or Senior Associate Attorney (4-6 years of experience) or(full time)

REPORTS TO: Senior Attorneys

LOCATION: Washington DC with a hybrid work environment that includes two required days in the office each week (Tuesdays and Wednesdays), to spur collaboration and effectiveness.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:

• Work with ELPC Managing Attorneys and Senior Attorneys on appellate litigation before federal and state courts, and federal regulatory advocacy, including:
  • Appellate brief-writing and motions practice
  • Drafting technical and legal comments to administrative agencies
  • Legal research and savvy analysis
• Assist Senior Attorneys with litigating a range of cases to protect the Great Lakes, vital natural resources, public health and the environment, including:
  • Factual and legal research to develop and support claims and legal arguments
  • Drafting pleadings, declarations, motions, and discovery/FOIA requests
  • Coordinate with experts and consultants
• Engage with clients, and organizational and community partners
• Collaborate with communications team and engage with the media on key cases
• Oversee legal interns as applicable

• Other duties, as assigned

Education & Experience (years):

• Juris Doctor degree
• 2 - 6 years of relevant litigation experience; experience with an environmental or public interest advocacy organization a plus
• Appellate or district court clerkship a plus

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Excellent legal and persuasive writing skills, including drafting appellate briefs and motions
• Keen legal research and analytical skills
• Facility with highly complex legal issues that often arise in scientific or technical context
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively across geographically dispersed multidisciplinary teams and manage multiple assignments with competing deadlines
• Demonstrated commitment to environmental protection and public interest litigation
• Knowledge/experience with the Administrative Procedure Act, Clean Air Act, Clean Water Act, NEPA, and/or other federal land management, pollution control, natural resource, and energy regulatory laws is a strong plus

Estimated Travel:

• 10-20 % domestic travel

Salary:
For candidates who fully meet the requirements, the salary range is $100,000 - $122,500 consistent with years of experience and internal equity considerations. ELPC offers a very attractive benefits package competitive with other leading national and regional public interest environmental law organizations. 

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