Staff Attorney, Florida Regional Office

Lands, Wildlife, and Oceans 

Earthjustice is seeking an experienced Staff Attorney to join its Florida Regional Office in Miami.  The position will build our capacity to protect lands, oceans and wildlife in Florida and the region.  Earthjustice typically litigates these issues in federal court, but our work also encompasses state court litigation and administrative advocacy.  The Staff Attorney will be based in Miami and collaborate with colleagues in the Tallahassee office, as well as with program staff dedicated to work on lands, oceans and wildlife throughout Earthjustice. 

Earthjustice is the nation’s premier nonprofit environmental law organization.  We take on the biggest, most precedent-setting cases across the country.  We wield the power of law and the strength of partnership to protect people’s health; to preserve magnificent places and wildlife; to advance clean energy; and to combat climate change.  We partner with thousands of groups, supporters, individuals and communities to engage the critical environmental issues of our time and bring about positive change.  We are here because the earth needs a good lawyer. 

Founded in 1971, Earthjustice has a distinguished track record of achieving significant, lasting environmental protections.  We achieve this by hiring those who share a passion for justice and a healthy environment for all.  Our headquarters are in San Francisco with offices across the U.S., including Anchorage, Juneau, Los Angeles, Honolulu, New York, Philadelphia, Denver, Seattle, Bozeman and Washington, D.C. 

For nearly thirty years, Earthjustice’s Florida Regional Office has fought to protect and restore Florida’s waters for the benefit of the people, ecosystems and wildlife that depend on them.  Earthjustice’s Oceans Program works throughout the country and the world to protect ocean ecosystems; safeguard imperiled marine life; prevent the expansion of offshore drilling; and build resiliency against climate change.  To learn more about recent Oceans cases in Florida, click here (coral reefs) and here (oil drilling).  To learn more about Earthjustice’s work to protect public lands and wildlife, visit http://earthjustice.org/the-wild.  

The lands, oceans and wildlife Staff Attorney in Florida will work collaboratively with colleagues in the Florida Regional Office and program staff throughout the organization; help develop a strategic docket; lead litigation in Florida and the region; expand our partnerships with affected communities; supervise the work of junior attorneys, interns and litigation assistants; integrate communications and legislative advocacy into legal strategies; and promote a diverse, equitable and inclusive work culture that encourages and celebrates differences.  

The Staff Attorney’s time will be spent on program (70%), supervision/mentoring (20%) and administrative tasks (10%). 

Responsibilities:

• Manage new and existing cases from start to finish, performing all aspects of litigation, including: drafting pleadings, motions, and briefs; conducting discovery; presenting oral arguments; and handling appeals.
• Conduct factual investigations and develop legal theories for possible advocacy or litigation advancing the goals of our clients.
• Participate in long-term planning, strategy development, goal-setting, and work plan management to advance a collective vision for future work by the Florida Regional Office.
• Contribute to a learning and mentorship culture, and engage with colleagues in a manner that is respectful, professional, and supportive.
• Engage in organizational and office-specific efforts to foster a diverse, equitable, and inclusive workplace, and personally engage with colleagues, clients, and partners in a manner that is consistent with those efforts.
• Supervise the work of Associate Attorneys, Law Clerks, and Litigation Assistants as part of a litigation team.
• Develop and manage relationships with co-counsel, and with a diverse group of clients and coalition partners.
• Work effectively with other departments within Earthjustice, including Communications, Development, Operations, and Policy and Legislation.

Qualifications:

• Lawyer with at least six years of litigation experience and capable of leading litigation who is admitted, or willing to apply for admission, to the Florida bar.
• A commitment to public interest work and a passion for Earthjustice’s mission.
• Proven research, analysis, writing, and oral advocacy skills.
• Ability to work both independently and in collaboration with others.
• Initiative, good judgment, and a strong work ethic.
• Ability to travel as needed for case work, court appearances and presentations.
• Demonstrated awareness of and sensitivity to the needs and concerns of individuals from diverse cultures, backgrounds and orientations.
• Commitment to the creation of a diverse, equitable and inclusive work culture that encourages and celebrates differences. 

We offer a mission- and employee-focused work environment and a competitive compensation package with excellent benefits, including payment of certain bar-related expenses.  Earthjustice is an equal opportunity employer and highly values diversity.  People of color are strongly encouraged to apply.  To Apply:   

Using the Jobvite application tool, interested candidates should submit a:

 Resume.

• One- or two-page cover letter.
• Legal writing sample.
• List of contact information for three professional references.

If you cannot attach one or more of the requested documents because of a technical difficulty, please email jobs@earthjustice.org.

 Please, no phone calls, hard copies, or drop-ins.

Earthjustice is driven by a passion for justice, partnership and excellence. Our core values lead us to seek a broad range of perspectives and backgrounds to achieve our mission and to maintain an inclusive environment where all staff are valued and respected. As an equal opportunity employer, we are committed to employment practices that ensure that employees and applicants for employment are provided with equal opportunities without regard to race, color, national origin, ancestry, sex, age, religion, physical or mental disability, medical condition, veteran status, marital status, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, genetic information or any other factor that is not related to the position.

For positions located within the City and County of San Francisco: Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

For positions located within the City of Los Angeles: We will consider qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with the Los Angeles Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring.

Please apply here.