Context: The Sierra Club is the nation's leader in grassroots environmental litigation. We enforce the environmental laws and target the most pressing environmental issues through strategic legal advocacy at the federal, state, and local levels nationwide. For more information, visit us atsierraclub.org/environmentallaw.
Scope: The Sierra Club Environmental Law Program is seeking an Associate Attorney to begin work starting in September 2019. As part of the national Sierra Club’s legal team, the Associate Attorney helps coordinate all aspects of the Club’s legal work. Under the supervision of a Managing Attorney, the Associate Attorney evaluates proposed Sierra Club environmental litigation and prepares formal written recommendations for the Club’s decision makers; serves as a legal resource for Sierra Club chapters around the country; helps strategize and implement programmatic legal campaigns; and participates as counsel in select litigation matters aimed at advancing the national Club’s top priority campaigns.
The Environmental Law Program directs legal strategy for the Sierra Club’s campaigns, including Beyond Coal, Beyond Dirty Fuels, and Our Wild America. We litigate cases and coordinate legal work among campaigns, state-level chapters, and NGO coalitions.
- Evaluate proposed environmental litigation so that national volunteer and staff leadership can decide whether the Sierra Club should participate in a lawsuit.
- Oversee and administer ongoing Club litigation so that Club can maintain overview of its litigation docket; help resolve problems that arise in individual lawsuits.
- Serve as a legal resource for local chapters and other volunteer entities.
- Assist litigating key Club lawsuits under the supervision and mentorship of senior and staff attorneys.
- 0–3 years of post-law school graduation experience.
- Excellent writing and analytical skills.
- Strong interpersonal and consensus‑building skills.
- A commitment to working collaboratively to advance equity, inclusion, and justice. Knowledge of environmental law and passion for the Sierra Club’s mission to enlist humanity to protect and restore the quality of the natural and human environment.