Context: The Sierra Club is the nation's leader in grassroots environmental and energy litigation. We enforce environmental laws and target the most pressing environmental issues through strategic legal advocacy at the federal, state, and local levels nationwide. Attorneys in the Environmental Law Program litigate cases in support of the Sierra Club’s national campaigns. For more information, visit us atsierraclub.org/environmental law.
Scope: The Sierra Club Environmental Law Program is seeking an Associate Attorney to join the national Sierra Club’s legal team as a litigator for the Beyond Coal Campaign. Under the supervision of a Managing Attorney, the Associate Attorney serves as a legal resource for the Beyond Coal Campaign; litigates environmental and energy cases supporting the Campaign; helps design and implement legal strategies; and coordinates with campaign staff, coalition partners, and outside counsel.
- Litigates key Sierra Club lawsuits, under the supervision of managing and senior staff attorneys; assumes increasing litigation responsibilities including discovery management, witness handling, brief writing and oral argument.
- Implements strategic, programmatic legal campaigns to support the Sierra Club’s Beyond Coal and other campaigns objectives; helps coordinate the litigation work of strategic legal campaigns; assumes responsibility for relationships with staff, volunteer leaders, and outside counsel.
- Helps evaluate proposed litigation to advise national volunteer and staff leadership on the scope of Sierra Club participation in legal actions.
- Helps develop and plan programmatic litigation campaigns to support the Sierra Club’s Beyond Coal Campaign objectives; assists in drafting legal components of strategic plans and reports.
- Analyzes legal cases and trends for Sierra Club management and membership.
- Serves as legal resource for Sierra Club membership; helps Chapters and groups with their local energy-related legal programs and objectives.
- Performs miscellaneous duties as directed.
- 0–3 years of experience as a practicing attorney.
- 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 or energy law.
- Passion for the Sierra Club’s mission to enlist humanity to protect and restore the quality of the natural and human environment.