Context: Sierra Club enforces environmental laws and targets the nation’s most pressing environmental issues through strategic legal advocacy at the federal, state, and local levels. Attorneys in the Environmental Law Program litigate cases in support of Sierra Club’s national campaigns. For more information, visit us at http://www.sierraclub.org/environmentallaw
Scope: The Sierra Club Environmental Law Program seeks an associate attorney to begin work at Sierra Club national headquarters in Oakland, California starting in September 2020. As part of the national Sierra Club’s legal team, the associate attorney helps coordinate all aspects of the Club’s legal work. Working with senior and staff attorneys, the associate attorney evaluates proposed Sierra Club environmental litigation and prepares formal written recommendations for the Club’s decision makers; provides legal advice to 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 Sierra Club’s national 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 partner 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 litigation so that the Sierra Club can maintain an overview of its litigation docket; help resolve problems that arise in individual lawsuits.
- Advise local chapters and other volunteer entities on legal matters.
- Assist litigating key 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, including the ability to work collaboratively with clients and colleagues from diverse backgrounds.
- Passion for the Sierra Club’s mission to protect and restore the quality of the natural and human environment.
- Demonstrated commitment to equity, inclusion, and justice.
- Knowledge of environmental law (preferred).
The Sierra Club offers competitive salary package commensurate with skills and experience plus excellent benefits that include medical, dental, and vision coverage, and a retirement savings 401(k) plan.