NRDC is now accepting applications for a Project Attorney position to join its Environmental Justice (EJ) Team. NRDC’s EJ Team is committed to partnering with and fighting for low-income communities of color, when invited, to hold the government and polluters accountable and to protect the health of communities. We accomplish this by providing legal and technical assistance to communities fighting for clean air, clean water, climate justice, and a healthy environment, as well as for environmental benefits such as open space, healthy housing, and access to healthy foods.
The successful candidate will collaborate with a team of attorneys, policy advocates, and other staff advancing environmental justice within the Healthy People & Thriving Communities program, as well as across the organization.
Successful candidates will demonstrate a strong independent track record of success, and the ability to contribute effectively as a member of a team and collaborate across a large non-profit organization. Specific responsibilities include:
- Developing relationships with communities and working with them to identify opportunities to partner or collaborate on EJ-related issues
- Screening and developing potential new EJ litigation, including conducting factual investigations and legal and policy research
- Pursuing and//or supporting litigation in state and federal court
- Engaging in advocacy before administrative agencies
- Attending community meetings, including meetings on nights and weekends
- Advocating for the adoption or passage of critical legislation, city ordinances, and government regulations
- Traveling, as necessary, to implement work plan
- Other duties as assigned
Substantive projects the attorney may work on:
- Working to rid toxics from the air, water, food, products, and soil in EJ communities
- Promoting land use decisions that benefit EJ communities
- Working to reduce the harms from ports, rail yards, distribution centers and other freight transportation facilities have on EJ communities
- Advocating for healthy housing, especially for low-income and people of color residents
- Building campaigns to preserve and expand open space and outdoor recreational opportunities for low-income communities and communities of color
- Advocating for equitable transit-oriented development
- Advocating for safe drinking water, especially for low-income and people of color communities
- Serving as a liaison with other NRDC programs and campaigns to identify EJ needs that support cross-program initiatives
- Working to build coalitions and partnerships on EJ and climate justice issues
The attorney will work with EJ Team staff in Santa Monica, New York, and Chicago, and be supervised by an attorney based in Santa Monica, CA.
- Member of California Bar
- Litigation experience, such as a federal court clerkship, is a plus
- Excellent strategic judgment and the energy and drive to develop and effectuate challenging campaigns
- Experience working with coalitions of community members and community-based organizations
- Excellent writing, research, analytic and public speaking skills
- Experience with and/or commitment to environmental justice work, racial justice work, or non-profit lawyering
- Demonstrated leadership experience and abilities
- Knowledge of environmental, civil rights, and administrative laws is a plus
- Proficiency in a second language is desirable.
NRDC offers a competitive salary and excellent benefits. People of color are strongly encouraged to apply for this position.