Associate Attorney

The Associate Attorney program places recently graduated lawyers into our regional offices for two-year fellowships, with the possibility of an additional 3rd year. The California Regional Office is looking for an associate with a maximum of up to two years of litigation and/or judicial clerkship experience. Associate attorneys work closely with staff attorneys, research associates, and program assistants, to investigate, develop, and litigate cases. Associates participate in the full range of tasks necessary to complex litigation, including client and expert meetings, factual investigation, legal research, discovery, briefing, and, on occasion, oral argument. The associate attorney will be assigned to specific cases, working in a supporting role with staff attorneys, perform research for staff attorney cases not assigned to the associate, and handle screening of potential new cases. Occasionally, in the second or third year at Earthjustice, s/he may be given lead responsibility for a case co-counseled by a staff attorney. Associate attorneys also manage the hiring and supervision of student law clerks. Many associates have gone on to other positions within Earthjustice, with other conservation organizations, or with government agencies handling environmental issues.

Applicants for the associate attorney position with the California Regional Office should have excellent academic credentials and top-notch research and writing skills. Law review, environmental clerkships with non-profit or government agencies, moot court, or other advocacy and writing experience is helpful. Applicants should have a strong work ethic, a sense of initiative, and the ability to work well as part of a litigation team. A demonstrated commitment to public interest law and familiarity with environmental law is preferred. A sense of humor is also useful!

The office is relocating to San Francisco later this year, easily reachable by public transit. Salary is DOE, and the benefits package is generous.

Candidates should apply by submitting a cover letter, resume and writing sample to eajusca@earthjustice.org ( please write Associate Attorney in the subject line ) or mail to: Earthjustice, California Regional Office, 426 17th St., 5th Floor, Oakland, CA 94612.

No phone calls or drop-ins, please; candidates doing so will not be considered.