Salary Range: Staff Attorney: $69,000 - $85,000; Senior Attorney: $85,000 - $125,000

Location:  Applicants residing in or ready to relocate to the DC area preferred; exceptional candidates who will work remotely will also be considered.

ABOUT THE CENTER
The Center for Biological Diversity, a national 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, believes the welfare of human beings is deeply linked to nature — to the existence of a vast diversity of wild animals, plants and people. Because diversity has intrinsic value, and because its loss impoverishes society, we work to secure a future for all species, great and small, hovering on the brink of extinction. We do so through science, law, activism and creative media, with a focus on protecting the lands, waters and climate that humans, other species and all communities need to survive and thrive.

We want those who come after us to inherit a world where the wild is still alive.

POSITION SUMMARY
The Staff or Senior Attorney will work as part of a highly driven, dynamic, and supportive team in the Energy Justice Program. Organizational priorities for the Program include challenging federal, state, and utility attacks on distributed renewable energy and energy democracy; holding utilities accountable for egregious behavior harming ratepayers, especially poor communities and communities of color, wildlands, and the climate; and generally stripping the social license of fossil utilities, which are at the frontline of driving the climate emergency.

The main duties of this role include innovative impact litigation and administrative advocacy, as well as advancing justice-centered campaigns at both the federal and state levels. The attorney will litigate federal and state court and administrative cases, build and maintain effective relationships with partners, conduct media advocacy, and engage the public through campaign activities. The ideal candidate will have excellent research, writing, and public speaking skills and be a proactive and confident self-starter, with an ability to think strategically, creatively, and quickly. The position may require work on other organizational priorities as well. The attorney will report to and work closely with the Energy Justice Legal Director and closely collaborate with the Program’s other lawyers, campaigners, policy specialists, and media colleagues.

ESSENTIAL JOB DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Work closely with Energy Justice program staff to identify, develop and litigate cases, rulemaking petitions, and administrative and regulatory advocacy instruments before state and federal regulatory agencies to advance program goals;
• Draft legal briefs,  petitions and technical comment letters on environmental issues, permitting processes, proposed rules, and other actions across numerous state and federal regulatory agencies;
• Produce consistently high-quality work, including delivering regular legal work such as briefs, memos, petitions, technical comment letters, or oral arguments, as needed;
• Build and maintain relationships with partner organizations and activists and decisionmakers; 
• Represent the Center in coalitions and meetings related to active campaigns and litigation;
• Conduct media advocacy, including drafting press releases, fact sheets, drafting opinion editorials, and delivering effective statements to reporters;
• Engage the public through campaign activities such as action alerts and public speaking;
• Collaborate regularly, including on case development, feedback and review of writing, and strategic thinking, with the Energy Justice legal director and team;
• May include supervision of law clerks and legal fellows;
• Occasional travel required (meetings, conferences, hearings, oral arguments, field visits, etc.); 
• Perform other job-related duties as assigned.

ESSENTIAL QUALIFICATIONS AND SKILLS

• Law school graduate (no later than Spring 2021) admitted to (or prepared to waiver into) D.C. Bar;
• Minimum three years of civil litigation experience for Staff Attorney and eight years for Senior Attorney, environmental and energy law experience at federal and/or state levels highly preferred, including familiarity with Utility Commission processes; 
• Familiarity working with environmental justice communities preferred;
• Excellent writing, communication, research, and oral advocacy skills;
• Driven and go-getter attitude to identify opportunities, solve problems, and take initiative to drive projects forward;
• Strong work ethic, time management, and organizational skills;
• Ability to develop cases and manage a full docket of multiple matters at once;
• Literacy in energy law and energy justice;  
• A demonstrated commitment to social justice and environmental protection;
• Ability to work independently and as a part of an effective and close-knit team; and
• Commitment to principles of justice, equity and inclusion.  

WORKING CONDITIONS

This position will preferably work from the DC Office with a typical schedule of Monday-Friday with some morning, night and weekend work required at times due to deadlines, but the Program is open to remote work depending on circumstances, where stable and fast internet from your home office is required (the Center provides a home office stipend). The position will require travel for meetings, conferences, hearing, field visits, and court appearances. The DC Office is open all week, but the Team generally comes in 2-3 days/week.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

The ideal candidate must be able to complete all physical requirements of this job with or without a reasonable accommodation. This is not a complete description of all workplace conditions, and conditions are subject to change per the Organization’s discretion.

Cognitive

Ability to process and analyze information: [  ] Rarely    [  ] Occasionally   [X] Frequently  

Exchange accurate information: [  ] Rarely    [  ] Occasionally   [X] Frequently  

Communicate and express oneself with others: [  ] Rarely    [  ] Occasionally   [X] Frequently  

Interaction with other colleagues: [  ] Rarely    [  ] Occasionally   [X] Frequently  

Interaction with the public/co-collaborators: [  ] Rarely    [  ] Occasionally   [X] Frequently  

Physical

Reading (ingest data): [  ] Rarely    [  ] Occasionally   [X] Frequently  

Working on a computer: [  ] Rarely    [  ] Occasionally   [X] Frequently  

Typing: [  ] Rarely    [  ] Occasionally   [X] Frequently  

Writing by hand: [  ] Rarely    [X] Occasionally   [  ] Frequently  

Sitting: [  ] Rarely    [  ] Occasionally   [X] Frequently  

Walking: [  ] Rarely    [X] Occasionally   [  ] Frequently  

Standing: [  ] Rarely    [X] Occasionally   [  ] Frequently  

Lift/Carry 0-25 lbs: [X] Rarely    [  ] Occasionally   [  ] Frequently  

Lift/Carry 25-75 lbs: [X] Rarely    [  ] Occasionally   [  ] Frequently  

Climbing up or down stairs: [X] Rarely    [  ] Occasionally   [  ] Frequently  

Bending: [X] Rarely    [  ] Occasionally   [  ] Frequently  

Squatting: [X] Rarely    [  ] Occasionally   [  ] Frequently  

Reaching overhead: [X] Rarely    [  ] Occasionally   [  ] Frequently  

Repetitive motions: [  ] Rarely    [  ] Occasionally   [X] Frequently  

Ability to drive: [] Rarely    [X] Occasionally   [  ] Frequently  

Location Conditions

In person required (versus remote work): [  ] Rarely    [X] Occasionally   [  ] Frequently  

Travel required:  [  ] Rarely    [X] Occasionally   [  ] Frequently  

Night or weekend work: [  ] Rarely    [X] Occasionally   [  ] Frequently  

Work in outdoor conditions: [  ] Rarely    [X] Occasionally   [  ] Frequently  

BENEFITS (Subject to change—see Handbook for more details)
For regular staff working 30+ hours a week

• Fully paid medical premiums for staff, and greatly discounted for families.
• Fully paid dental and vision premiums for staff and their families.
• Generous employer contribution to HSA and HRA’s.
• Lifestyle Spending Account (LSA) provided for reimbursement of eligible wellness expenses.
• Center paid premiums for Short Term and Long Term Disability provided for all staff.
• Center paid premiums for Basic Life Insurance for all staff.
• Discounted premiums for pet discount program.

For all regular staff

• 403(b) plan with employer match and increasing employer paid contributions.
• Generous time off policies, including 13 paid holidays per year and 5 “personal” days awarded each year.
• Vacation accrual starts at a rate of 15 days annually, but it may be higher commensurate with experience, and paid sick days accrue at a rate of 10 days per year.
• Center Paid Time Off for parental leave, personal leave, caretaker leave and even pet caretaker leave.
• After 5 years of service, all employees receive a 12-week paid sabbatical.
• Relaxed work atmosphere and dress code.

JEDAI STATEMENT

The Center for Biological Diversity deeply values, and is committed to sustaining and promoting, both biological and cultural diversity. We welcome, embrace and respect diversity of people, identities and cultures. We are committed to fostering an organizational culture of diversity and inclusion. The Center believes staff and board diversity is critical to saving life on Earth.

We are an equal opportunity employer.

The Center complies with all federal and local laws regarding work authorization for new hires. We welcome and encourage anyone interested to apply to any of our open positions. Everyone, regardless of current work authorization, will be considered.