Senior Attorney, Rocky Mountain Regional Office

Earthjustice seeks an experienced Senior Attorney to join the Rocky Mountain Regional Office and advance our climate and clean energy work. The Senior Attorney will work primarily on accelerating the clean energy transition in Colorado, while also working on climate and energy matters in Arizona and other states in our region.

Earthjustice is the nation’s leading environmental law organization. Wielding the power of law, Earthjustice partners with our clients to take on the most critical fights of our time—fights to protect the incredible biodiversity and wild places of the planet; to avert climate disaster by transitioning society away from fossil fuels toward clean energy; to safeguard the right of all people to a healthy environment. We are here because the earth needs a good lawyer.

Founded in 1971, Earthjustice has a distinguished track record of achieving significant, lasting environmental protections. We achieve this by hiring people who share a passion for justice and a healthy environment. Our headquarters are in San Francisco with offices in Anchorage, Bozeman, Chicago, Denver, Honolulu, Houston, Juneau, Los Angeles, Miami, New Orleans, New York, Seattle, Tallahassee and Washington, D.C.

Earthjustice’s Rocky Mountain Office was established in 1972 as the second of the now fifteen Earthjustice offices. Based in Denver, the Rocky Mountain Office focuses on issues in the Intermountain West and Southwest. We fight to promptly and equitably transition states in our region from a reliance on dirty fossil fuels to clean, renewable energy. We fight for the right to a healthy environment, and we defend disproportionately impacted and tribal communities from pollution and other environmental harms. We fight to protect our region’s treasured public lands and wildlife from fracking, mining, and other threats. Learn more about the Rocky Mountain Office and its work at https://earthjustice.org/about/offices/rocky-mountain.

The Senior Attorney will advance the Rocky Mountain Office’s work to ensure an equitable transition to a clean energy future in the Intermountain West and Southwest. The Senior Attorney will use litigation and advocacy before state energy regulators and courts to promote the growth and accessibility of clean energy resources such as solar, energy efficiency, electric vehicles, heat pumps, and battery storage. The Senior Attorney will also work to electrify buildings and transportation; challenge utility investments in coal- and gas-fired power plants; and elevate the voices of environmental justice communities in utility commission proceedings and other regulatory processes. The Senior Attorney will work primarily on the Rocky Mountain Office’s clean energy and energy justice work in Colorado, and the attorney may also work on climate and energy matters in Arizona and nearby states. While the Senior Attorney’s work will focus predominantly on power sector, building decarbonization, and transportation electrification matters, the attorney may also work on other Rocky Mountain Office cases if needed.

The Rocky Mountain office is located in the heart of downtown Denver. The office employs a hybrid approach where staff are in the office a minimum of one day per week. The Senior Attorney will be based out of the Denver office, and we will consider applicants to work remotely from other locations in Colorado or Arizona on a case-by-case basis.

For litigators and advocates committed to saving the planet and the people who depend on it, Senior Attorney at Earthjustice is the best job on the planet. Learn more about our Senor Attorney careers and work online here: https://earthjustice.org/about/jobs/senior-attorney

Responsibilities:

• Lead complex climate and energy cases before state public utility commissions, state air agencies, federal agencies, and state and federal courts.
• Prepare discovery, pleadings, testimony, cross-examination, briefs, and oral argument in state and federal regulatory proceedings and court proceedings.
• Work with our media and policy and legislation teams, as well as clients and partners, to leverage legal advocacy to obtain positive change and results.
• Train and mentor junior attorneys, interns, and litigation assistants, including by building their litigation skills in the course of legal advocacy.
• Cultivate new allies and engage in partnerships with, and potential representation of, community groups, environmental justice organizations, and Tribal entities.
• Join other staff in long-term planning, strategy development, goal setting, and work plan management that advances Earthjustice’s work.
• Contribute to efforts to ensure a diverse, equitable, and inclusive work culture that encourages and celebrates differences.

Qualifications:

• Juris Doctorate (JD) degree.
• Admitted or willing to seek admission to the Colorado bar.
• At least six years of legal experience, including substantial experience with litigation and regulatory proceedings.
• Excellent research, analytic, writing, and communication skills required; trial skills and appellate litigation skills are a plus.
• Experience engaging in advocacy on clean energy and energy justice issues strongly preferred.
• Proficient at working with technical experts.
• Ability to develop and maintain partnerships with community-based or other grassroots groups interested in energy litigation and other advocacy.
• Ability to manage a litigation docket effectively, lead a litigation team, and work independently and collaboratively with colleagues and partner organizations.
• Experience mentoring and supervising others.
• Demonstrated awareness and sensitivity to the needs and concerns of individuals from diverse cultures, backgrounds, and orientations; and the ability to create a diverse, equitable, and inclusive work culture that encourages and celebrates differences.
• Commitment to public interest work and a passion for the role of Earthjustice and its mission, including a desire to fight for the right of all to a healthy environment.
• Ability and willingness to travel for case work and court and regulatory proceedings, including spending substantial time in Denver, Colorado; Phoenix, Arizona; and other locations as needed.
• Spanish language skills are a preferred qualification.

We offer a competitive salary and excellent benefits that are comprehensive and competitive. We also offer a congenial, flexible, hybrid work environment and a casual dress code. As a 501(c)(3) organization, Earthjustice is a qualifying employer for purposes of the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) Program.

Salary depends on experience and location.

Salary in Denver, CO is $ $152,900+ .

Salary in Remote in AZ or CO is $ $144,400+ .

We offer a mission- and employee-focused work environment and a competitive compensation package that includes excellent benefits. Earthjustice is an equal opportunity employer and highly values diversity. People of color are strongly encouraged to apply.

To Apply:

Interested applicants should submit the following via Jobvite:

• Resume
• One- or two-page cover letter that addresses (1) why you are drawn to Earthjustice’s mission and whether there are any particular legal, environmental, or justice issues that inspire you; (2) any experiences you have working on climate and clean energy issues; and/or (3) any experiences you have working with disproportionately impacted communities and diverse clients and colleagues.
• Writing sample, preferably a legal brief or memorandum that primarily reflects your work.

Preference will be given to those who apply by March 6, 2025. After that, applications may be reviewed on a rolling basis until the position is filled.

Please reach out to jobs@earthjustice.org if you are having technical difficulties submitting your application. No phone calls, drop-ins, or hard copies. Earthjustice only accepts resumes submitted for positions that are currently open. Unsolicited resumes or resumes for posted positions that are not submitted via the on-line application process (where available), will not be reviewed or retained.

Earthjustice is driven by a passion for justice, partnership and excellence. Our core values lead us to seek a broad range of perspectives and backgrounds to achieve our mission and to maintain an inclusive environment where all staff are valued and respected. As an equal opportunity employer, we are committed to employment practices that ensure that employees and applicants for employment are provided with equal opportunities without regard to race, color, national origin, ancestry, sex, age, religion, physical or mental disability, medical condition, veteran status, marital status, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, genetic information or any other factor that is not related to the position.

PI261430325