General Counsel

About this Position

Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility is seeking a General Counsel to carry out its mission to assist and defend public employees who protect the environment. PEER achieves this goal via litigation, engagement in regulatory and administrative processes, and advocacy.

The ideal candidate will have experience with two or more of the following:

• State or federal litigation, including investigating and researching potential claims, drafting complaints, briefs, and supporting documents, and participating in hearings and arguments.
• The federal regulatory process, either via litigation, notice-and-comment rulemaking, or other administrative processes.
• Environmental management or advocacy issues, including advising clients on environmental compliance issues.
• Employment law in the federal government, including worker protections and rights issues.

A demonstrated interest in strong environmental protections and a commitment to protecting whistleblowers is a must.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Legal Management: serve as PEER’s chief legal officer and authoritative legal advisor. Manage PEER’s legal affairs and the staff assigned to perform legal work.
• Development of Materials: prepare legal documents and memoranda necessary to fulfill the duties of the General Counsel.
• Administrative Management: draft the annual budget for the legal department and serve as Secretary to the Board of Directors.
• Litigation: serve as lead or co-counsel in proceedings in federal and state courts, including advising clients on litigation strategy, risks, and objectives, and carrying out all aspects of litigation from case initiation through appeal. This includes representing PEER and PEER’s clients in litigation and acting as co-counseling with other entities when appropriate. Litigation will be under federal and state environmental and public health laws, the Freedom of Information Act and employment law, particularly whistleblower law.
• Coalition Management: work with partners from a wide range of public interest spheres, including non-profits, local governments, unions, and individuals, to develop, litigate, and raise awareness of PEER’s legal work and build partnerships with other organizations.
• Advocacy: represent PEER before federal agencies in regulatory processes, including rulemakings, agency hearings, and agency meetings.
• Other Duties: write legal memoranda; draft, file, and litigate FOIA requests; and draft and submit other types of advocacy materials, including but not limited to, petitions for rulemaking, comments on proposed agency actions, and letters to entities responsible for agency oversight, such as Inspectors General and Scientific Integrity Officials.
• Manage and support the growth and development of junior legal staff. This includes providing appropriate and timely feedback to staff, informal mentorship, and other opportunities for collaboration and support.
• Contribute affirmatively to a workplace culture of inclusion and equity.

Qualifications

• J.D. from an accredited law school.
• Active membership in good standing in the bar of the District of Columbia, or membership in good standing in another state bar with the ability to become admitted in D.C.
• At least 7 years of relevant experience, ideally some of which will have been on behalf of or against federal or state governments and/or advocating for clients in the federal regulatory process.
• Demonstrated excellence in performing legal research and drafting legal documents (including court filings such as complaints, dispositive motions, and appeals, and/or regulatory filings such as comments and petitions for rulemaking), in a professional, timely, and self-directed manner. Excellent writing ability is a must.
• Familiarity with legal doctrines applicable to litigation and/or regulatory advocacy involving the federal government. Experience with the federal Administrative Procedure Act is a plus.
• Experience developing litigation in state and/or federal courts, including researching potential theories, developing potential clients, and building factual records.
• Ability to work collaboratively and respectfully on a team of attorneys and staff professionals in a relatively flat hierarchical structure.
• Ability to handle multiple concurrent assignments and meet deadlines; must work well independently and in a team environment.
• Ability to become proficient in new issue areas.
• Ability to develop and maintain relationships with clients and partner organizations.
• Well-developed collaborative and interpersonal skills, including demonstrated self-awareness, commitment to diversity and inclusivity, and ability to work with colleagues and stakeholders across diverse cultures and backgrounds.
• Commitment to workplace inclusion and ability to contribute affirmatively to a just and equitable workplace.

Salary and Benefits

The starting salary range for the General Counsel positions is $100,000 – $130,000, based on years of relevant experience and seniority. We have some of the best vacation, flextime and remote work possibilities available in the industry. Quality of life issues are paramount to our staff.

Applicants in the Washington, DC, area will be given preference. We are open to the possibility of this being a remote position. Periodic travel to Washington, DC, would be required.

PEER is an equal-opportunity employer. We value a diverse workforce and an inclusive culture. PEER is an equal opportunity employer. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, marital status, age, national origin, ancestry, physical or mental disability, medical condition, pregnancy, genetic information, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, veteran status, or any other status protected under federal, state, or local law.

Meet some but not all our qualifications? Don’t let that deter you from applying. If you believe that you could excel in our organization and believe in our mission, we hope you apply. We are dedicated to considering a broad array of candidates, including those with diverse workplace experiences and backgrounds. Please use your cover letter to tell us about your interest in our work and what you would bring to the role for which you are applying.

To Apply

Please send your resume or CV with a cover letter to employment@peer.org. No phone calls please.