Earthjustice is accepting applications for two Associate Attorneys to join our Fossil Fuels Program. We use the power of the law to challenge the onslaught of new oil and gas infrastructure development that threatens climate, communities and our environment. This role will work cross-regionally with a focus on the Ohio River Valley, with the position based in Chicago, Illinois.

At a time when we desperately need to reduce greenhouse emissions, the oil and gas industry is aggressively expanding fossil fuel infrastructure, locking us into decades of future fossil fuel use and directly harming communities already hardest hit by climate disruption. Earthjustice’s Fossil Fuels program uses litigation, administrative advocacy, and partnership to advance an end to U.S. oil and gas extraction and production, and stop new infrastructure (e.g., petrochemical facilities, export terminals and pipelines).

The Associate Attorney program is designed to help attorneys who are in the early stages of their careers to develop into thoughtful, professional, and effective advocates skilled in the various phases of public interest litigation. The term for the associate position is three-years with the potential for an extension.

Responsibilities:

• Work with program staff and clients to investigate, develop, and litigate cases.
• Participate in the full range of tasks involved in litigation, including factual investigation, legal research, memo writing, comments, briefing, discovery, and oral advocacy.
• Review and analyze administrative records and technical documents, and prepare comments on proposed agency actions, permits, and environmental review documents.
• Engage with clients, coalition partners, and experts, as well as internal communications and legislative staff.
• Hire and supervise law students who work at Earthjustice as interns or clerks.