Attorney

NRDC (the Natural Resources Defense Council) works to safeguard the Earth, its people, its plants and animals, and the natural systems on which all life depends. NRDC combines the power of more than 3 million members and online activists with the expertise of some 800 policy advocates, lawyers, scientists, and communication experts to confront the climate crisis, protect nature, ensure the rights of all people to clean air, clean water, and healthy communities.  As an international nonprofit environmental organization, NRDC is working to address the world’s most urgent environmental challenges, and advance innovative, science-based, and enforceable solutions.  

Since our founding in 1970, NRDC has helped craft and deliver many of America’s foundational environmental laws, including the Clean Air Act, Clean Water Act and Safe Drinking Water Act. Today, we continue to lead in advancing and defending strong environmental protections at the local, state, federal and international levels, as well as through the marketplace. Our team works across the United States and around the world, from offices in Chicago, Los Angeles, New York City, San Francisco, and Washington, D.C., as well as in Beijing, and New Delhi (a subsidiary of NRDC India Pvt. Ltd.).  

Supported by our members and online activists, NRDC is driving impactful solutions that confront the climate crisis, defend nature and safeguard public health across Asia, Africa, and the Americas. At NRDC, we believe lasting change happens when people bring their talent, passion, and expertise together for a common purpose: to build a cleaner, healthier, and more resilient world. Learn more at nrdc.org 

NRDC is seeking an Attorney to work with the Litigation Team in any one of our U.S.-based offices. 

Position Summary 

The Attorney litigates cases on behalf of NRDC and outside partners, with the ability to lead record-review cases in federal or state trial or appellate courts with limited oversight by a Senior Attorney. This role also entails participating in other Team-development or institutional work. The position is based in one of NRDC’s main U.S. offices: New York, Washington D.C., Chicago, San Francisco, or Santa Monica, with a preference for candidates located in Santa Monica.   

This position is part of the bargaining unit represented by The Washington Baltimore News Guild (WBNG / The Newsguild-CWA Local 32035).  

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the following essential functions:

Active litigation (~85-90%)

• Litigate cases on behalf of NRDC and its partners, including leading record-review cases, drafting complaints and briefs, conducting legal research, and negotiating with opposing counsel, with limited oversight by a Senior Attorney.
• Develop or hone oral argument and other court presentation skills, with oversight by a Senior Attorney.
• Work within a case team to litigate complex cases, including discovery cases that may go to trial, with substantial oversight by a Senior Attorney.
• Develop client, co-counsel, and coalition relationships within NRDC and with outside partners.
• Research and act as a team-wide resource, as needed, on cross-cutting litigation issues.

Other team collaboration or institutional engagement (~10-15%)

• Oversee and mentor the work of legal interns, paralegals, and more junior attorneys on specific assignments, including by giving timely feedback and helping with project management.
• Contribute to the Team and NRDC’s litigation capacity in other ways, such as by serving on institutional committees, presenting trainings, drafting guidance documents, building relationships with other components of NRDC and allied groups, and engaging in development outreach.

The above list of duties is not comprehensive but generally demonstrates the types of matters under this position’s responsibility. Other duties may be assigned.

Minimum Education & Experience: 

Required

• Juris Doctorate degree.
• Admission to the state bar in the jurisdiction in which the applicant intends to practice, or a willingness to complete the requirements for admission to that bar before or during the first year of employment with NRDC. (NRDC covers a portion of any necessary bar exam and bar preparation expenses.)
• Minimum 3 to 8 years of post-law school experience, including active litigation experience, with at least 4 years of post-law school experience preferred.

Skills, Abilities, Competencies

• Demonstrated competency in working with people with different social identities than the applicant’s own (including race, gender, sexual identity or orientation, age, class, and disability).
• A strong conceptual and practical knowledge of litigation processes.
• Excellent legal writing, research, and analytical skills.
• Ability to lead medium-complexity cases, including record-review cases, with limited oversight from a Senior Attorney, overseeing all aspects of the case.
• Ability to participate in and contribute to discovery cases and cases that go to trial.
• Knowledge of environmental and/or administrative law and issues of federal practice.
• Ability to mentor and support less experienced staff, build collaborative and respectful relationships within the Team and across NRDC, and foster a culture of dignity and belonging.
• Ability to travel occasionally to other NRDC U.S. offices, and attend court hearings and other case-related meetings, as appropriate (5-15% of total working time annually).
• Demonstrated commitment to public service, equity, or social justice.
• Commitment to NRDC’s values and mission.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS 

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this position. The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of this position within the described work environment.

Frequently: Perform desk-based computer tasks

Frequently: Ability to interact and communicate with employees and others as necessary

Frequently:  Attend planned meetings and collaborate with management and coworkers

Occasionally: Ability to attend events and activities in the office or offsite

Work may sometimes be performed at home but requires significant time in the office. The noise level in the work environment is usually quiet in office settings and moderate in other situations. Hours of employment may sometimes require working flexible and/or longer hours, including nights and weekends, when necessitated by projects. The job includes work-related situations such as those involving challenging, important, urgent, time-sensitive, or multiple matters.

NRDC is committed to advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion, both in our work and in our workplace. We believe that celebrating and actively welcoming diverse voices and perspectives is essential to solving the planet's most pressing environmental problems, and we encourage applications from candidates whose identities have been historically under-represented in the environmental movement. 

We are an equal opportunity employer and do not discriminate in hiring or employment on the basis of race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, marital status, sexual orientation, national origin, citizenship, age, disability, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law. Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.  

We offer competitive salaries, excellent benefits, and a supportive working environment. Salary is based on a nonprofit scale and is commensurate with skills and experience. Internal equity will be reviewed and considered to determine a final offer. For this position, the salary range is $124,000 to $140,000.  

NRDC operates under a hybrid work model. Employees are required to come to the office 8 days per month. 

As a science-based organization, NRDC aims to do our part to help contain the COVID-19 public health crisis. For the sake of health, safety, and equity, we ask that people be vaccinated unless they have an approved medical or religious accommodation or other exemption in accordance with state and local law. We consider a person to be vaccinated two weeks after receiving one full course of a CDC-approved vaccine. In accordance with state or local law, new hires will be asked to attest to vaccination, those wishing to do so may request medical or religious accommodations or other exemptions via NRDC Employee Relations. NRDC treats all vaccine-related data confidentially, in keeping with local, state, and federal laws. 

To apply, visit www.nrdc.org/careers and upload your résumé, cover letter, and writing sample. Please mention where you saw this posting when applying. Due to the high volume of applications, we will contact only those candidates we would like to interview. Please no phone calls, emails, or in-person résumé drop-offs. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.

If you experience technical problems while applying or if you are a person with a disability and need assistance applying online, please reach out to iCIMS Customer Care at 1-800-889-4422. 

For more about NRDC, visit www.nrdc.org.