Attorney

Company: Natural Resources Defense Council
Location: New York
Posted on: March 1, 2025

Job Description:

Attorney








Job ID

2025-5693



# of Openings

1



Group

Litigation






































Overview









NRDC is a non-profit environmental advocacy organization. We use law, science, and the support of 3.1 million members and online activists to protect the planet's wildlife and wild places and to ensure the rights of all people to clean air, clean water, and healthy communities. NRDC was founded in 1970 and our people helped write some of America's bedrock environmental laws, including the Clean Water Act and many of the implementing regulations. Today, our team of more than 700 lawyers, scientists, economists, policy advocates, communications experts, and others work across the United States and the globe from our offices in Beijing; Chicago; New Delhi; New York; San Francisco; Santa Monica; and Washington, D.C. NRDC is seeking an Attorney to work with the Litigation Team in any of NRDC's U.S. 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 you are applying forispart of the bargaining unit represented by The Washington Baltimore News Guild (WBNG /The Newsguild-CWA Local 32035).













Responsibilities









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%)
  • Supervise and mentor the work of legal interns, litigation assistants, 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.
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    Qualifications
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    Minimum Education & Experience:
    • Juris Doctorate degree or equivalent.
    • Admission to the state bar in the jurisdiction in which the applicant intends to practice.
    • 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, managing 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 (approximately 10% or less of total working time annually).
      • Demonstrated commitment to public service, equity, or social justice.
      • Commitment to NRDC's mission, values, and DEI principles. 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 $120,000 to $143,000. 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 resume, 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 resume 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.
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        Need help finding the right job?
        
        
        
        
        We can recommend jobs specifically for you!
        
        Click here to get started.
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        

Keywords: Natural Resources Defense Council, New York , Attorney, Legal , New York, New York