Associate Attorney, Northern Rockies

Earthjustice seeks an Associate Attorney to join our Bozeman office. In the Northern Rockies, we are engaged in litigation focused on protecting and preserving the iconic wildlife species and wild lands of this incomparable region. The Northern Rockies office has played a leading and long-standing role as the last line of defense for the ecosystems encompassing Yellowstone and Glacier national parks, as well as the grizzly bears, wolves, bison and other species that depend upon the integrity of these spectacular areas.

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; and 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.

The Associate Attorney position is a three-year position with the potential for extension, 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. As Associate Attorneys gain experience, they gradually take on more independent responsibility for their cases but work throughout their tenure under the supervision of Senior Attorneys, Deputy Managing Attorneys, or the Managing Attorney. Many Associates have gone on to other positions within Earthjustice and with other public interest organizations.

We are equally engaged in the battle to combat global warming by challenging coal mining and coal-fired power plants, ensuring fair opportunities for development of renewable energy sources, and responding to a rapid natural gas development boom that is spreading and raising new environmental protection and human health issues across the Northern Rockies region.

In recent years, the work of the Northern Rockies office has increasingly touched on Native American interests and issues of Indian law, including work to restore wild bison to tribal lands; to oppose oil and gas exploration on public national forest lands of extreme cultural and spiritual importance to the Blackfeet people; and to defend the integrity of culturally and spiritually lands and waters against threats posed by hardrock mining.

We regularly litigate federal and state court cases and administrative proceedings in an effort to defeat the major threats to the region’s ecological integrity. For more information about our office’s work, visit http://earthjustice.org/about/offices/northern-rockies. This hybrid position is based in our Bozeman, Montana office. This is not a remote position. The successful candidate will be required to come into the office as-needed, though that is typically 1 day a week.

Responsibilities:

Associate Attorneys perform a range of litigation and advocacy-related tasks that can include:

• Conducting legal and factual research.
• Reviewing and analyzing administrative records and technical documents.

Drafting motions, briefs, and other legal and factual documents in support of litigation and administrative advocacy. Participating in proceedings before federal and state courts and agencies. Cultivating relationships with clients, experts, allies, and coalition partners. Integrating media and legislative advocacy into litigation and other legal strategies.

Hiring and supervising law students as Earthjustice interns or clerks.

Required Qualifications:

Law school graduate 1-6 year of legal experience and admitted to, or willing and eligible to apply for admission to, the Montana Bar. Excellent research, analytic, writing, and communication skills. Strong and demonstrated work ethic, good judgment, initiative, and creativity. Strong desire to fight for the right of all to a healthy environment.

Ability to work well independently and in a team-oriented atmosphere. Commitment to serving the public interest and a passion for the role of Earthjustice and its mission.

• Demonstrated awareness and sensitivity to the needs and concerns of individuals from diverse cultures, backgrounds, and orientations.

Ability and desire to contribute to the creation of a diverse, equitable, and inclusive work culture that encourages and celebrates differences. High level of emotional intelligence and excellent interpersonal skills.

We offer a mission- and employee-focused work environment and a competitive compensation package, including excellent benefits. Earthjustice is an equal opportunity employer and highly values diversity. 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 range in Bozeman, MT: $97,600 - $115,500

To Apply:

Interested applicants should submit the following via Jobvite:

Resume. Cover letter that addresses: 1) your interest in serving as an associate attorney; (2) why you are drawn to Earthjustice’s mission and whether there are particular legal, environmental, or social justice issues that inspire you; and (3) aspects of your background that demonstrate competence to promote diversity, equity, and inclusion in work with clients and colleagues. Also, please include the earliest date you would be available to begin work.

Writing sample, preferably a legal brief or memorandum containing legal analysis. Please include a cover sheet explaining the extent of any editing by someone else, and any other details about the writing sample that you believe Earthjustice will find helpful. Law school transcript. For this position, we are looking to hire a candidate who is available to start in April, June or September 2026. Preference will be given to candidates who apply by February 1, 2026. After that, applications may be reviewed on a rolling basis until the position is filled. Earthjustice brings our associate attorneys on board on a quarterly schedule, during the months of January, April, June, and September.

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 is driven by a passion for justice, partnership, inclusion 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 given 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 specified under applicable laws that is not related to the position.

For positions located within the City and County of San Francisco: Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records. For positions located within the City of Los Angeles: We will consider qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with the Los Angeles Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring.

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