Wildlife, Biodiversity & Natural Resources Protection Litigation Attorney

~ The Environmental Law & Policy Center (ELPC) is the Midwest’s leading public interest environmental legal advocacy and eco-business innovation organization, and among the nation’s leaders in the field. ~

We develop and lead successful strategic environmental advocacy campaigns to improve environmental quality and protect our natural heritage. We are public interest environmental entrepreneurs who engage in creative business dealmaking with diverse interests to put into practice our belief that environmental progress and economic development can be achieved together.

ELPC’s multidisciplinary staff of 40+ talented public interest attorneys, M.B.A. environmental business specialists, policy advocates and communications specialists brings a strong and effective combination of skills to solve environmental problems and improve the quality of life in our communities. ELPC’s headquarters is in downtown Chicago, along with eight additional offices and staff across the Midwest and in Washington, D.C. For more information, please visit our website

Position Overview

The Environmental Law & Policy Center is hiring a skilled public interest litigation attorney with 8+ years of strong federal and state court, and administrative, litigation experience for a full-time position in our downtown Chicago office. This ELPC attorney will work on our natural resources preservation legal and policy advocacy, which now focuses on protecting the Great Lakes, Northwoods and Driftless Area, and wildlife and biodiversity.

This is a great position for a top-rate litigator who loves the outdoors and wants to devote her/his professional work to protecting the Midwest’s vital natural resources and wild and special places. This is an extraordinary time in which ELPC’s effective legal and policy advocacy – backed by strong economic analysis and public engagement – are essential to protect our core environmental values.

Responsibilities

•  Key litigation role advancing ELPC’s innovative and successful environmental program activities focused on protecting wildlife and biodiversity and the Midwest’s wild and special places.
• First-chair natural resources protection litigation and help lead policy advocacy campaigns in the “courts of public opinion” to succeed.
• Work with ELPC’s Executive Director and Senior Staff to help prioritize and provide savvy results-focused strategic direction for ELPC’s Natural Resources Protection Program.
• Work effectively in ELPC’s public interest entrepreneurial and multidisciplinary team culture.
• Fundraise to support ELPC’s Natural Resources Protection Program activities and expand program success.

Qualifications

• This attorney should have 8+ years litigation experience, preferably with a practice including environmental and natural resources legal and policy issues.
• The ideal background would be a public interest litigation organization, USDOJ or strong state AG’s office, or high-powered litigation law firm with hands-on trial and appellate experience.
• Excellent writing and persuasive oral advocacy abilities required.
• Strong academic background desired.
• The attorney should understand and enjoy multifaceted public policy strategic advocacy that involves media, legislative, economic and policy analysis and organizing approaches coordinated with strong and effective legal advocacy.
• An inspired and demonstrated commitment to public interest advocacy and the ability to work productively with a fast-paced team of skilled professionals are required.
• This attorney should thrive on engaging with project teams including scientists, MBAs and policy and media specialists.
• Ability and drive to win, achieve results and produce successes.

Compensation: Commensurate with experience and with ELPC’s salary structure, which is competitive with other major public interest environmental law organizations. Excellent benefits provided.

To Apply

Please click "Apply" below to upload your cover letter, resume and professional references by email to: Libby Prakel, Special Assistant to the Executive Director. Telephone inquiries are discouraged.