Staff or Senior Attorney – Environmental Justice

The Southern Environmental Law Center (SELC) is seeking a Staff or Senior Attorney to work across SELC’s six-state region as an Environmental Justice attorney. The preferred location for this position is SELC’s Chapel Hill, NC office, but other locations can be considered. Please state any office preferences in your cover letter or the application itself.

This is an excellent opportunity to be part of an organization that is successfully addressing some of the most important and challenging environmental justice issues in the South and the nation. This position is open to practicing attorneys with five or more years’ experience. SELC is enhancing and expanding our role as a strong and reliable advocate for environmental justice across our region as a top priority of our ten-year Strategic Plan. We are integrating environmental justice into our work, across all our program teams and offices. To accomplish those goals, we have created an Environmental Justice Initiative to coordinate this work. We are seeking an experienced attorney to join our Environmental Justice Initiative and enhance our capacity to bring cases and implement policies that move the South toward environmental justice. This attorney will work at the intersection of civil rights and environmental matters throughout SELC’s six-state region.

This attorney will assist in building SELC’s capacity to address environmental injustice in the region through bringing their own civil rights, environmental justice, and equity experience to bear internally and externally. This attorney will enhance internal capacity to achieve environmental justice, by continuing to elevate important environmental justice research, legal, regulatory, organizing, and outreach strategies, as well as historical context across SELC environmental program areas. They will help develop new cases, advise, or add strategic litigation capacity on behalf of grassroots organizations, communities, and established non-profits that seek to rectify environmental injustices. This representation will primarily be on behalf of groups that are led by and made up of communities of color. This attorney will work closely with SELC’s Environmental Justice Initiative Leader, geospatial team, communications staff, and other attorneys across our region.

SELC currently has a hybrid work model with at least three days working in the office each week and up to two days working remotely. This is a full-time, exempt position.

There are three primary categories of responsibility:

Responsibilities:

1. Identify Environmental Injustices and Advocate for Change:
   • Identify legislative, executive, and regulatory opportunities to advance environmental justice at the state and federal level.
   • Work as a partner on regional environmental justice strategy with the leader of SELC’s Environmental Justice Initiative, SELC attorneys and other staff working on environmental justice matters.
   • Engage in select litigation on environmental justice matters; these matters may be in state, federal, administrative, or quasi-judicial proceedings.
   • Conduct research to support EJ legal and policy work.
2. Integrate Environmental Justice Across SELC’s Advocacy:
   • Work with staff to incorporate Environmental Justice legal and policy work across program areas and initiatives.
   • Prepare and deliver internal presentations and materials to staff on environmental justice tools and strategies.
3. Community Engagement and Relationship Building:
   • Partner with SELC’s Environmental Justice Initiative Leader to connect underserved communities with Inflations Reduction Act grant opportunities.
   • Represent SELC in public settings including coalition and community meetings, hearings, and with press.
   • Engage in outreach efforts, attending grassroots convenings and advocacy groups’ events to collaborate on environmental justice initiatives.

Qualifications:

• Five or more years of practice with litigation experience, and an interest in engaging in select strategic litigation to advance environmental justice.
• Strong work ethic and initiative.
• Skilled and multi-faceted lawyer with excellent academic credentials, a background in environmental justice law, policy, and regulation.
• Experience working with communities of color and involving impacted communities in decision-making.
• Active listener and collaborator with experience working with community-based organizations.

To learn more about SELC and apply for this position, please visit SELC Careers.

About SELC:

The Southern Environmental Law Center is one of the nation’s most powerful defenders of the environment, rooted in the South. With a long track record, SELC takes on the toughest environmental challenges in court, in government, and in our communities to protect our region’s air, water, climate, wildlife, lands, and people.

Compensation & Benefits:

SELC offers salaries competitive with other leading environmental nonprofits nationally and provides an excellent benefits package. The minimum salary for this position based on the minimum qualifications is $103,283. SELC is a PSLF (Public Service Loan Forgiveness) eligible employer.

SELC will also provide relocation reimbursement for those relocating for an SELC position, up to a specific dollar amount and contingent on the move being at least 50 miles from the current primary address. For more details about our benefits package, please visit our Careers page.

Application Process:

To apply, click on the ‘Apply Now’ button below to be directed to an online application where you may upload your application materials. Applicants must submit a cover letter, resume, law school transcript, one writing sample, and three professional references. Interested persons should apply immediately, we will accept and review applications until the position is filled.

SELC is an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to fostering an inclusive workplace environment. We are eager to welcome new team members who share this commitment. Persons of all backgrounds—including people of color, women, people with disabilities, veterans, and LGBTQ candidates—are strongly encouraged to apply.