Jobs

Legal Director

About Trustees for Alaska Trustees for Alaska is the only nonprofit, public interest, environmental law firm founded and focused in Alaska, providing free legal counsel to protect and defend Alaska’s lands, waters, wildlife, and communities. Trustees has been a legal force of environmental advocacy in Alaska since 1974. We take on the most pressing conservation issues in Alaska for a variety of clients who bravely fight for their rights and for the health and cultures of Alaska for future generations. We work on issues ranging from oil and gas development and large mining projects to public land use, air and water pollution, and the protection of wildlife. We help shape Alaska’s environmental future. General description of position The Legal Director is responsible for ensuring that the legal work conducted by Trustees for Alaska is carried out to the highest standards of professional practice. The Legal Director supervises and collaborates with the legal staff in all legal work. This is a management position and taking a lead role in legal work will be rare. The Legal Director should be a skilled and experienced litigator and preferably familiar with environmental and administrative law. The Legal Director must be a skilled manager and a team builder with strong collaborative and strategic skills, and be comfortable with public speaking. The Legal Director will work collaboratively with the Executive Director to provide leadership and strategic vision for the organization in addressing major conservation issues facing Alaska and in carrying out the work of the organization, including: • Case and Legal Matter Management, Planning and Coordination with Executive Director and Board regarding legal work – 85% • Case Intake and Client relations – 10% • Public policy development, education, and outreach – 5% Skills This position requires strong legal, collaboration, and management skills, and a commitment to social equity and racial justice, along with an eagerness to understand how these issues play out in communities impacted by pollution, industrialization, and the climate crisis. Other qualifications required include: • Excellent leadership, mentorship, supervision and management skills; • Excellent legal, analytical, and communication skills; • Ability to provide strategic advice and perspectives regarding litigation and legal components of campaigns and coalitions; • Ability to work independently, effectively strategize and prioritize tasks, and flexibility to adjust when circumstances require; • Strong emotional intelligence and the ability to foster, work within, and support a collaborative, teambased environment; and • Humility and strong understanding of the importance of resiliency. Legal Director Position Announcement Education and Experience Desired • Law degree from accredited law school; • Significant experience in law practice, preferably with public interest, administrative, natural resources or environmental law, including demonstrated litigation experience and strong foundational skills in case development and management, client management, and communications; • Experience supervising legal staff; • Experience working within coalitions or collaborating with different entities, stakeholders, etc. to achieve a common goal; and • Membership and good standing of a state bar, and a willingness to gain membership into the Alaska Bar, and to be admitted to practice in front of the Federal District Court of Alaska, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, and the U.S. Supreme Court, as necessary. Working Conditions We work a 40-hour week using a flexible work from home and in-office hybrid model. Our office environment is supportive and dog and child-friendly. We occasionally travel, including to remote areas. The position is based in Anchorage, Alaska. Requests to work remotely while pursuing relocation will be considered. Salary and benefits This is a full-time position with benefits that include paid leave, sick time, and medical/dental/vision, along with flexibility for both in-office and at home work in Anchorage. The salary range is $105,000 – 125,000. How to apply We aim to engage in an unbiased application review process that reviews applications through an anonymous process. • Please email a resume and cover letter to Ashley Boyd at aboyd@trustees.org with “Legal Director Application” in the subject line. • Please remove all named academic institutions from your resume. • Applicants who proceed in the interview process will be asked for writing sample(s) and references in that process. • Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis beginning May 20, 2023, and the position will remain open until filled. Trustees is an Equal Opportunity Employer We commit to equity, diversity, and inclusion, and are an equal opportunity employer. We value the varied life experiences all people can bring to our work. We make employment decisions based on organizational needs, job requirements, and individual skills and qualifications. We prohibit harassment and discrimination of any kind, including related to race, sex, age, culture, ethnicity, gender identity and expression, nation of origin, languages spoken, parental status, veteran’s status, color, education, religion, medical history, disability, and sexual orientation. Respecting each other is an integral part of our organizational culture, and we cultivate a work environment that recognizes the strength of diversity and the contributions everyone can bring to our mission. We make gratitude, kindness, and a supportive work environment central to the way we work together.

Job posted: 2023-05-16