Senior Attorney

The Southern Environmental Law Center is seeking a Senior Attorney in our Atlanta, Georgia office. This individual will join our regional Water team and report to our Georgia Office Director. This position is open to practicing attorneys with nine or more years of litigation experience.

This is an excellent opportunity to join a highly successful, nationally recognized organization that is effectively addressing some of the most pressing and challenging environmental issues throughout the South and the nation.

SELC has a hybrid work model that offers employees flexibility to work remotely up to two days per week. This is a full-time, exempt position with a flexible start date. The individual selected for this position must reside in the metro Atlanta area.

About the Position

Protecting Georgia’s water resources is key to our future. This includes fighting to keep harmful industrial chemicals out of our drinking water, ensuring that Georgia’s waterways are not overburdened with sewage and polluted stormwater, and pushing utilities to move toxic coal ash out of leaky unlined pits on the banks of our rivers. We also work to make sure that our rivers and aquifers have enough clean water and are not overused, especially during droughts.

This attorney will work in federal, state, and administrative courts; state and federal agencies; legislative bodies; and local governments to champion protections for Georgia’s streams, rivers, and drinking water sources. As part of this work, the attorney will (1) engage with local governments to advocate for the creation of city- or county-level water protections; (2) work to ensure proposed development projects do not adversely affect Georgia waterways and drinking water; and (3) engage with partner organizations, communities, business leaders, policy-makers, regulators, and other stakeholders.

Primary Responsibilities

• Develop and champion creative litigation and policy strategies to enhance clean water protections in Georgia and across the South.
• Lead litigation in administrative, state, and federal courts.
• Coordinate with the regional Water team to support program priorities, including fighting harmful industrial toxins.
• Build and maintain effective relationships with local officials, regulators, community members, policymakers, partner groups, and other stakeholders.
• Monitor proposed permits that could adversely impact Georgia’s waterways and participate in administrative proceedings related to those projects, including researching and drafting comments, speaking at public hearings, and challenging permits where appropriate.
• Develop and maintain expertise in law and policy related to state and federal clean water protections.
• Mentor, train, and/or supervise less-experienced attorneys.
• Work collaboratively with SELC’s regional program teams, communications team, development team, geospatial team, and outside experts and consultants.

Required Qualifications

• Minimum of nine years of relevant legal practice experience.
• Active license to practice law in Georgia or willingness to seek admission to practice in Georgia.
• State or federal litigation experience.
• Ability to work collaboratively in a team environment and with colleagues across offices.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills and an ability to build and maintain relationships with a diverse set of clients, partners, government officials, and stakeholders.
• Effective written and oral communication skills, including the ability to translate technical and legal issues into plain English.
• Strong independent initiative and the ability to lead cases or matters alongside a team.
• Willingness and ability to mentor, train, and supervise less-experienced attorneys.
• Willingness and ability to travel across Georgia as needed.

Desired Qualifications

• Experience in environmental advocacy, Clean Water Act, and state and local government advocacy.
• Experience as first chair in state and federal litigation.
• Creative thinking and an entrepreneurial spirit to identify and pursue new projects.
• A genuine interest in and commitment to helping SELC create and foster an equitable and inclusive workplace that welcomes people from across the rich racial and cultural diversity of our region.

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. Nonprofit and nonpartisan, the organization has a staff of 250, including more than 160 legal and policy experts and advocates. Headquartered in Charlottesville, VA, SELC has offices in Asheville, Atlanta, Birmingham, Chapel Hill, Charleston, Nashville, Richmond, and Washington, DC.

At our core, we are place-based, rooted in our region, and connected with the communities and clients we serve. We believe in an equitable and inclusive workplace that welcomes people from across the rich racial and cultural diversity of our region and values diverse perspectives. We approach our work with the highest level of integrity, holding ourselves to high standards with an emphasis on honesty, accountability, and thoughtfulness. We value collaboration and camaraderie, realizing we are strongest when we work together and knowing that everyone has a critical role to play. We strive for impact through a strategic, bold, pragmatic, and ambitious outlook that is dedicated to achieving powerful results. We believe in these values and in the power of SELC. We hope you consider joining us. Learn more at www.selc.org.

Compensation & Benefits

SELC offers salaries competitive with other leading environmental nonprofits nationally and provides an excellent benefits package. The base salary range for this position is $159,800 – $170,900. Actual placement within this range will depend on factors such as relevant experience, education, skills, and internal equity considerations. For more details about our benefits package, please visit our Careers page.

SELC is a Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) eligible employer.

SELC will also provide relocation reimbursement for those relocating for a SELC position, up to a specific dollar amount and contingent on the move being at least 50 miles from the current primary address.

To Apply

To apply, click on the button below to be directed to an online application where you may upload your application materials. Applicants must submit a cover letter, resume, writing sample, and professional references. The initial deadline for receipt of complete applications is July 31, 2026. However, applications will be accepted on a rolling basis until the position is filled.

APPLY NOW

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. Qualified individuals of all backgrounds are strongly encouraged to apply.