Senior Attorney

Los Angeles Waterkeeper (Los Angeles, CA)

Los Angeles Waterkeeper (LAW), a dynamic environmental nonprofit organization, is hiring a Senior Attorney to manage our legal efforts, and assist our regulatory advocacy efforts, to protect and restore inland and coastal waterways throughout Los Angeles County and promote sustainable water policies for the region. This position will report to LAW’s Executive Director and will work closely with our Senior Staff Attorney, Compliance & Research Manager, Science & Policy Manager and advocacy team to advance LAW’s Pollution Prevention, Healthy Habitats, and Systems Change programs.

Responsibilities:

1. Legal
   • Lead LA Waterkeeper’s legal department and strategize with LAW’s legal team and Executive Director to realize its mission through enforcement of environmental laws.
   • Manage approximately 20-30 Clean Water Act enforcement cases at any time and continue campaign shepherding cases from investigation through settlement/litigation.
   • Lead target identification efforts, primarily through in-depth data review, as well as visual observations and sampling.
   • Oversee compliance program of over 30 facilities with whom LAW has an active settlement agreement, ensuring that the facilities continue to comply with the applicable permits and the terms of the settlement agreement.
   • Manage relationships with co-counsel, experts, and coalition partners.
   • Assist in supervision of legal team’s work to ensure optimal outcomes.
   • Assume responsibility for management of Los Angeles Waterkeeper’s Pollution Prevention Team and marine/coastal legal practice and support advocacy campaigns by leading coalitions, creating effective strategies, and implementing campaign plans.
2. Regulatory/Advocacy
   • Provide support as needed for research and writing for comment letters and petitions for review on policies, permits, and regulations related to water quality and water supply issues.
   • Occasionally serve as spokesperson for Los Angeles Waterkeeper at administrative agencies, public meetings, and advocacy events and with elected officials, partners, and the media.
   • Work with the legal team and Executive Director as needed to identify potential substantive regulatory and policy improvements that align with LAW’s mission.
3. Administrative
   • Provide organizational support for legal and policy work by collaborating with communications staff, attending regular staff meetings, and participating in public-facing events.
   • Collaborate with other advocacy and science staff to seamlessly integrate legal work into other mission-critical campaigns.
   • Liaise with Legal Committee and provide written and verbal reports to the Board of Directors.
   • Supervise two full-time staff: Senior Staff Attorney and Compliance & Research Manager, as well as legal interns and/or externs as needed.

Qualifications & Requirements:

1. Applicants must be law school graduates admitted to the California bar.
2. 5 years of litigation experience including managing discovery, motion practice, and trial preparation.
3. Superb research, analysis, writing, and oral advocacy and presentation skills, and experience distilling complex legal concepts for a variety of audiences. Ability to think creatively and outside-the-box to problem-solve unique issues.
4. Some knowledge of the Clean Water Act is highly preferred; knowledge of complementary environmental laws (CEQA/NEPA, ESA, etc.) an added benefit.
5. A scientific background or an enthusiasm for developing working knowledge of basic environmental science.
6. Passion for and commitment to clean water, healthy ecosystems, resilient communities, and environmental health and justice.
7. Some management experience with one or more direct reports.
8. Adept project manager with demonstrated ability to oversee timelines, task lists and budgets.
9. Ability to think strategically and prioritize goals in line with the organization’s strategic direction.
10. Experience working in a fast-paced setting. Must be comfortable juggling multiple projects under tight deadlines and adopting new skills as necessary.
11. Ability to thrive in a small team environment where teamwork, creativity, and flexibility are valued.
12. Some weekend and evening/night work may be required for hearings, events, etc.
13. To ensure that events, meetings, and a return to the office happen safely for all staff, COVID-19 vaccine will be required (legitimate medical or religious exemptions notwithstanding).

Salary, Benefits & Terms

Salary: $120,000 - $135,000 based on experience. This is a full-time, exempt position that reports to the Executive Director.

Benefits – We offer paid health, vision, and dental insurance, as well as access to a 403(b)-retirement plan with a company match. Flexibility to work remotely on a hybrid basis (3 days in office, 2 days at home). Generous schedule of holidays and paid time off policy including an additional paid break between Christmas and New Year’s.

Start DateAs soon as possible.

To Apply

We will be reviewing applications and scheduling interviews on a rolling basis. We encourage you to apply online, but you may also submit a cover letter, resume, and the names and contact information of three references to careers@lawaterkeeper.org.

An Equal Opportunity Employer

Our goal is to be a diverse workforce that is representative of the communities we serve. LA Waterkeeper encourages applications from Black, Indigenous, People of Color, Persons with Disabilities, Women and Gender-nonconforming people especially in occupations or positions where they are underrepresented. We do not discriminate based on any class protected by law. 

About Los Angeles WaterkeeperLA Waterkeeper fights for the health of the region’s waterways, and for sustainable, equitable and climate-friendly water supplies. We envision the region as an international leader on integrated, sustainable, and equitable water management; a region that is water self-sufficient, and where all waterways throughout the county are safe, healthy, and accessible to the public. More about us can be found at https://lawaterkeeper.org.