Litigation Assistant & Legal Practice Administrator, Strategic Legal Advocacy Program

Earthjustice is the nation’s largest, oldest, and most active public interest environmental law organization. With a team of over 550 staff, including more than 200 lawyers, we wield the power of law and the strength of partnership to protect public health, address environmental injustice, defend magnificent places and irreplaceable ecosystems, transition our economy to 100% clean energy, and combat climate change. We partner with thousands of groups, tribes, individuals, and communities to address the environmental crises of our time. We are here because the earth needs a good lawyer.  Founded in 1971, Earthjustice has a distinguished track record of achieving significant, lasting environmental protections. We achieve this by hiring people who share a passion for justice and a healthy environment. Our headquarters are in San Francisco with offices in Anchorage, Bozeman, Chicago, Denver, Honolulu, Houston, Juneau, Los Angeles, Miami, New Orleans, New York, Seattle, Tallahassee, and Washington, D.C. Earthjustice is looking for a collaborative and creative litigation assistant and legal practice administrator to join its Strategic Legal Advocacy team. Earthjustice formed the team in 2021 to identify and address changes in judicial doctrines—such as standing, remedies, and interpretation—that affect our clients’ ability to vindicate their rights. The team now consists of a Director and two Senior Counsels. It serves as a resource to teams across Earthjustice by, for example, providing research and drafting assistance on novel or difficult legal issues that arise during litigation. It also serves as lead counsel in litigation, both in cases that develop internally and with partner organizations. The team’s focus is on cases that may be or are already before an en banc court or the U.S. Supreme Court. The team also serves as a resource to Earthjustice’s peers in the broader progressive legal community.    The Litigation Assistant & Legal Practice Administrator will be responsible for the efficient operation of the Strategic Legal Advocacy team and ensuring that the legal work the team produces meets the highest standards for accuracy and form. This team member will also have the opportunity to assist with the team’s legal research and efforts to monitor legal developments. The position will report directly to the Director of Strategic Legal Advocacy.   Program Support (40%):  

• Managing and monitoring the team’s workload and workflow, including through the use of project management software; 
• Proofreading, formatting, and finalizing internal guidance memoranda on emerging legal issues relevant to Earthjustice’s work; 
• Proofreading, formatting, and finalizing biweekly bulletin of legal developments using the team’s publishing platform; 
• Preparing PowerPoint decks as necessary for presentations to board members, donors, and client groups in collaboration with the team; 
• Organizing internal and external virtual and in-person events; 
• Tracking pending petitions for certiorari at the U.S. Supreme Court, cases raising issues of concern in the lower courts, and other legal issues in collaboration with the team; 
• Maintaining database of moot court judges and scheduling moot courts; 
• Attending recurring meetings held by partner organizations or other presentations on relevant legal topics, taking notes, and reporting out to relevant team members. 

 Litigation Support (40%):   

• Drafting and submitting case-initiation materials; 
• Completing legal research projects related to recurring issues or ongoing litigation; 
• Calculating and calendaring court and other deadlines;  
• Developing templates for filings in courts in which the team frequently files, including the U.S. Supreme Court, to ensure compliance with court rules and procedures; 
• Formatting, cite-checking, Bluebooking, proofreading, filing, and serving briefs and other court filings; 
• Creating and maintaining case files on the team’s shared drive; 
• Assisting in case-related or other meetings by, for example, preparing agendas for meetings, taking notes during meetings, and circulating notes to attendees; 
• Drafting litigation matter updates for internal newsletters and internal partner use. 

 Administrative Support for Director (20%):  

• Assisting with development of agendas for weekly check ins with team members using team’s project management software; 
• Responding to speaking and presentation requests handling scheduling, and travel logistics; 
• Scheduling meetings and collecting materials needed for meetings; 
• Assisting with recruiting and onboarding and serving as a liaison to Human Resources; 
• Preparing applicable new employee orientation materials. 

  Qualifications:  

• Bachelor’s degree prefer