at Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois, United States
Job Description
Job Opening Id: 54127
Department: Law Legal Clinic
Salary/Grade: EXS/10
Target hiring range for this position will be between $87,900 - $115,000 per year. Offered salary will be determined by the applicant’s education, experience, knowledge, skills and abilities, as well as internal equity and alignment with market data.
Job Summary:
The Environmental Advocacy Center (EAC), within the Bluhm Legal Clinic at the Northwestern Pritzker School of Law, seeks an experienced, collaborative, and mission-driven Staff Attorney to partner with the Center’s Director in managing a diverse docket of litigation, agency advocacy, and policy matters and in teaching the clinic seminar. The EAC represents community-based and nonprofit clients in a wide range of environmental and energy matters, including litigation in state and federal courts, advocacy before state and federal agencies, and legislative and policy development.
The Staff Attorney provides direct legal representation to EAC clients and exercises independent professional judgment in managing a diverse docket of litigation, agency advocacy, and policy matters. The role serves as a primary point of contact for courts, agencies, and external partners; supervises and mentors student attorneys engaged in direct client representation; collaborates with the EAC Director on docket development, case selection, and workflow; and contributes to the Center’s strategic priorities, programmatic development, and academic and community programming within the broader Bluhm Legal Clinic community.
The position has year-round case management responsibilities, with no teaching obligations in the summer. This position is based at Northwestern Pritzker School of Law in downtown Chicago, with flexible working arrangements consistent with the academic calendar. Start date is flexible.
All applications must include a cover letter, résumé/CV, a list of at least three references (names and current email and telephone contact information), a law school transcript, and a legal writing sample. Applications will be accepted until the position is filled. Applicants will be interviewed on a rolling basis and may be called for a preliminary round of virtual interviews, possibly followed by an on-campus, call-back interview.
Specific Responsibilities:
Legal Representation & Case Leadership
- Serve as co-counsel on litigation, regulatory, and policy matters in state and federal courts and before administrative agencies
- Exercise independent professional judgment in developing legal strategy, case theory, and advocacy approaches
- Manage a diverse docket of litigation and policy matters, including client intake and matter screening, from intake through resolution
- Conduct legal rese
