Environmental Justice Attorney
Neighborhood Legal Services of Los Angeles County (NLSLA) is seeking a staff attorney to help establish NLSLA’s San Fernando Valley Environmental Justice Initiative. The attorney will play a significant role in implementing this newly funded initiative which is designed to defend the right of all people to a healthy environment through a comprehensive, multi-faceted program of environmental justice advocacy. The project focuses on the predominantly Latino communities of the Northeast San Fernando Valley which bear a disproportionate share of polluting businesses that harm the health of residents.
Position: Available Immediately Compensation: Salary $54,165 - Commensurate with experience. Excellent Benefits which include: choice of medical, dental, vision; life and disability insurance plans; 125 plan; 403(b) with employer contribution, loan reimbursement, bilingual pay supplement, sick and vacation pay, and 13 employer-paid holidays.
Duties and Responsibilities: The environmental justice staff attorney will:
• Focus on securing relief from air pollution, traffic congestion, lead paint, hazardous waste sites and other hazards that negatively impact the environment and health of the community.
• Work closely with the Director of Litigation and Policy to investigate, develop, and litigate cases. • Participate in policy and media advocacy on environmental justice matters
• Engage in a wide range of tasks involved in complex litigation, including, where appropriate, factual investigation, legal research, discovery, briefing, witness preparation, and oral advocacy.
• Work directly with community members educating them about the environmental conditions of their neighborhoods, empowering them to fight for better environmental conditions
Qualifications: The successful candidate will have/be:
• Licensed and eligible to practice law in California.
• 0-5 years litigation or related experience. • Excellent research, analytic, writing and communication skills.
• Strong work ethic, initiative, sound judgment and creativity.
• Strong desire to fight for the right of all to a healthy environment.
•Ability to work well in a team-oriented atmosphere.
• Commitment to public interest work and a passion for the role of NLSLA and its mission.
• Bilingual proficiency in Spanish.
To apply: Please send a cover letter, resume and a writing sample to: Elizabeth Brown, Director of Human Resources Neighborhood Legal Services of Los Angeles County 1102 E. Chevy Chase Drive Glendale, CA 91205 Fax: (818) 291-1790 E-mail: employment@nlsla.org NLSLA is an equal opportunity employer and encourages applications from minorities, females, people with disabilities, gays and lesbian, and veterans.