Attorney - Climate & Energy Program

The Western Environmental Law Center seeks a Climate & Energy Program Attorney to focus on legal and policy advocacy related to climate issues and fossil fuel programs in the Western U.S. This full-time position can be based remotely or in Santa Fe/Taos, NM. The role involves litigation, legislative engagement, and promoting equity and justice in environmental advocacy. The organization values diverse applicants and encourages individual contributions to its strategic direction.
Job Opening Announcement: Climate & Energy Program Attorney

Reports to: Climate & Energy Program Director

Location: Santa Fe or Taos, NM. Other WELC office locations, including remote, may be considered, for the right candidate in the right situation.

Timeline: Job opening posted May 27, 2025; we will review applications and interview candidates on a rolling basis beginning July 7, 2025. The position is open until filled.

ABOUT THE WESTERN ENVIRONMENTAL LAW CENTER

The Western Environmental Law Center is a leading nonprofit, public-interest environmental law firm rooted in the landscapes and communities of the western U.S. Founded in 1993, WELC has been celebrated as an Outside Magazine Best Place to Work for the last five consecutive years, Oregon Business Magazine Best Nonprofit, Law
360 Environmental Group of the Year, and Better Business Bureau Torch Award winner for ethics.

We seek to retain either a Staff Attorney (6-12 years of experience) or Senior Attorney (13+ years of experience) to join our team. We strongly encourage people of color, persons with disabilities, women, LGBTQ+ applicants, and people of diverse lived experience to apply.

POSITION SUMMARY

The Climate & Energy Program Attorney is an exempt, full-time position. The central focus of this position is strategic, legal, and policy advocacy centered on the confluence of the climate crisis with the federal public lands fossil fuels program and the Western U.S.' transition from fossil fuels to a renewables-powered future. The position's responsibilities will be allocated among the following core areas:
• Litigation and administrative engagement pertaining to federal public lands fossil fuel planning, leasing, infrastructure, and drilling approvals (0.6 FTE).
• Engagement in federal and state-level climate, fossil fuels, public lands, and energy transition legislation, rule making, and policy making (0.4 FTE).

The Attorney, in working in these areas, will work to advance equity, inclusion, and justice imperatives identified in cooperation with partners and allies, including frontline and energy-dependent communities. While focused on federal advocacy, the Attorney will also coordinate with WELC's state-level advocacy in New Mexico, with an eye towards opportunities that may arise in other states.

Given the dynamic moment we find ourselves in, this position's focus and time allocations will necessarily evolve in response to changing political, scientific, social, and economic circumstances and opportunities consistent with specific organizational strategies. Further, and as with all WELC positions, this position is flexibly designed to accommodate a successful candidate's distinctive skills, experiences, and interests to further and complement WELC's strategic climate focus.

WELC's organizational and strategic direction is not "top down," but is informed precisely by the individual qualities of its staff.

Accordingly, the Attorney will be encouraged and supported to identify and advance opportunities to shape WELC's organizational and strategic direction, to share perspectives, and to be a trusted and respected leader in their field and within their scope of work. The Attorney will support and coordinate with WELC leadership, development, communications, and finance staff, as well as represent WELC in public and private settings.

The Attorney will also participate in retreats, trainings, and other organizational events.

To fulfill this position's responsibilities, the Attorney may provide a full range of legal services on behalf of WELC, including litigation, policy advocacy, and administrative action. To assist in these efforts, the Attorney will stay apprised of relevant law, policy, social, and other developments. The Attorney will work collaboratively with staff across the organization, as well as with partner organizations and clients.

The Attorney is a normal 40-hour week position based out of any of WELC'S existing offices or, potentially, a remote home office in the western U.S., primarily working during Monday to Friday business hours, though some night and weekend hours may be required at times, depending on organizational and advocacy…