Earthrise Staff Attorney

Attention Current Lewis & Clark College Employees:  In order to apply for posted positions, please apply internally in Workday in the Jobs Hub.

The campus is located on 137 acres of beautifully landscaped grounds in Portland’s southwest hills. Our strong commitment to sustainability is reinforced through recycling programs, energy conservation, alternative transportation options, and farm to fork initiatives. For benefit-eligible positions, we offer a competitive benefits package that includes options for health, dental, vision, tuition, life insurance, retirement and more.

Lewis & Clark College is committed to achieving a diverse workforce. Candidates from diverse backgrounds are encouraged to apply. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to status as a protected veteran or a qualified individual with a disability, or other protected status, such as race, religion, color, national origin, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, marital status or age.

Earthrise Law Center is Lewis & Clark Law School’s domestic environmental law clinic. Earthrise trains and educates law students by providing them with opportunities for direct involvement in legal work on complex environmental and natural resource issues. Earthrise also seeks to advance efforts to protect the environment by providing legal representation to public interest organizations and similar entities. The Earthrise Staff Attorney advances the aims of Earthrise by providing legal services to clients and working with students on the cases and projects. 

Legal Representation

• Provide legal representation of public interest environmental organizations and similar plaintiffs in complex administrative processes, environmental and natural resource law litigation, and policy analysis and development. 
• Participate in public comment opportunities and formulate litigation strategy.
• Interact with clients, opposing counsel and the media.
• Draft and file court documents.
• Appear in court and administrative forums. 

Instruction and Student Supervision

• Instruct and supervise law students to facilitate their participation in all phases of administrative processes and/or litigation.
• Participate in weekly class instructional activities and discussion of ongoing cases and ethical responsibilities.

Administrative and Operational Support

• Contribute to the organization's fundraising efforts, including procuring and conducting low-bono fee work when available. 
• Contribute to the organization's administrative tasks, including filing, copying, mailing and accounting for business expenses.

Other Duties as Assigned

• Proficient in legal research, writing, and litigation strategy development
• Excellent communication skills across written, verbal, and interpersonal formats
• Superior collaboration skills when working with students, colleagues, and external partners
• Extremely strong organizational and time management skills in managing multiple cases
• Proficient in legal research databases such as Westlaw and LexisNexis
• Ability to appropriately employ AI tools and guard against such tools’ misuse 
• Excellent judgment in handling confidential and sensitive information
• Superior ability to navigate complex legal and regulatory environments
• Effective at mentoring and guiding learners in professional settings
• Proficient in court filing systems and legal document management tools
• Demonstrated commitment to fostering an inclusive and respectful workplace environment

• Juris Doctor (J.D.) from an ABA-accredited law school
• Three years or more litigation experience
• Active membership in Oregon Bar or willingness to waive in or take the next bar examination.

• Litigation experience in pollution/regulatory areas or land use. Other areas of experience will be considered.   
• Experience working in higher education settings or interest in doing so 
• Preferred Tech: Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint).
• Familiarity with legal research databases such as Westlaw or LexisNexis and appropriate use of AI tools in legal practice 
• Experience with Google Drive, Zoom, and other collaboration tools.

• Full Time/Part Time: Full Time
• Schedule: 37.5 hours per week, Monday through Friday
• Benefit Eligible: Yes
• Travel: Some may be required for court appearances or meetings 
• In Person:  This position is in person and on campus.  

• FLSA Status: Exempt
• Starting at $85,000 per year, with consideration for experience

• General office  environment
• Prolonged periods of sitting at a desk and working on a computer
• Communicate effectively via phone, email, virtual platforms, and in person
• Occasionally move materials weighing up to 15 pounds

Please include a cover letter describing your interest in joining Lewis & Clark and the ways you can contribute to a culture of inclusion on our campus.

Lewis & Clark College adheres to a nondiscriminatory policy with respect to educational programs, activities, employment, and admission.  We do not discriminate on the basis of actual or perceived race, color, sex, religion, age, marital status, national origin, the presence of any physical or sensory disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, or any other basis prohibited by applicable federal, state, and local laws.  The Associate Vice President of Human Resources has been designated to handle inquiries regarding employment- and disability-related non-discrimination policies.  Title IX inquiries may be directed to the Title IX coordinator or deputy Title IX coordinators

(https://www.lclark.edu/about/title_ix_compliance). 

Reasonable Accommodation

Federal law requires employers to provide reasonable accommodation to qualified individuals with disabilities. Please tell us if you require a reasonable accommodation to apply for a job or to perform your job. Examples of reasonable accommodation include making a change to the application process or work procedures, providing documents in an alternate format, using a sign language interpreter, or using specialized equipment. 

Background Check

Lewis & Clark College will conduct a background check on the finalist, which will include a criminal record check. If a conviction is discovered, a determination will be made whether the conviction is related to the position for which the individual is applying or would present safety or security risks before an employment decision is made. A criminal conviction does not necessarily automatically bar an applicant from employment.

Eligibility to Work

In order to comply with US Homeland Security Department regulations, all employees must complete an I-9 form in Workday prior to or no later than the first day of work and bring originals (no photocopies) of their supporting documentation to Human Resources no later than the 3rd business day of employment. Failure to have a completed I-9 form on file with the College will result in immediate termination of employment.