Managing Attorney

Earthjustice seeks a managing attorney to lead our Mid-Pacific Office, located in Honolulu, Hawai‘i.

Now entering its fourth decade of operation, Earthjustice’s Mid-Pacific Office has an unmatched record of using litigation and the law to protect the environment in the Hawaiian Islands and the wider Pacific. For example, we have fought successfully for decades to restore stream flows and protect groundwater on behalf of local and Native Hawaiian communities throughout Hawai‘i, establishing landmark legal precedent that water is a public trust, not private property. We are leaders in advancing Hawai‘i as a national model for clean energy transformation, using litigation and administrative proceedings to remove regulatory barriers to clean energy adoption and to facilitate a shift from an outdated fossil-fueled energy system to the clean energy model of the future.  Hawai‘i is known as the endangered species capital of the world, and our Mid-Pacific office has long been at the forefront of securing protections for native wildlife and habitats.  We also have done important work to protect public health, such as fighting increased use of toxic pesticides by challenging the release and commercialization of genetically modified organisms engineered to facilitate pesticide use.         

Founded in 1971, Earthjustice is the premier nonprofit environmental law organization.  We wield the power of law and the strength of partnership to protect people’s health; to preserve magnificent places and wildlife; to advance clean energy; and to combat climate change.  We partner with thousands of groups, supporters and citizens to engage the critical environmental issues of our time, and bring about positive change. We are here because the earth needs a good lawyer.

The managing attorney leads the work of our Mid-Pacific Office, currently comprising five full-time attorneys and two administrative professionals. 

Essential responsibilities for the position include:

• Providing litigation leadership by personally litigating a docket of cases and working collaboratively with the other attorneys in the office to maximize the quality and impact of the office’s total litigation effort.
• Managing and developing the staff of the office to ensure they have the resources, feedback, and support to maximize their performance and skills development.  
• Building and maintaining effective working relationships with clients and other partner organizations.
• Serving as a primary public face of the office and the organization, including by working effectively with the news media and with government officials.
• Working closely and productively with Earthjustice’s policy, communications, fundraising, and diversity, equity, and inclusion teams to advance programmatic and institutional goals. 
• Participating actively with national team of Managing Attorneys in driving forward Earthjustice’s strategic priorities.

Requirements

Qualified candidates will have skills and experience in these areas:

• Highly effective litigator with substantial experience in environmental or public interest law.
• Strong capacity for strategic thinking, including in designing and implementing litigation campaigns and other advocacy that yields high-quality results.
• Excellent initiative with the ability to identify and pursue new opportunities, combined with the capacity to work well collaboratively as part of regional and national teams.
• Professional experience working in Hawai‘
• Demonstrated experience working with grassroots, disadvantaged, and/or culturally diverse communities, preferably in Hawai‘
• Excellent management skills, including the ability to foster effective communication, collaboration, decision-making, and mutual respect among all staff.
• Demonstrated awareness and sensitivity to the needs and concerns of individuals from diverse cultures, backgrounds, and orientations, with literacy in the history and culture of Hawai’i.
• Commitment to help create a diverse, equitable, and inclusive work culture that encourages and celebrates differences.
• Experience and interest in coaching, guiding, and mentoring staff at different levels of their career development to continually improve their effectiveness.
• Excellent interpersonal skills that show the ability to build and maintain effective working relationships with clients and other partner organizations; demonstrated experience in working effectively with clients or partners in Hawai‘i preferred.
• Outstanding written and oral communication skills, with the ability to write and speak clearly and persuasively; familiarity with Hawai‘i Pidgin English and ‘Ōlelo Hawai‘i is a plus.
• Experience working productively with the news media and with political and community leaders.
• The ability and desire to participate effectively in fundraising efforts by developing and maintaining relationships with donors; experience with fundraising in a professional or volunteer capacity is a plus.
• Ability to manage operations, including budgets and programs.
• Membership in good standing with the State Bar of Hawai‘i, or achievement of admission within one year of employment.
• Willingness to travel as necessary.

We offer a mission- and employee-focused work environment and a competitive compensation package, including excellent benefits.