Staff Attorney – 10th Circuit

Tenth Circuit Staff Attorney

Western Watersheds Project’s Staff Attorney’s job is to bring litigation on behalf of our organization and our allies in the interests of protecting and restoring western watersheds and wildlife, particularly in the context of livestock grazing.  The Tenth Circuit Staff Attorney position will entail administrative appeals and litigation of federal and/or state agency decisions, oversight of agency planning processes, media outreach, and advising program staff on legal issues.  Some limited legislative advocacy may also be required. The staff attorney should be highly organized, strategic, self-motivated, able to synthesize and understand ecological and legal concepts, and have strong written and oral communication skills.

JOB DUTIES:

• Review federal and state decisions regarding public lands and wildlife, evaluate legal compliance, and prepare litigation memoranda presenting facts, case law, and particular features of the potential case to assist WWP decisionmakers on litigation strategy;
• Represent WWP and allies in the capacity of lead attorney on litigation efforts, particularly in Colorado, Wyoming, New Mexico, and Utah;
• Engage in settlement negotiations with federal and state agencies on behalf of WWP and, at times, partner groups;
• Represent WWP at public meetings or hearings and occasionally in administrative processes;
• Participate in media outreach opportunities including press releases, op-eds, position statements, and newsletter articles;
• Coordinate communications among co-plaintiffs;
• Regularly participate in conference calls, both internal WWP staff calls and calls among co-plaintiffs and other allies;
• Attend trainings, conferences, and workshops as directed;
• Visit public lands relevant to WWP’s interests and document habitat conditions and management; and
• Demonstrate mindfulness about the history of public lands in the western United States, including Indigenous lands and unceded territories.

DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• J.D. required, with a background in environmental law and policy preferred;
• Admitted to the bar in at least one 10th Circuit state required;
• Environmental litigation experience preferred;
• Affinity for and knowledge of remote and rugged areas in the West;
• Highly organized and experienced in researching applicable case law and analyzing administrative documents to glean important evidence;
• Strong oral and written communications skills, including skill at writing legal briefs and presenting oral arguments before courts;
• Desire to make a difference in protecting native species from livestock grazing impacts on public lands;
• Able to take direction and work as part of a team;
• Self-directed and accountable;
• Position may be located in any Tenth Circuit state, though exemplary candidates outside of this circuit may also be considered.

The Staff Attorney position is a full-time, benefitted position within WWP, with a current salary of $84,916 per year. The anticipated start date for the position is August 1, 2026.

WWP offers competitive benefits including health insurance, dental reimbursement, 403(b) retirement contribution, four weeks annual paid vacation, a sabbatical policy, family leave, and operates on a 32-hour work week.

This position is union eligible.