Mid-level Environmental Associate Attorney

A law firm in Los Angeles, CA, seeks a talented and dedicated Mid-level Environmental Associate Attorney with 3+ years of experience. The ideal candidate will have exceptional research, writing, and analytical skills, a strong desire to learn, and the passion to excel on behalf of clients. The firm offers a competitive benefits package, including a 401(k) retirement plan, contributions to health and dental plans, a subsidized gym membership, and disability coverage. The position requires working 1,750 hours annually.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Represent clients in complex environmental litigation, including CERCLA cost recovery, environmental insurance recovery, CEQA, and climate change liability cases.
• Provide counsel and representation in pre-litigation, compliance, administrative enforcement, and real estate/diligence matters.
• Engage in pre-litigation investigation of facts and law to develop case strategies.
• Conduct legal research, writing, and analysis on challenging and complex environmental, contractual, tort, constitutional, real estate, and corporate law issues.
• Advise clients on environmental compliance with various federal, state, and local environmental statutes, regulations, and policies.
• Represent clients before regulatory and enforcement agencies such as USEPA, RWQCBs, AQMD, DTSC, and CUPAs.
• Collaborate with the firm's transactional attorneys to provide environmental counsel on due diligence and risk management in diverse deal structures.
• Perform other responsibilities and duties as assigned by senior attorneys or partners.
• Maintain knowledge of statutes, regulations, and common law related to soil and groundwater contamination, water quality, air quality, and climate change.

Requirements:

• Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree from an accredited law school.
• Admission to the California State Bar in good standing.
• 3+ years of experience in environmental law.
• Exceptional research, writing, and analytical skills.
• Strong desire to learn and the passion to excel on behalf of clients.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to work effectively in a team-oriented environment.
• Strong organizational and time management skills.

Preferred Skills:

• Experience with environmental statutes, regulations, and common law, particularly those related to soil and groundwater contamination, water quality, air quality, and climate change.
• Proven track record of handling complex environmental litigation and compliance matters.
• Familiarity with working before regulatory and enforcement agencies.

Although this Los Angeles-based firm boasts a fairly solid full-service practice, its high-profile entertainment department has brought the firm celebrity status and established it as one of the nations premier entertainment law firms. The firm has an entrepreneurial and aggressive feel to it, yet candidates often remark how wonderfully balanced its attorneys lives appear to be. While associates work hard, people are friendly and seem to genuinely enjoy spending time together outside of work. The pay is decent though slightly lower than the top firms (reputedly a trade-off for lower billable hour requirements); nevertheless, the firm consistently manages to attract some of the best talent in the United States.