Full-Time Surfrider Foundation – Legal Associate
Job Description
LEGAL ASSOCIATE
ABOUT US:
The Surfrider Foundation is a non-profit environmental organization dedicated to the protection and enjoyment of the world’s ocean, waves, and beaches for all people through a powerful activist network. The Surfrider Foundation has achieved many important victories by persuading state, federal, and local decision makers to protect vital coastal and ocean resources. These accomplishments demonstrate the important role of recreational users in advancing coastal and ocean stewardship.
By joining the Surfrider Foundation, you will be welcomed into an open and inclusive network of incredibly supportive and collaborative people who work hard and play hard. You will have the opportunity to work with dedicated people who are also passionate coastal users with their feet in the sand and toes in the water. You help bring together diverse voices and perspectives to provide our community with the leadership and tools necessary to make a difference at their beach and in coastal communities across the United States. At Surfrider, we build leaders and we are problem solvers; our culture sets us apart and influences everything we do. Coastal recreation is fun and working at Surfrider is too.
THE OPPORTUNITY:
Location: Hybrid or Remote (with office in San Clemente, California available)
Level: Surfrider Foundation is looking for an attorney to join our Legal Department. This is a full time employee with at least three to seven years of relevant legal experience preferred. A Juris Doctorate degree from a U.S. law school and bar certification from a U.S. state where Surfrider conducts mission work are required.
Description: Surfrider Foundation seeks a talented and dedicated full time attorney to join the Legal Department as a Legal Associate, to work alongside the legal team and to report to the Senior Legal Director. The successful candidate will be an attorney with excellent analytical and communications skills, along with a strong commitment to protecting coastal areas. This position will work towards fulfillment of the organization’s mission of “protection and enjoyment of the world’s ocean, waves and beaches, for all people” by advancing our legal campaigns and assisting with in-house counsel duties. Surfrider Foundation engages in litigation, as well as legislative and policy advocacy, at the forefront of ocean and coastal law. This team member will assist our Senior Legal Associate and Senior Legal Director with an array of legal issues facing our organization, including a wide range of legal, programmatic, and administrative work undertaken by our nationwide grassroots network of 80 local Chapters and over 130 school clubs. The Legal Associate position will involve development of solutions through legal strategies to address coastal threats at the local, state and national level, including impediments to beach access, water pollution, offshore energy development, oil spill response, plastic pollution, climate adaptation and nature-based solutions to rising sea levels.
This position will be responsible for leading litigation and legal advocacy campaigns; analysis and execution of litigation strategy; reviewing, commenting on, and drafting legislative and other policy language; testifying before administrative and legislative bodies; and working with our staff and grassroots Chapter network and coalition partners to promote healthy and accessible beaches. This position will advise and provide leadership to Surfrider staff and chapters on legal campaigns, strategies and solutions, and work with outside counsel, experts, legal advisors and coalition legal teams, while managing litigation. We are seeking a candidate who works well in a team setting and is a collegial colleague. The ideal applicant is not only bright and thoughtful, but also enthusiastic and motivated to address pressing issues facing our coasts and ocean.
Reports to: Senior Legal Director
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
The successful candidate will assist in advancing organizational priorities, with primary responsibility for some matters, while also working collaboratively with outside counsel, staff, and Chapter members of the Surfrider Foundation.
Further duties include:
- Assist in creation and execution of legal strategies to advance the Surfrider mission;
- Collaborate with coalition partners to advance campaign work;
- Perform duties with self-sufficiency and resourcefulness, as well as thoughtful collaboration, when required;
- Advise Surfrider headquarters staff on questions related to 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations and related matters that arise;
- Advocate for coastal conservation measures at the national, state and local level, including through litigation, administrative advocacy and legislative work; and
- Engage in public outreach and communication through the Surfrider Foundation website, action alerts, blogging, media responses, Chapters conferences and meetings, etc.
QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE:
- A Juris Doctorate from a U.S. law school and current bar admission in a state where Surfrider conducts mission-related work is required.
- 3 to 7 years’ experience with environmental litigation and advocacy, with a focus on coastal issues is preferred.
- An effective team member with strong written and oral advocacy, research, analysis, and campaign and leadership skills, including a track record of demonstrated success and a commitment to environmental protection.
- A bright, creative individual who has a strong work ethic, sound judgment and ability to work well in a collegial setting.
- Willingness to travel to campaign locations and in assistance to grassroots chapters around the nation is preferred.
- A supportive and collaborative colleague, able to contribute towards the overall positive culture at Surfrider Foundation.
SALARY AND BENEFITS:
Category Level: Legal Associate (Legal Department Member reporting to Senior Legal Director)
Salary Range: $75,000 Minimum – $113,000 Maximum
How Does the Surfrider Foundation Establish Salary Ranges?
The Surfrider Foundation researches, evaluates, and compares like-sized non-profit organizations to establish ranges for each position level to ensure that employees are justly compensated. The intent is to compensate employees well within a median pay range philosophy. What does a “median pay range philosophy” mean? It means that if the range for a position is $50,000- $70,000 the median pay for that position would be $60,000. The established range takes multiple factors into account; experience, educational background, scope and complexity of work, special skills, added value to the organization, geographic cost-of-living, inflation/current market demand, equity, and more. The Surfrider Foundation prides itself on a high rate of retention, with 32% of staff having been employed with the organization for 10+ years. Please keep in mind that the maximum end of our ranges also account for longevity and tenure within the role.
Benefits: Medical, dental and vision coverage monthly premiums compensated 100% by Surfrider Foundation, Long-Term Disability insurance, Employee Assistance program (EAP), Section 125 Flexible Spending Account (FSA), 401(k) plan with partial employer matching. Surfrider Foundation provides paid holidays, vacation and sick time. We also provide 6 weeks of paid parental leave following the birth of an employee’s child or the placement of a child with an employee in connection with adoption or foster care.
JEDI COMMITMENT:
The Surfrider Foundation is committed to fostering a just, equitable, diverse, and inclusive organization for all people who protect and enjoy the world’s ocean, waves, and beaches. Our success and impact depend on learning from our community, standing in solidarity with our allies and working towards a more just future, both for our organization and the environmental movement as a whole.
The Surfrider Foundation is proud to be an equal opportunity workplace that is committed to attracting and retaining a diverse workforce. Together we strive to create and maintain working and learning environments that are inclusive, equitable and welcoming. We are committed to equal employment opportunities regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status, disability, gender identity, Veteran status, or any other protected class.
To learn more about our Justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion commitments, please visit: https://www.surfrider.org/pages/diversity-equity-inclusion
How to Apply
TO APPLY: Please send cover letter (including your salary requirements) and resume to: Email: careers@surfrider.org Deadline for receiving submissions: June 30, 202367 total views, 0 today