Staff Attorney - Environmental Law

The Western Environmental Law Center (WELC) is a distinguished nonprofit public-interest environmental law firm that has been passionately serving the landscapes and communities of the western United States since its founding in 1993. Recognized consistently for its excellence, WELC has been named an Outside Magazine Best Place to Work for six consecutive years until the contest's conclusion in 2024. Its accolades further include being designated as Oregon Business Magazine's Best Nonprofit, earning the prestigious Law360 Environmental Group of the Year award, and receiving the Better Business Bureau Torch Award for ethics. These honors speak to WELC’s commitment to both impactful environmental advocacy and a supportive workplace culture.

WELC envisions a thriving western United States where ecosystems are protected and interconnected, renewable energy powers communities, and a spirit of ecology of kinship unites people toward sustainable stewardship of their environment. It fosters a collaborative, team-based work environment emphasizing trust, belonging, and dignity, which are deemed essential for a healthy organization and effective relationship-based advocacy that empowers transformative change.

WELC seeks a dedicated Staff Attorney with at least two years of experience to join its team. This is a full-time, exempt position based primarily in Portland, Oregon, though flexibility exists for exceptional candidates to work from other offices. The role offers a competitive salary range from $76,000 to $106,000 depending on legal experience, with comprehensive benefits that include health, vision, dental, life, and disability insurance with premiums fully paid by the employer. Additionally, employees enjoy vacation and personal leave, paid holiday and sick leave, sabbatical leave, and retirement planning options designed to provide financial security and work-life balance.

The Staff Attorney will focus on strategic legal advocacy concerning public lands, waters, wildlife, and communities in the western U.S. The position involves active litigation and administrative engagement to protect federal public lands and habitats, influence federal and state legislation, shape regulatory rulemaking, and advocate policy improvements. The role demands agility and responsiveness to evolving political, scientific, social, and economic contexts, with opportunities to mold WELC’s strategic direction and grow as a leader within environmental law.

This position involves a full range of legal services, primarily litigation, but also policy and administrative action. The attorney will work collaboratively with colleagues internally and with external partners and clients, maintaining awareness of legal and environmental developments. While based mainly in the Portland office, the role occasionally requires limited travel, averaging two to three weeks per year. The workweek is typically forty hours during Monday through Friday business hours, with occasional evening or weekend duties.

WELC strongly encourages applications from people of color, persons with disabilities, women, LGBTQ+ applicants, and individuals from diverse backgrounds or lived experiences, reflecting the organization’s dedication to equity, inclusion, and justice in its staffing and advocacy efforts. Candidates are expected to possess excellent legal research, writing, and oral advocacy skills, familiarity with environmental law and policy concerning the western United States, and a collaborative spirit aligned with WELC’s mission and organizational culture. This unique opportunity allows an attorney to advance their career in public interest environmental law while contributing meaningfully to the protection of western U.S. landscapes and communities.