ASSOCIATE ATTORNEY - CERCLA Litigation & Environmental Practice Support

Kaplan Kirsch LLP•San Francisco, CA

11d•$172,000 - $190,000•Onsite

About The Position

The firm is seeking a motivated, creative, and collaborative environmental associate to support ongoing CERCLA litigation and, as needs and opportunities arise, other areas of the firm. The associate will be a key member of the environmental and litigation teams, with a near-term focus on CERCLA litigation. The role may also include litigation matters involving energy, transportation, airports, transit, land use, and Native American work. The primary focus will be non-litigation matters involving environmental, regulatory, and administrative law across the firm’s practice areas, as needs and opportunities allow. The associate will work directly with partners and clients and have meaningful involvement in public and private projects. The firm is a national boutique serving public and private clients, including states, local governments, Native American tribes, airports, transit agencies, and nonprofit organizations. Its work spans environmental, energy, land use, conservation, infrastructure, project financing, airport, rail, transit, and tribal law. Associates work collaboratively across practices and sectors, gain hands-on experience, and receive mentoring and professional development, with a supportive path toward partnership. This is a full-time position located in Denver or San Francisco, with an annual expectation of 1,600 billable hours, including an unlimited amount of approved pro bono hours. The salary range is $172,000–$190,000, commensurate with experience.

Requirements

3 to 5 years of relevant litigation and/or environmental law experience, including experience with federal or state environmental, regulatory, or administrative laws; judicial clerkship experience counts.
Exceptional legal research, writing, analytical, and advocacy skills.
Ability to work independently and in a team, including directly with partners and clients.
Ability to adapt quickly in a dynamic, fast-paced work environment and manage multiple matters and deadlines.
Action-oriented approach, ownership of work, and willingness to anticipate next steps, flag issues early, keep partners and clients informed, and pursue professional improvement.
Law degree from an accredited law school, with demonstrated academic excellence and leadership.
Admission to practice in a U.S. jurisdiction; California admission is preferred, and willingness to become admitted in California is also considered.

Nice To Haves

Experience with CERCLA or related environmental litigation, including discovery, court hearings, and trials.
Experience working with complex statutory and/or regulatory schemes.
Concrete litigation experience, such as drafting pleadings and motions; managing document discovery; preparing for, taking, or defending depositions; and handling expert witnesses.
Interest in a broad practice and willingness to work on regulatory and administrative law matters beyond environmental litigation.
California bar admission.

Responsibilities

Support ongoing CERCLA litigation matters as a member of the environmental and litigation teams.
Support litigation matters in other firm practice areas, potentially including energy, transportation, airport, transit, land use, and Native American work.
Work on non-litigation matters involving environmental, regulatory, and administrative law issues across the firm’s practice areas, as needs and opportunities allow.
Work directly with partners and clients on assigned matters.
Manage multiple matters and deadlines, move assignments forward proactively, anticipate next steps, flag issues early, and keep partners and clients informed.
Participate in a collaborative practice working across multiple practices and sectors.