Alberta Staff Lawyer - Junior - 1 year contract

Junior Staff Lawyer – Alberta Region

At A Glance

Location: Calgary

Hours: Full-time 35 weekly

Contract: 1-year with possible extension

Salary: $92,000-$104,000 annually, based on year of call

Program Area: Climate                                                                                                          

Reports to: Managing Lawyer – Alberta Region

Office Requirement: Hybrid (2 days) in office

About Us

As Canada’s largest environmental law charity, our mission is using the law to defend nature, combat the climate crisis, and fight for a healthy environment for all. To achieve this, Ecojustice does three things:

We go to court - Our lawyers represent citizens, environmental organizations, First Nations, sustainable businesses, labour organizations, and any other groups that share our mission.

We push for better laws - Our experts testify in front of committees and make recommendations to strengthen environmental legislation.

We engage the public - Our work highlights environmental issues and changes the conversation, forcing our leaders to sit up and listen.

Our Mission is why people join Ecojustice. People who choose to join us recognize that this planet is our most treasured inheritance, and it is our imperative to be good stewards for the generations who follow us. We believe in protecting the environment while having enough time off to enjoy it. If you are courageous, collaborative, and dedicated to the fight for a healthier environment, you will find your people here.

About The Role

This 1-year contract position at Ecojustice as a Staff Lawyer is a great opportunity for a junior lawyer to take on a pivotal role in working with senior lawyers to hold fossil fuel companies to account. You’ll work on exciting litigation aimed at ensuring polluters pay for the cleanup of fossil fuel infrastructure. This role is deeply collaborative, partnering with Indigenous Nations, advocacy groups, and experts to advance environmental justice and protect communities from the risks of industrial pollution.

Your work will a judicial review challenging Alberta’s Mine Financial Security Program, which threatens to leave Albertans paying for abandoned wells and oil sands cleanup. You’ll also engage with partners like the Polluter Pays Project, Carbon Tracker Institute, and Coalition for Responsible Energy, contributing to legal strategies, public education, and outreach.

In addition, you’ll support other litigation and collaborate with Ecojustice’s lawyer team as needed, gaining exposure to a range of impactful environmental cases. If you’re passionate about using the law to drive systemic change and protect communities, this is your opportunity to make a lasting impact.

Responsibilities

As a Staff Lawyer, your responsibilities are to:

• Work on complex litigation in provincial and federal courts and tribunals


• Support new and existing cases from start to finish


• Support law reform and other work identified as priorities for Ecojustice


• Contribute as a Program (Climate, Nature, Healthy Communities) team member by:

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    • researching and developing files
    
    
    • contributing to development of Program teamwork-plans
    
    
    • helping to evaluate projects proposed to the team
    
    
    
    
  
  
  
  

• Keep up-to-date on new developments in relevant areas of law, undertaking reasonable training to maximize expertise
  


• Professional case management and file managemen
  


• Collaborate with supporting communications staff to develop communication opportunities


• Attend and participate at fundraising or other profile-raising events (external/internal)
  

Role Success

We are currently working to embed our commitment to justice, equity, diversity, inclusion, and reconciliation into all aspects of our organization.

Requirements for this role include:

• Juris Doctor (JD)
  


• Member in good standing with the Law Society of Alberta


• Demonstrated strength in research and investigation skills


• Understanding or experience in matters before a trial court, appellate court or government tribunals


• Ability to explain legal and scientific information written and verbally


• Experience or training in administrative, environmental, Indigenous or Aboriginal law is an asset


• Strong initiative to research, develop and run cases with a team, with partner groups, as a team lead, or independently


• Commitment to working in a team environment, across disciplines, with individuals across Canada


• We value candidates who enjoy building meaningful, collaborative partnerships with equity-seeking groups and operationalizing JEDI-R values in day-to-day practices

• Legal research and writing skills are critical to this role, candidates selected for interviews will be asked to provide a writing or research sample. 

Our Commitment To Justice, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

Ecojustice is committed to creating a diverse, equitable, and inclusive work environment and is responding to the calls for action to further reconciliation.

We encourage applications from people with relevant job-related skills and who come from communities that have been structurally marginalized based on race, religion, nationality, social or ethnic origin, sex, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression. Members belonging to communities that experience marginalization can self-identify during the application process if they choose to do so.

Ecojustice strives to ensure that our online application system and recruitment process are accessible to individuals with different abilities and encourages candidates to contact [email protected] for any
accommodation requests.
 

Great Reasons To Join Us

• Generous Time Off: Start with 4 weeks of vacation, increasing up to 6 weeks with tenure, plus an annual winter break.


• Extra Days for You: 14 public holidays (including National Indigenous Peoples Day), 2 floater days, and 4 paid hours each month for personal life admin.


• Comprehensive Benefits: 100% employer-paid extended health coverage, up to $2,000/year for mental health, $800/year for paramedical expenses, and $500/year for vision care


• Financial Wellness: 5% RRSP salary contribution after one year and a $500 annual wellness spending account.


• Hybrid Work Structure: 2 days per week in office with basic home office equipment provided and additional equipment reimbursement up to $500.


• Family Support: Employer provided Employee & Family Assistance Program. Parental leave top-up for both birthing and non-birthing parents.


• Inclusive Leave Policies: Flexible options for health, caregiving, volunteering, and life events.


• Recognized Excellence: Proudly ranked among Canada’s Top 100 charities by Charity Intelligence.


• Collaborative Culture: 99% mission alignment and 97% manager support ratings from internal surveys.


• Growth & Learning: Opportunities to advance justice, equity, diversity, inclusion, and reconciliation through ongoing training.
  

Our Commitment to Transparency

Transparency, as well as diversity, equity, and inclusion are important to us. As a charity, our value proposition is that of a mission-based organization, offering high-value benefits, perks, and meaningful work. We benchmark base pay to the non-profit sector and relevant areas of expertise to ensure we are competitive and fair. Our current compensation structure ensures litigation practice salaries are benchmarked to the non-profit industry and relevant legal practices, they are predetermined based on year of call and increase annually on your call anniversary.