Application Guide
How to Apply for Alaska Attorney - Staff or Senior
at Center for Biological Diversity
🏢 About Center for Biological Diversity
The Center for Biological Diversity is a national nonprofit known for its aggressive legal advocacy to protect endangered species and wild places. Working here means joining a team of passionate environmental lawyers who use the law to fight for climate action, habitat preservation, and biodiversity. The organization is unique for its willingness to take on bold litigation and its commitment to grassroots-driven conservation.
About This Role
This attorney role focuses on the Alaska Program, where you will litigate to protect Alaska's iconic wildlife and ecosystems, including issues like oil and gas development, mining, and climate change. As a staff or senior attorney, you will handle cases from inception to resolution, working closely with the Alaska Director and coalition partners. This is a high-impact position that directly shapes the fate of critical species and landscapes in one of the most ecologically important regions on Earth.
💡 A Day in the Life
A typical day might begin with reviewing filings in ongoing cases, followed by a strategy call with the Alaska Director and co-counsel. You might spend the afternoon drafting a motion for summary judgment or a comment letter on a federal agency's environmental review, and end the day preparing for a virtual community meeting with Alaska Native leaders about a pending lawsuit.
🚀 Application Tools
🎯 Who Center for Biological Diversity Is Looking For
- Licensed to practice law and in good standing with at least 2+ years of litigation experience for staff, or 5+ years for senior, with a strong background in environmental, public lands, or administrative law.
- Deep familiarity with Alaska's geography, ecology, and conservation challenges, or a demonstrated ability to quickly learn and advocate for Alaskan issues.
- Proven ability to handle complex federal litigation, including writing compelling briefs, managing discovery, and arguing motions, ideally in cases involving the Endangered Species Act or National Environmental Policy Act.
- Excellent written and oral communication skills, with a collaborative spirit and experience working with diverse stakeholders including Indigenous communities, scientists, and grassroots groups.
📝 Tips for Applying to Center for Biological Diversity
Highlight specific Alaska-related experience, even if minimal—mention any cases, internships, or research involving Alaska's environment, wildlife, or tribes.
Tailor your resume to emphasize litigation outcomes, such as victories in court or successful settlement negotiations, with quantifiable impacts (e.g., 'secured habitat protections for 10,000 acres').
In your cover letter, explicitly connect your legal skills to the Center's mission—show you understand their strategic approach (e.g., using the ESA to force agency action).
If you're outside Alaska, explain your connection to the region and your willingness to engage with Alaskan communities, as remote work still requires deep local engagement.
Review the Center's website for recent Alaska Program victories and mention one in your application to demonstrate genuine interest and research.
✉️ What to Emphasize in Your Cover Letter
["Your passion for the Center's mission and specific examples of how your legal work has advanced environmental or public interest goals.", 'Your experience with litigation under key environmental statutes (ESA, NEPA, Clean Water Act) and familiarity with Alaska-specific resource issues (e.g., ANWR, Pebble Mine, Tongass logging).', 'Your ability to work independently in a remote setting while collaborating effectively with a distributed team and external partners.', "Any connections to Alaska—whether through past work, studies, or personal ties—and your commitment to advocating for Alaska's unique ecosystems."]
Generate Cover Letter →🔍 Research Before Applying
To stand out, make sure you've researched:
- → Read the Center's Alaska Program page and recent press releases to understand current campaigns and litigation (e.g., Cook Inlet beluga whales, Arctic drilling).
- → Review key Alaska environmental conflicts: the Pebble Mine, ANWR oil development, Tongass National Forest roadless rule, and transboundary mining pollution.
- → Familiarize yourself with the Center's approach to using the Endangered Species Act as a tool for climate action, and any Alaska-specific climate cases.
- → Check the backgrounds of the Alaska Director and other attorneys in the program to understand their expertise and priorities.
💬 Prepare for These Interview Topics
Based on this role, you may be asked about:
⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Submitting a generic cover letter that doesn't mention Alaska or the Center's specific work—this signals lack of interest.
- Overemphasizing academic credentials without showing hands-on litigation experience; the Center values practical results.
- Ignoring the remote work requirement—failing to address how you will stay connected and engaged from afar, especially if outside Alaska.
📅 Application Timeline
This position is open until filled. However, we recommend applying as soon as possible as roles at mission-driven organizations tend to fill quickly.
Typical hiring timeline:
Application Review
1-2 weeks
Initial Screening
Phone call or written assessment
Interviews
1-2 rounds, usually virtual
Offer
Congratulations!
Ready to Apply?
Good luck with your application to Center for Biological Diversity!