Application Guide
How to Apply for Senior Attorney, Louisiana Clean Affordable Power
at Environmental Defense Fund
🏢 About Environmental Defense Fund
Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) uniquely combines rigorous science, economics, and law to drive systemic environmental change through strategic regulatory advocacy and litigation. Unlike many environmental organizations, EDF focuses on achieving clean and healthy air, accelerating clean energy deployment, and ensuring climate stability through targeted legal and policy interventions in key regulatory arenas. Working at EDF offers the opportunity to influence critical energy decisions at the intersection of environmental protection and utility regulation.
About This Role
This Senior Attorney role leads EDF's legal and regulatory advocacy for clean energy in Louisiana, primarily representing the organization before the Louisiana Public Service Commission (LPSC) and Midcontinent Independent System Operator (MISO). The position involves developing legal strategies, drafting briefs and administrative comments, and building partnerships with environmental justice organizations to advance clean energy deployment in a key Gulf Coast state. This role is impactful because Louisiana's energy decisions significantly affect regional clean energy progress and environmental justice communities.
💡 A Day in the Life
A typical day might involve reviewing LPSC filings and MISO stakeholder documents, drafting legal comments or briefs for upcoming proceedings, and coordinating with EDF's science and policy teams on regulatory strategy. You could spend afternoons meeting with Louisiana environmental justice partners to understand community concerns, preparing for stakeholder presentations, or representing EDF at virtual LPSC hearings or MISO working groups.
🚀 Application Tools
🎯 Who Environmental Defense Fund Is Looking For
- Has 5+ years of professional experience with at least 3 years specifically practicing before the Louisiana Public Service Commission, MISO, or Southwest Power Pool, demonstrating deep familiarity with Louisiana's unique regulatory landscape
- Possesses a Juris Doctorate from an ABA-accredited law school and active state bar membership with proven proficiency in LPSC and MISO procedural rules and processes
- Demonstrates experience building relationships with environmental justice and community-based organizations in Louisiana or the Gulf South region
- Has a track record of drafting successful regulatory filings, briefs, and motions in energy proceedings and can point to specific cases or dockets where their work influenced outcomes
📝 Tips for Applying to Environmental Defense Fund
Quantify your Louisiana-specific regulatory experience by mentioning specific LPSC docket numbers, MISO proceedings, or Southwest Power Pool cases you've worked on
Highlight any existing relationships with Louisiana environmental justice organizations, community groups, or regulatory stakeholders in your resume
Demonstrate knowledge of current Louisiana clean energy issues by referencing specific LPSC proceedings like net metering debates, renewable portfolio standard discussions, or utility integrated resource plans
Show how your legal experience aligns with EDF's strategic approach by mentioning specific regulatory advocacy or litigation strategies you've employed
Include examples of collaborative work with multidisciplinary teams (scientists, economists, policy experts) since EDF emphasizes integrated approaches
✉️ What to Emphasize in Your Cover Letter
['Your specific experience with Louisiana Public Service Commission procedures and MISO stakeholder processes, including examples of successful advocacy', "How your legal approach aligns with EDF's strategy of using regulatory advocacy and litigation to accelerate clean energy deployment", 'Your experience building partnerships with environmental justice organizations and community groups, particularly in Louisiana or the Gulf South', "Your understanding of the intersection between Louisiana's energy regulation and environmental justice concerns"]
Generate Cover Letter →🔍 Research Before Applying
To stand out, make sure you've researched:
- → EDF's current Louisiana clean energy initiatives and recent regulatory interventions before the LPSC
- → Recent LPSC decisions on net metering, renewable energy, or utility regulation and how they align or conflict with EDF's goals
- → MISO's current stakeholder processes and ongoing proceedings related to clean energy integration in Louisiana
- → EDF's partnerships with Louisiana environmental justice organizations like the Deep South Center for Environmental Justice or local community groups
💬 Prepare for These Interview Topics
Based on this role, you may be asked about:
⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Generic environmental law experience without specific Louisiana or Gulf South regulatory context
- Focusing only on litigation experience without demonstrating regulatory advocacy or administrative law skills
- Failing to show understanding of how Louisiana's unique energy landscape (petrochemical industry, hurricane vulnerability, environmental justice concerns) affects clean energy advocacy
📅 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 Environmental Defense Fund!