Application Guide
How to Apply for Senior Attorney, Texas Clean Affordable Power
at Environmental Defense Fund
🏢 About Environmental Defense Fund
Environmental Defense Fund is unique as a science-driven environmental advocacy organization that combines legal expertise, economic analysis, and partnerships to achieve practical solutions. Working here means joining a team that directly influences clean energy policy through strategic regulatory advocacy and litigation, with a focus on achieving clean and healthy air while ensuring climate stability for all communities.
About This Role
This Senior Attorney role involves leading EDF's legal and regulatory advocacy for clean energy in Texas, primarily representing the organization before ERCOT and the Public Utility Commission of Texas. The position is impactful because it directly shapes Texas's clean energy transition through briefs, motions, litigation filings, and administrative comments while building relationships with environmental justice and community-based organizations.
💡 A Day in the Life
A typical day might involve drafting regulatory comments for an upcoming PUCT proceeding, collaborating with Texas-based environmental justice partners on advocacy strategy, and conducting legal research on emerging grid planning issues. You'd likely balance immediate filing deadlines with longer-term relationship building and policy analysis to advance clean energy priorities across Texas.
🚀 Application Tools
🎯 Who Environmental Defense Fund Is Looking For
- Has 5+ years of professional experience with at least 3 years specifically practicing before ERCOT and/or PUCT, demonstrating deep procedural knowledge
- Possesses active Texas bar membership (or eligibility) and a JD from an ABA-accredited law school with proven regulatory advocacy skills
- Demonstrates specific familiarity with Texas energy issues including data centers, electrification, grid planning, and renewable generation
- Has experience building relationships with environmental justice organizations and contributing to fundraising efforts through proposals and donor relations
📝 Tips for Applying to Environmental Defense Fund
Quantify your ERCOT/PUCT experience - specify number of cases, types of proceedings, and outcomes achieved in regulatory advocacy
Highlight any previous work with environmental justice or community-based organizations in Texas energy contexts
Demonstrate knowledge of current Texas energy issues like data center growth impacts, grid reliability challenges, and renewable integration
Show how you've contributed to fundraising or proposal development in previous legal/advocacy roles
Tailor your resume to emphasize both regulatory procedure expertise AND substantive knowledge of Texas clean energy policy
✉️ What to Emphasize in Your Cover Letter
['Specific examples of successful advocacy before ERCOT or PUCT, including procedural knowledge and substantive outcomes', 'Experience building partnerships with environmental justice organizations or community groups in energy contexts', "Understanding of how legal advocacy supports EDF's mission of clean, affordable power in Texas", 'Demonstrated ability to assess legal rigor of policy proposals and ensure robust legal underpinnings for clean energy priorities']
Generate Cover Letter →🔍 Research Before Applying
To stand out, make sure you've researched:
- → EDF's recent Texas-specific clean energy advocacy and litigation outcomes
- → Current ERCOT and PUCT proceedings related to clean energy, grid planning, or renewable integration
- → EDF's partnerships with Texas environmental justice organizations and community groups
- → Texas-specific energy challenges mentioned in the job description (data center growth, electrification, grid reliability)
💬 Prepare for These Interview Topics
Based on this role, you may be asked about:
⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Generic environmental law experience without specific ERCOT/PUCT procedural knowledge
- Failing to demonstrate understanding of Texas-specific energy landscape and challenges
- Overlooking the fundraising and partnership-building aspects of the role in application materials
📅 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!