WPLC Staff Attorney Position

Position Type: Full-time, exempt staff position

Start Date: January 15, 2026

Location: Remote (fully remote work environment)

Geographic Scope: Preference for applicants based and licensed in Arizona, New Mexico, South Dakota, North Dakota, or Hawaiʻi, but will consider applicants licensed in other U.S. jurisdictions with willingness to obtain admission where needed.

Background

WPLC is an Indigenous-led nonprofit law firm and advocacy organization providing legal support and advocacy for Indigenous Peoples and Original Nations, the Earth, and frontline environmental justice communities protecting sacred lands and waters. Born out of the #NoDAPL movement at Standing Rock, WPLC continues this work as a legal holding line for Indigenous Peoples and the Earth.

Mission Alignment

WPLC welcomes applicants who share organizational values and are committed to decolonial, Indigenous-led, and relational lawyering. Work is impact-driven and strives to foster culturally safe, trauma-informed, and relational legal practices.

Commitment to Diversity

WPLC is actively working to increase Indigenous representation in the legal field, recognizing that less than 1% of lawyers in the U.S. are Indigenous. The organization aims to create pathways for Indigenous and BIPOC law students and lawyers to engage in movement lawyering and environmental justice work rooted in cultural safety, sovereignty, and self-determination.

Equal Employment Opportunity: WPLC does not discriminate with respect to employment on the basis of race, color, religion, creed, gender, disability, socioeconomic background, age, sexual orientation, marital status, political affiliation, national origin, ancestry, public assistance status, or immigration status. Priority is given to Indigenous and BIPOC candidates, with welcome for strong allies committed to environmental and human rights law.

Compensation

Salary: $65,000 - $82,500 per year depending on experience

Benefits: WPLC is committed to investing in education and training, including opportunities for learning and professional development wherever possible, consistent with budget and organization capacity.

Position Requirements

Access & Logistics:

• Access to laptop, phone, and stable internet connection
• Regular availability for remote meetings and assignments
• Willingness and ability to travel sometimes extensively and on short notice, including to remote or rural communities
• Positive attitude, self-direction, initiative, strong time management, and reliability essential

Required Qualifications

• J.D. from an ABA-accredited law school
• Licensed attorney in good standing in at least one U.S. jurisdiction
• Approximately 3-5 years of litigation experience (candidates with more or less experience who strongly align may be considered)
• Outstanding legal research, writing, and oral advocacy skills
• Ability to work both independently and collaboratively in a remote, fast-paced setting
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills, including ability to build trust with Indigenous Peoples, frontline communities, and grassroots movement partners
• Demonstrated commitment to decolonial, justice-centered, and Indigenous-led work, and to environmental and climate justice, human rights, and movement lawyering
• Understanding of cultural safety and history of harm experienced by Indigenous Peoples, including settler colonialism, pressures of domestic and international legal systems, and impacts of extractive industry and corporate violence

Preferred Qualifications

• Knowledge of one or more of: Federal Indian Law, Civil litigation or impact litigation, Criminal defense and/or mass defense, Environmental law, Water law, International human rights, International Indigenous rights, Administrative law
• Experience working with Indigenous communities, Tribal governments, or grassroots organizations
• Experience with community legal education, popular education, or movement training
• Additional language skills relevant to communities served (Indigenous languages, Spanish, Portuguese, French)

How to Apply

Deadline: December 5, 2025

Submission Instructions:

1. Prepare required materials:
   • Cover letter
   • Updated resume or CV
2. Email materials to: jobs@waterprotectorlegal.org
3. Use subject line: "Staff Attorney Application – Your Name"
4. Submit by: December 5, 2025