About AFRC
The American Forest Resource Council (AFRC) is seeking a full-time staff attorney. AFRC is an Oregon nonprofit corporation that represents the forest products industry throughout Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Montana, California, and Nevada. AFRC’s mission is to advocate for sustained-yield timber harvests on public timberlands throughout the West to enhance forest health and resistance to fire, insects, and disease. We do this by promoting active management to attain productive public forests, protect adjoining private forests, and assure community stability. We work to improve federal and state laws, regulations, policies, and decisions regarding access to and management of public forest lands and protection of all forest lands. For more information about AFRC, please visit our website at www.amforest.org.
AFRC’s legal program takes on big, precedent-setting cases on behalf of AFRC, its members, and other stakeholders. AFRC’s cases often involve defending forest management projects that improve forest health and resiliency, reduce fuels to protect nearby communities in the Wildland Urban Interface, enhance habitat for wildlife, combat climate change, and provide much needed family-wage jobs to rural communities. In addition to project-defense litigation, AFRC participates in cases involving environmental regulatory reforms, designation of critical habitat or listing decisions under the Endangered Species Act, and revisions to forest plans or resource management plans.
In collaboration with AFRC’s General Counsel, the staff attorney will be primarily responsible for managing and litigating forest management projects through participation as a defendant-intervenor. An ideal candidate will have three to five years of experience in environmental and natural resources litigation, with a passion for serving the forest products industry and rural and natural resource-based economies. The candidate should have a strong desire to become a leader in forestry-related issues. The staff attorney will be based in AFRC’s Portland office but will also have the flexibility to work remotely. AFRC prides itself on producing the highest quality legal work, while maintaining a healthy work-life balance.
Responsibilities
Overall Responsibilities
- Represent AFRC and members in strategic litigation efforts aimed at supporting active management of public timberlands in the West.
- Provide advice and research to AFRC and members on legal issues affecting public timber supply.
- Inform and advise AFRC’s legal committee and board of directors on current litigation efforts and emerging legal issues.
- Support AFRC’s efforts to influence federal land managers, at all levels, to increase the public timber supply.
- Support AFRC in responding to, and providing suggestions for, legislative initiatives to encourage prompt, proactive forest management without lengthy and costly analysis and litigation delays.
Specific Responsibilities
- Represent AFRC, and other stakeholders, in cases approved by AFRC’s legal committee as defendant-intervenors in lawsuits challenging the Forest Service and the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) timber sales, which present issues of regional significance to AFRC’s membership.
- Represent AFRC, and other stakeholders, as plaintiffs in cases approved by AFRC’s legal committee, which will benefit AFRC’s membership.
- Engage in all aspects of federal litigation, including drafting complaints, answers, motions to intervene, motions for summary judgment, and motions for preliminary injunction.
- Appellate practice before the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals.
- Draft amicus curiae briefs in federal district court, Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, and the U.S. Supreme Court, on issues that affect AFRC’s membership.
- Provide support regarding AFRC’s legal, policy, and legislative objectives.
- Support AFRC staff and consultants during the administrative process regarding documents for Forest Service Forest Plans, BLM’s Resource Management Plans, and site-specific projects involving active management on public lands.
- Prepare articles for the AFRC newsletter, and other policy publications.
- Represent AFRC at industry and legal profession meetings and conferences.
Qualifications
- D. from an ABA-accredited law school with excellent academic credential.
- At least three years of litigation experience in environmental and natural resources law.
- Status as an active member in good standing of the Oregon Bar and/or Washington Bar or a willingness to apply for admission within 6 months.
- Excellent analytical, research, writing and oral advocacy skills.
- Willingness to work independently and in collaboration with AFRC staff.
- Willingness to travel at least 15% of the time.
- Commitment to serving the forest products industry and rural communities.
- Experience with major environmental law statutes, such as the National Environmental Policy Act, the National Forest Management Act, the Endangered Species Act, the Federal Land Policy and Management Act, and the O&C Act.
- Litigation experience in federal court preferred.
Compensation
Competitive salary based on experience, paid vacation and sick leave, generous employer retirement contribution, and employer-funded health/dental/vision benefits.
Application Process
Qualified applicants should submit a cover letter, resume, transcript, writing sample (no more than 10 pages), and three references as a single PDF to Sara Ghafouri at info@amforest.org with “AFRC Staff Attorney Position” in the subject line. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until the position is filled.
Anticipated start date: Fall 2025
AFRC is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or veteran status.