Energy, Natural Resources, and Environmental Associate - Junior to Mid-Level - Portland

Davis Wright Tremaine seeks to hire an associate with a minimum of one year of experience to join its robust energy and food, beverage and agriculture (FBA) teams.  The position is based out of Portland, OR. The ideal candidate must have a strong grasp on legal analysis and writing and excellent interpersonal and creative problem-solving skills. Once hired, the associate will assist in all aspects of project development and permitting for DWT’s energy and FBA clients as well as helping support the firm’s Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) efforts. In doing so, the associate will work closely with other members of the energy and FBA teams, within the Portland office and across the firm. Responsibilities will include some travel for hearings, helping manage client communications and workloads, and managing smaller projects independently. 

This is a great opportunity for a confident, self-motivated individual with a demonstrated ability to handle matters independently and a desire to assist our client teams in regulatory, permitting, and transactional matters. Applicants should be comfortable collaborating in a team environment, as well as have the ability to handle significant individual responsibilities for more than one supervising attorney. Candidates should be experienced translating complex scientific and legal concepts into plain English.

Once hired, the associate will have the opportunity to receive training in environmental, land use, and water law, and apply that knowledge to cutting edge legal issues in the renewable energy, food and beverage, and technology industries.  

Candidates must have an Oregon state bar license that is active and in good standing, excellent writing and drafting skills, a high level of attention to detail, a track record of responsiveness, and strong client relationship and interpersonal skills that will allow the candidate to be a team player.

DWT’s working atmosphere is fun, fast-paced, and collegial.  Partnership advancement potential at DWT is strong.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Demonstrated experience or interest in renewable energy, land use, and/or alcohol beverage law
• Experience in permitting and regulatory compliance
• Experience in transactional law, including drafting and negotiating relevant agreements

To apply, please upload a cover letter addressed to Beka Anardi, Attorney Recruiter; resume, writing sample, and law school transcript, all in PDF format. Please specify how you heard about this position. All replies are confidential.

We are currently not accepting submissions from third-party recruiters.

We are relentlessly committed to client service and look for candidates who share that commitment. At DWT, client service means having empathy for each client’s and each lawyer’s work and personal pressures, business objectives, and legal needs; anticipating their needs; and having the capabilities and commitment to deliver what matters most to them.

Davis Wright Tremaine LLP believes that embracing diversity and inclusion brings out the best of what each individual has to offer and inspires us to build strong and lasting connections with each other, our clients, and our communities.

We are committed to creating and cultivating a diverse workforce and inclusive environment where every employee has the right to work in surroundings that are free from all forms of unlawful discrimination. It is our policy to hire, promote, transfer, terminate, and make all employment-related decisions without regard to an employee’s sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, or related medical condition), race, color, ancestry, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, religious creed, age, marital status, physical or mental disability, genetic information, medical condition, military condition, military or veteran status or any other basis prohibited by applicable local, state, or federal laws.

Davis Wright Tremaine provides reasonable accommodations for those who need them to complete the application or recruiting process and for employees who need reasonable accommodations to perform the essential functions of their positions due to a disability or for religious reasons. If you need to request accommodation during the application or recruiting process, please email attyjobs@dwt.com.

Actual pay will be adjusted based on the candidate’s education, training, experience and other job-related factors permitted by law.  Full time employees may be eligible for a bonus and health insurance with an optional HSA, short term disability, long term disability, dental insurance, vision care, life insurance, Healthcare and Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts, 401(k), vacation, sick time, 10 paid holidays each year and an employee assistance program.  For full-time employees, the initial sick leave benefit is 80 hours of sick leave per year.  Attorneys generally take approximately three weeks of vacation from work each year, and it may vary depending on the needs of the clients and the firm.  Additional voluntary benefits programs include voluntary accident insurance, voluntary life, voluntary disability, voluntary long-term care, voluntary critical illness and cancer insurance and pet insurance.  Commuter and Transit programs are also available.