Water And Environmental Law Attorney

Job Title: Water And Environmental Law Attorney

Job Overview:
A respected law firm based in Denver, CO, is seeking a seasoned attorney with focused experience in water and environmental law. The position involves a diverse portfolio of regulatory, litigation, and transactional work related to water rights, environmental compliance, and natural resources. This opportunity is ideal for a legal professional looking to deepen expertise in a niche area of law while working with a dedicated team on high-impact matters.

Duties:

• Represent clients in water court, state and federal litigation, administrative hearings, and dispute resolution forums

• Develop and implement strategic plans for complex cases

• Prepare litigation documents, including pleadings, motions, discovery, subpoenas, and briefs

• Conduct and manage electronic and document discovery

• Take and defend depositions of fact and expert witnesses

• Handle environmental and water resource expert witnesses in litigation

• Draft, review, and negotiate agreements related to water rights and transactions

• Advise on easements, real estate, and land use issues related to water law

• Manage legal aspects of regulatory compliance with air and water quality, hazardous waste, mining, and oil & gas laws

• Navigate federal and state environmental regulations, including enforcement proceedings

• Participate in settlement discussions, mediations, trials, and appeals

Requirements:

• 4-7 years of relevant legal experience

• Demonstrated experience in water court and administrative proceedings

• Proven ability to manage caseloads independently

• Effective oral advocacy and negotiation skills

• Experience in civil or environmental litigation

Education:

• Juris Doctor from an accredited law school

Certifications:

• Admission to the Colorado Bar, or eligibility through reciprocity

Skills:

• In-depth knowledge of Colorado water law and natural resource regulations

• Familiarity with laws and frameworks, including NEPA, FLPMA, CWA, ESA, BLM, and USFS permitting

• Excellent legal research, analysis, and writing ability

• Experience drafting client memoranda, legal briefs, motions, and appellate filings

• Strong interpersonal and team collaboration skills

• Positive attitude with a high level of professionalism

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience in bench trials

• Background in managing or assisting with large-scale environmental compliance or litigation matters

Job Location:

• Denver, CO

Benefits:

• Paid medical, dental, vision, and life insurance

• Disability and pet insurance options

• Health Savings and Flexible Spending Accounts

• Identity theft protection

• 401(k) with discretionary profit-sharing

• Employee Assistance Program

• Paid parental leave and holidays

• Flexible Paid Time Off (PTO)

• Hybrid work schedule options

• Professional development and firm committee participation opportunities

• Reasonable billing targets with a bonus structure

• Wellness initiatives and parking options

This smaller firm located in Denver handles a wide variety of civil matters in the areas of corporate, tax, litigation and other fields. Its small size allows the firm to maintain close relationships among its attorneys and with its impressive list of national and international clients. This firm is a great place to work due to its stability, collegial atmosphere and competitive pay and benefits. As a sign that this firm has an outstanding working environment, many of the attorneys and staff of this firm have been here for decades. One of the oldest law firms in Denver, this firm has been instrumental in the growth and development of the Rocky Mountain region. While there are certainly larger firms, this firm has made a conscious decision to limit its size in order to preserve its collegial and friendly atmosphere. Indeed, all the attorneys and staff of this firm really appear to know each other quite well and interact with one another on a first-name basis.