Humans aren’t the only ones who need lawyers, apparently. Earthjustice, founded in 1971 and headquartered in San Francisco, has the slogan “Because the earth needs a good lawyer.” In other words, the work of Earthjustice is providing legal representation to individuals and organizations involved in environmental litigation. Cases represented by Earthjustice attorneys are chosen according to three criterion: whether the case has high stakes, whether the case potentially has a landmark impact, and whether the case would forge strong partnerships with national and local groups. If a case is won, Earthjustice’s policy and legislation team works with members of Congress to write new laws and strengthen old ones; this ensures that progress made in the courtroom isn’t erased by congressional action. The three main categories of Earthjustice’s legal victories have been wildlife and places, climate and energy, and health and toxics.
