| Thanks to thousands of Minnesotans supporting our work, our in-house legal team is stronger than ever. MCEA has thirteen lawyers on staff, the majority of whom are directly involved in litigation to protect our state’s people and environment — making MCEA the largest environmental legal advocacy organization in the state. |
 Jay Eidness, Staff Attorney“I have always been happiest exploring the curiosities of untamed landscapes. For me, the beautiful chaos of nature is the tonic for the inevitable maladies affecting modern life. As an attorney with MCEA, I am committed to wielding my talent and experience as a skilled litigator in the fight for clean air, water, and soil.”Jay became part of our team this Summer. Prior to joining MCEA, Jay litigated wage theft cases on behalf of employees striving for proper wages and also clerked for Judge Ann D. Montgomery in U.S. District Court for the District of Minnesota. Jay serves on the board of SPAM FC – a local non-profit dedicated to offsetting rising college expenses – is a member of the Hennepin County Bicycle Advisory Committee, and co-owns an eco-tourism kayak guiding company on the Mississippi River. Jay holds a B.A. from St. John’s University and a J.D. from Vermont Law School. |
 Stephanie Fitzgerald, Legal Fellow“Facing the climate crisis takes all types of people. I’m not ‘outdoorsy.’ Given the choice, I would probably walk the urban core of a city before hiking a beautiful trail… I am motivated because I don’t want my fellow man to suffer from catastrophic climate change. If I can work toward the goal of reducing suffering, I will consider my career successful.”Stephanie joined our team in September, 2020. She received her J.D. from Washington University in St. Louis and a B.A. in Sociology from Arizona State University. Stephanie worked and volunteered with various environmental nonprofits before joining MCEA as a Legal Fellow. |
Together We are Herd Strong!