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I’m in environmental law, and here’s what I’ve learned about the career options along the way
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This came up in response to someone’s post about considering environmental law, and someone pointed me to this sub (hello there!). Here’s the quick and dirty on what I’ve learned navigating the environmental law path:
I’m in environmental law (kind of, more on that later), and it’s a bit of an odd career path. If you want to do straight law, by and large the primary jobs for plaintiffs (usually trying to get something cleaned up) are with nonprofits and frankly pay garbage, think starting and middling in the $40k-$65k range. After the debt you’re going to rack up, because even with scholarships along the way, you still have to pay rent, buy books, and eat, it’s an unlivable wage. There are government positions, which I had initially planned on pursuing, but they are and will always be at the behest of the current political administration (state or fed) and are drowning in red tape and demotivation. I had a couple internships in the government sector—one with EPA and one with my state’s attorney general—and the atmosphere, fueled by employee attitudes, was bleak. You could join a defense firm and make good money in a decent environment, but imo that defeats the purpose of going into environmental law in the first place. So what’s left at the end of this zero-sum game? Enter environmental insurance, which is what I do. The pay is good, industry culture is great, and you play an active and important role in the cleanup. That said, is it a dream job? No. Would I recommend going to law school specifically for one of the options I mentioned? Also no, unless you’re a big politics/legal geek and would be deeply fulfilled by the education alone.
Feel free to ask questions or start a broader discussion below. I would have loved to have been able to chat with someone about the options and experiences beforehand, and I’d be more than happy to fill that role for someone else.
Top Comment: I wanted to point out that larger NGOs do have dedicated legal teams who go into court, get paid ok if not fantastic money (I think EarthJustice starts attorneys in the 80ks). These jobs are extremely competitive so probably shouldn't be a Plan A.
Environmental Lawyers
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Hey all! Any thoughts about an environmental law concentration? I’m on the fence about law school and given my undergraduate degrees and master’s degree, my concentration would definitely be something environmental. Is there anyone on this thread that works as an environmental lawyer? What does a day in the life look for you, and how is the salary range? Thanks in advance!
Top Comment: I have a friend that works as a lawyer for NOAA. His experience out of law school (that focused on the environment) was that once he graduated, no law firm that dealt with the environment would take him despite his stellar grades and summer experience. He was stuck in the ol' catch 22 where to start working in environmental law you need real-world experience in it. So he pretty much worked as a clerk for a state judge and then a federal judge for about 6 years and jumped on any case he could work on that was even tangentially related to the environment. From there he applied to his federal position and got the job. His work right now is simultaneously depressing and fulfilling (as far as I can tell). His first couple years he had trouble muscling into cases but now he's extremely busy. He knows that he could be paid 2-3× more as a private lawyer but his work schedule is extremely relaxed and his benefits are insane, meanwhile his private firm peers are burning out. Again, it can be depressing, as you deal with corporations that time and again get a light slap on the wrist while your hands are tied, but it can be very rewarding when you win a case.
Anyone know some careers in environmental law? Something I have always been passionate about and originally intended to do after graduation with an IR degree, but life kicked me in the nuts like it does, and I have been contemplating applying to law school for better opportunities in life
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I was driving for work, right now I am a pharmacy tech, its easy and fine but I make barely anything and it really really sucks cause I worked hard for 4 years, and I live and work in vermont, I heard an advertisement from Vermont Law school about their environmental law program, it sounds really interesting and something I could see myself striving for. Does anyone here work in this area? Im not too knowledgeable on the many different career positions that exist within Law outside general knowledge. Also, this is a totally different and more personal question, but has anyone been lost in life and decided to attend law school to make something of themselves? Kinda at the end of the road and lost
Top Comment: I work as a paralegal for a medium-sized non-profit regional environmental organization. I am primarily involved in civil litigation, mainly appellate, at both the state and federal level. I am also involved in "government relations" (lobbying) at the state level. Our organization does both law and policy. Much of our legal work is defending laws and regulations that we like and attacking laws and regulations that we do not like. On the policy side, we draft proposed regulations and statutes, primarily at the state level. We lobby for the adoption of those regulations and statutes. Prior to the work for the organization, I worked for a law firm that represented non-profit advocacy organizations, including the one I now work for. That firm has since folded; its lawyers and staff have joined the organization I now work for. There are many different types of employers in the environmental area. u/startouchedlove/ has a good description of them. All of them could offer good careers. BTW: You say that you are a pharmacy tech now. I knew someone who was a pharmacist and a lawyer. He liked to say that if the pill he sold you didn't work, he could handle the probate of your will.
Considering Environmental Law: Looking for serious input!
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Hi All,
I am currently a B.A. Environmental Studies - Wildlife Biology student at Prescott College. I am looking at graduate school and have a few paths I am considering following, one of which is law school with a focus on environmental & Native American law. I will be sitting for the LSAT this December if I follow this route.
The Eyes on Conservation podcast featured a very well-spoken environmental lawyer. This piqued my curiosity and I have been heavily researching the field ever since. There are a lot of things that appeal to me, such as:
- I enjoy researching.
- I enjoy writing, both technically & creatively.
- I enjoy intelligent discussions & arguments.
- I have strong critical reading & interpretation skills.
- I have a science background that is supplemented with humanities, political science & anthropology. I believe this background will help me in this field.
The things that draw me to environmental law:
- The controversies surrounding the use of our natural resources are often settled in court.
- These controversies and management issues are only going to grow in the near future.
- Law defense, interpretation, implementation & creation offers the best form of protection for our natural resources.
- Natural resource use and access often includes human rights issues.
- The average salary falls in the $100,000+ range according to multiple sources.
Now, before you think that I think the field is full of butterflies and activism, I understand that:
- Much money is made from companies looking to exploit resources or utilize loopholes.
- Permits, water rights & land use make up more of the workload than environmental advocacy.
- $100,000+ a year probably doesn't happen right out the door for most individuals.
My questions are as follows for those practicing environmental law:
- What is a typical workweek like?
- What is the work-family balance like?
- What salary is realistic out the door & what growth can be expected?
- What went into your decision to attend law school with a focus on environmental law?
- What do you love about the field?
- What do you hate about the field?
- Do you work with a large firm or independent? For a private company or non-profit?
- What types of cases do you see the most?
- Any opinions on Lewis & Clark's program?
Thank you in advance!
Top Comment:
Graduated from Lewis & Clark top 15% with internships at both an EPA region and U.S. Department of Justice, Environment & Natural Resources Division, as well as an environmental non-profit. About to take the bar exam and waiting to hear about positions at EPA.
I enjoy researching.
Good. Required for any litigation-focused legal work such as environmental law.
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I enjoy writing, both technically & creatively.
Not a whole lot of creative writing. Also, legal writing is not the sort of technical writing that you're used to. Not that you won't enjoy it; just don't expect it to be similar.
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I enjoy intelligent discussions & arguments.
Good, I guess.
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I have strong critical reading & interpretation skills.
Probably the most important quality from your list.
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I have a science background that is supplemented with humanities, political science & anthropology. I believe this background will help me in this field.
I mean, maybe? It'll certainly help for when you're speaking to expert witnesses and such. However, most of your arguments will be based on the law rather than your science knowledge (speaking as a Physics B.S.).
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The controversies surrounding the use of our natural resources are often settled in court.
Eh. Most of them are settled out of court.
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These controversies and management issues are only going to grow in the near future.
Probably true. But if you're anything like I was before law school, you're probably overestimating the extent to which that is true.
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Law defense, interpretation, implementation & creation offers the best form of protection for our natural resources.
Eh. It's a tool. And a slow one at that. Policy work is just as important, if not more important.
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Natural resource use and access often includes human rights issues.
Maybe? There are definitely a lot of environmental justice issues with regulation and enforcement (i.e. more affluent areas tend to get better environmental protection than less affluent areas), but I'm not sure what you mean by "human rights."
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The average salary falls in the $100,000+ range according to multiple sources.
Unless you're working for industry or private firms, in which case you're making the monaaaaay.
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Much money is made from companies looking to exploit resources or utilize loopholes.
Some companies, sure. But most companies are just looking to comply without having to pay for their occasional mess ups. Then there's also the private landowners who think that they can do whatever they want just because they own the land surrounding a body of water...
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Permits, water rights & land use make up more of the workload than environmental advocacy.
"Environmental advocacy" is generally understood to include those things.
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$100,000+ a year probably doesn't happen right out the door for most individuals.
You will probably never make that much working for a NGO. You might make that much after working long enough in federal service. You will probably make about that much within a few years of working private, assuming you're good at your job.
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What is a typical workweek like?
What is the work-family balance like?
What salary is realistic out the door & what growth can be expected?
Entirely depends on what route you want to go. For smaller NGOs, you may be working your butt off for very little. You will also be competing with a lot of other wannabe environmental lawyers for the few positions available for new attorneys. NGOs that have fewer funding issues may let you have something closer to a 40-hour work week average (with some heavier and some lighter weeks).
Government work is generally known to allow for a good work-life balance with relatively good pay. It is also among the most competitive of work. You will need to be close to the top of your class at a reputable law school with relevant experience and good references to get one of these positions.
Work at a private firm is generally known to be a lot of work as a junior associate, but for a good chunk of salary. I'm not particularly familiar with it, though, so I don't have much more to add.
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What went into your decision to attend law school with a focus on environmental law?
I felt strongly about the need for environmental regulation and enforcement and also enjoyed advocating persuasively for policy positions.
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What do you love about the field?
It's interesting work. The legal issues are often complicated and intellectual. You also have some feeling that you're contributing positively to the country (assuming you're on the side of NGOs or government).
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What do you hate about the field?
Because environmental regulation can get so contentious, there's a lot of weird and bad law out there. Also, the Clean Air Act is a poorly drafted statute.
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Do you work with a large firm or independent? For a private company or non-profit?
None. Unemployed as fuck for now.
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What types of cases do you see the most?
Bullshit bar exam cases.
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Any opinions on Lewis & Clark's program?
Lewis & Clark's program is good. However, based on academics alone, you'll be far better off graduating from top-14 if you're looking to do any big-time environmental law (i.e. EPA, DOJ, or NRDC/Earthjusice). Primary reason for that is that bigtime E-law digs federal clerkships (i.e. working for a federal judge after law school). Benefit of Lewis & Clark is that you get good connections and opportunities to get a lot of actual professional experiences.
In conclusion, what you need to do is think about what you're looking for. Working in environmental law can be very rewarding, but it can also be very heartbreaking. The law is slow and is generally not the fastest way of getting real pro-environment change.
Further, there are a LOT of people looking to enter environmental law. You will be competing with very smart and dedicated people. After law school, you will be competing with Ivy League graduates who have already finished their temporary clerkships for federal appellate court judges. My point here is that you want to be sure that you want to practice law before you drop the cash to go to law school. Don't attend Lewis & Clark for sticker-price. Get an LSAT score in at least the high 160s to maximize your scholarships.
Good luck with your decision and your upcoming LSATs!
Considering Environmental Law : r/Lawyertalk
Main Post: Considering Environmental Law : r/Lawyertalk
Environmental lawyers… how are y’all doing? (Need firsthand advice)
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I’m located in Dallas Texas.
Currently pursuing a political science degree, with the goal of attending law school to be an environmental lawyer.
Im in a lawyer group, and they’ve all said the same thing- “you can’t pay the bills as an EL.”
This is really discouraging as someone who’s looking to take on a lot of loans to go to law school.
I’m not sure I could be as passionate about a field as I would be for EL. Although I think being a divorce attorney would be interesting, and I’d love to help people in that way. But I’m concerned that it would make me view marriage differently (I’m also single, so I have no one reaffirming me marriage is different than what I would see in that world).
Anyways, could you give me a lay of the land?
Would specializing in environmental law, toxic torts, regulations, renewable energy be enough, or would I need to focus on other areas to make ends meet?
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I think you are getting questionable advice. The partners at my law firm told me the same thing when I decided to leave corporate law for environmental law years ago. They were wrong and I couldn’t be happier with my decision.
What does environmental law look like depending on the firm?
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Hi (19M, Canada) interested in becoming a lawyer and eventually practicing environmental law. I’m interested in environmental law because of its power to mitigate climate change and how legal processes can protect these. I’ve done my research on Canadian BigLaw and the work they do in clean energy/ESG/environmental law and it looks enticing but it seems too intense for me despite the great salary. So I wanted to know what environmental law can look like depending on the firm?
Top Comment: Who is going to pay you to protect the environment? The heartbreak of environmental law is (generally) you either work for the government, for comparatively low salary, or for polluters.
Can I Become a Lawyer With a Science Degree?
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So the title basically says most of it! I’m in college right now majoring in wildlife biology, obviously to become a wildlife biologist. But, with everything going on in the federal government I’m considering environmental law just in case things fall through and I can’t get a job (also as a way to fight against what’s happening with the current administration 🤭). I’m either gonna declare a minor in Political Science or Law and Administration soon enough. Do you think keeping my major in STEM will hurt me, benefit me, or just not matter at all in pursuing environmental law as a just in case?
Top Comment: I am currently doing environmental litigation and I went to Georgetown for law school. In college I had a B.S. in conservation biology and ecology with minors in studio art and architecture! So the answer is you definitely can keep your STEM major and become a lawyer! I have found it to be extremely helpful becuase I actually understand the science and I have found that other lawyers without science backgrounds do not. Your major doesnt really matter for getting into law school--grades and LSAT acotra matter more. If anytning, the STEM majornwill help you stand out as a candidate. If you decide to do law school, I would suggest making sure you look for schools with good environmental law class options because many schools do not have great choices! Good luck!
Top lawyers defy bar to declare they will not prosecute peaceful climate protesters | Environmental activism : unitedkingdom
Main Post: Top lawyers defy bar to declare they will not prosecute peaceful climate protesters | Environmental activism : unitedkingdom