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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 of Ask_Lawyers: Any advice for a potentially future Environmental Lawyer? : Ask_Lawyers
Main Post: Environmental Lawyers of Ask_Lawyers: Any advice for a potentially future Environmental Lawyer? : Ask_Lawyers
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
Environmental Lawyers : r/Environmental_Careers
Main Post: Environmental Lawyers : r/Environmental_Careers
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!
Environmental law
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Hi, so im a senior in college, and im accepted to multiple schools for a legal studies or law major, and i plan to go to law school afterwards. I want to do environmental law and was wondering if anyone here works in that field and what you do on a daily basis/what path you should take to be come an environmental lawyer. thank you for any feedback
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Hi! I'm an environmental attorney two years out of law school and do recruiting for my firm. I disagree with most of the advice offered so far, but one thing that is captured is there are many paths to this job. My topline advise is to decide first whether you really want to be an attorney, then go to law school with an open mind and if environmental practice still looks interesting you can tailor your education to this niche. The advise I'm sure you'll ignore is to please take your hands off the wheel right now and come back to this question in four years if you still have an interest.
Of course it wouldn't hurt, but it is not accurate that you need professional or even academic experience to become an environmental attorney. You just need to be a good attorney. My clients don't pay me to have scientific or engineering knowledge, they have their own people or consultants for that. They pay me for my understanding of administrative law, specific environmental statutes, and litigation strategy. I work closely with engineers and field techs, but mostly so I can translate their jargon into legalese. In that posture, ignorance actually helps.
I don't think I've ever looked at a candidate's undergraduate major, and I wouldn't expect anyone to remember what they learned in college after at least three years of law school anyway. I look for people who performed well at a good law school and have an interest in environmental law displayed through internships, coursework, clinics, journals, etc. It's really about what you did during law school and how well you did it. I studied business in college and worked in human rights advocacy before going to law school intending to do criminal law. Once I found an interest in environmental law, I interned for EDF and my current firm (which exclusively does environmental work), worked for my school's clinic, and wrote for the environmental law journal. Many of my current colleagues did significantly less, or even transitioned into environmental law after years of unrelated practice.
So what should you focus on right now? My first answer would be that you should only be learning what a career in environmental law is really like so you can make an informed decision. You will change a lot over the next 4 years, and a life spent pursuing your 18 year-old dreams might feel inauthentic. Happiness comes from finding your passion, and that takes a lot of time.
My second answer, as u/honeywings pointed out, is that getting into a good law school is quite important. The T14 thing is overrated, but it is true that better schools provide more opportunities. Aim for the Top 30, but also look at Vermont Law School, Pace, and Lewis & Clark, which are all respected for environmental law and little else. Again, what matters most is doing well wherever you end up. You will accomplish this with a high GPA, interesting experience of any type, and eventually a high LSAT score. Do well in school, even if it means taking easier courses. Do cool shit, even if it has nothing to do with law or school or work. When the LSAT comes, take a prep course and pray. This isn't just about getting into the best school, it's also about getting scholarships. I went to a top 20 school on a full ride, and 0 debt meant I could take the lower-paying environmental job.
Last, the picture painted in this thread of environmental practice is overly negative. There are many jobs in this field, they pay quite well, the work is extremely diverse and interesting. If you (or anyone else) wants to hear more about my experience, feel free to DM me or ask questions below!
Considering Environmental Law
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Hey, I'm sorry for adding to the cliche "ignorant outsider asks if they could make it in a famously grueling profession" type of reddit post. However, I am genuinely super curious about environmental law and would love insight from any who practice it or those who considered it, then considered otherwise.
My sense that it could be interesting for me comes from (1), I graduated with a philosophy degree and have a knack for reading and analytical writing, I did a couple paid research projects with professors and enjoyed the sense of feeling like an expert on a topic and explaining it to others (2), I am very curious about environmental issues and have enjoyed working as an intern at a water protection non-profit, (3), I like feeling like what I do matters, and I like the idea of suing big corporations and/or standing up for the little guy, and(4), and probably unfortunately relevant, my grandfather is a professor who fully supports financially helping my education (though maybe he'll change his mind when if he saw law school costs.
Given this, might it be worthwhile to explore environmental law? Do you have any advice on reaching out to people working in environmental law and find out more from them? LinkedIn, just cold-emailing people who consult for non-profits? Any books I should read? I I just graduated and right now I am the substitute environmental ed teacher at an elementary school while my coworker is on maternity leave, so I am considering areas to explore once this job is up at the end of the school year. Sorry again for the cliche question-type, I hope you are enjoying your lawyer lives.
Top Comment: I don’t work in environmental law, but my firm has an environmental practice so I will say this. Unless you work for the government or a not-for-profit, you’re not going to be saving the planet—your job will be to figure out how much your client can pollute and what the fine will be for doing so. They will then use this to decide whether polluting is a good business decision
Environmental law. Is this a path worth pursuing? Anybody have any insights, pro tips, recommendations, thoughts on what to avoid? What specialty is worthwhile financially? Ethically? Details below.
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I’m an environmental scientist. I have well over 5 years in industry experience, including Env consulting, a niche position providing exposure across wide areas of the industry, and low level positions at federal government. I have considered pursuing a Masters in a specialized environmental field, but I just don’t see it as the right choice, for a few reasons.
What about environmental law. What do I need to know? What am I missing? Are career prospects out there? I can sell myself into positions. I have a unique experience set, but need another leap to take full advantage of it. I’m thinking law could be the missing link.
Thoughts?! Thank you for all input, thank you so much.
Edit: was not clear originally. I’m internally debating an attempt at law school. Scares the heck out of me, but I think I would be good at it. I’m in a feasibility testing mode - is it worth my while, would I enjoy it, would my job simply be defending chemours and DuPont, or are there actual meaningful jobs to be had? Open to all lines of input.
Top Comment: Your environmental experience is good but it won’t get you the job. What will get you jobs in the legal field is going to a highly ranked law school and getting good grades. Environmental law is not a big area of law like finance or commercial litigation so there are fewer jobs available. At the same time there are many positions available if that’s what you really want. It can be a rewarding and worthwhile career choice if you do end up going into it. Nonprofit/government positions generally pay the least. Working at a big firm defending companies is going to pay the best. Everything else is somewhere in between.
is there anything you can actually do as an environmental lawyer to help climate change?
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I know most environmental lawyers help big companies get away with pollution but is there anything environmental lawyers can do to actually help with climate change? or is that kinda non existent
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