How to become An Environmental Lawyer

Conducting human activities in harmony with environmental laws and models is a wise choice and the inescapable need of the hour. After all, it is the environment that houses and helps our ecosystem grow and thrive. Environmental Lawyers focus on legal issues related to the environment. They engage with projects that involve renewable energy, sustainability and other measures to tackle climate change.

• Environmental Advocate

What do Environmental Lawyers do?

An Environmental Lawyer would typically need to:

• Advise policymakers at all government levels; assist crime investigators; give legal counsel to corporations, agencies, researchers and scientists

• Draft environmental legislation, policies and business practices to create awareness on various environmental issues and help solve them

• Draft pleadings release clear communication to stakeholders; validate legal documents that are in writing 

• Organise and participate in educational campaigns; lobby elected officials

• Design new environmental rules & regulations; develop innovative approaches to environmental protection

• Participate in public-private partnerships that experiment in new technologies

• Consult with industry to help them comply with environmental laws

• Coordinate community education and outreach; engage in public policy discussions at conferences and academic institutions

• Engage the public by organising environmental advocacy programs and forums 

• Facilitate and support business & property transactions that aim to conserve land; negotiate deals for renewable energy enterprises

• Mediate between landowners and business or government agencies

• Prepare cases against individuals and organisations that neglect and harm the environment intentionally or due to carelessness

• Interview witnesses before hearings; confer with both parties to work out settlements

• Research environmental legislation, court decisions and the details surrounding each specific case 

• Mentor junior Environmental Lawyers

Environmental Lawyers usually work in office settings on their employers’ premises. They may also work as freelancers from a private office set up at home or outside.

They may sometimes need to travel for client meetings or environmental cases.

Environmental Lawyers typically work in full-time jobs 40 hours or more per week depending on the workload of the case at hand and its deadlines. Lawyers in private practice and large firms often spend extra hours on research and document preparation and review. 

If you are self-employed and running your practice or consultancy, you may have more flexible work schedules.

Finding a new job might seem challenging. Environmental Lawyers can boost their job search by asking their network for referrals, contacting companies directly, using job search platforms, going to job fairs, leveraging social media, and inquiring at staffing agencies. 

Environmental Lawyers are generally employed by: 

• Central, State and Local Governments

• Private Law Firms

• Environmental Consulting Firms

• Colleges & Universities 

• Research Institutions

• Large Firms

• Insurance Companies 

• Non-Profit, Non-Governmental & International Organisations

Professional associations and organisations, such as the Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL), are crucial for Environmental Lawyers interested in pursuing professional development or connecting with like-minded professionals in their industry or occupation. Membership in one or more adds value to your resume while bolstering your credentials and qualifications.

• Work pressure during trials and while meeting deadlines

• High level of competition in the field of environmental law

• The need for relevant environmental experience to break into the specialism  

• Long working hours, which may lead to a lack of work-life balance

• Stress due to the demand for preparing and filing legal documents by the dates given

• Eye strain, carpal tunnel syndrome, neck and back soreness due to long hours on the computer 

Academic programs undertaken by potential Environmental Lawyers typically require a period of supervised experience, such as an internship. Gaining practical experience through paid or unpaid internships in legal organisations gives you invaluable insights into the job and helps you learn the ropes. 

Aspiring lawyers may gain valuable experience by doing part-time jobs or summer internships in law firms, government agencies and corporate legal departments. It is beneficial for aspiring Environmental Lawyers to complete an environmental law internship to earn practical exposure. Smaller firms may hire students as summer associates after their first year at law school. Larger firms typically provide summer associate programs to law students who have completed their second year at law school. These experiences help you choose the area of expertise in your law career and may result in job offers after you graduate from law school. 

Law graduates aspiring to enter environmental law may work with private firms to better understand and experience legal systems before moving on to a specialised environmental law firm.

Read about the profession and interview or job shadow experts working in environmental law to prove your commitment to course providers and prospective employers. 

Environmental Lawyers must earn their law degree, either an LLB (Bachelor of Laws) or a JD (Juris Doctor), depending on location. In either case, a bachelor’s degree is the first step towards entering the profession.

In specific locations, one pathway to becoming an Environmental Lawyer is to begin with an LLB program, which you may enter upon graduating from high school and qualifying in the relevant aptitude test. The program teaches you the fundamentals of law and legal systems and covers a range of legal topics.

Another alternative gives you the liberty to earn your bachelor’s degree in disciplines other than law and follow it up with a one-year graduate diploma in law or a professional examination. The core components of the law and legal systems are taught within a single year. This pathway is informally known as “law conversion”.

In other locations, you can apply to a three-year Juris Doctor (JD) program at an accredited law school only after acquiring a bachelor’s degree and passing the relevant entrance exam. The JD degree is at the level of a master’s degree

You may major in political science, history, economics, philosophy, literature, government, mathematics or other relevant subjects. However, a bachelor’s degree program in environmental policy or environmental science is helpful for an aspiring Environmental Lawyer. These programs typically focus on conservation methods, pollution problems and the impact of humans on the environment. 

Advanced learning in the field is helpful for an Environmental Lawyer. For advancement to more senior roles with higher pay grades, you may choose to acquire higher academic qualifications such as an LLM degree (Master of Laws), which allows you to specialise in environmental law. The program typically focuses on air pollution control, regulation of toxic substance risk, oil & gas law, wildlife law, and land use. 

You could also pursue a PhD in law or an LLD (Doctor of Laws), both being extensive academic study programs.

Acquiring certification as an environmental law analyst may boost your employability. It evaluates candidates’ knowledge concerning industrial pollution, hazardous substances law, legislative measures, enforcement machinery, pollution, pollution control boards, corporate environmental liability and statutory relief. 

Certification demonstrates an Environmental Lawyer’s competence in a skill set, typically through work experience, training, and passing an examination. When acquired from an objective and reputed organisation, it can help you stand out in a competitive job market, carry a significant salary premium of up to 18 per cent, increase your chances of advancement, and allow you to become an independent consultant.

Environmental Lawyers typically need to be licensed to practise. Individual government entities conduct the licensing process. Admission into the relevant bar association usually requires the passage of bar and professional responsibility examinations in addition to the fulfilment of eligibility requirements, such as a minimum level of education, work experience, training, or the completion of an internship, residency, or apprenticeship. Licensing requirements differ according to the location. You may also need to take the bar exam relevant to the place. 

Performance, experience, and the acquisition of professional qualifications drive career progression. Employees with consistently high levels of performance may be eligible for promotion every two to three years. 

In private law firms, Environmental Lawyers may progress to Department Heads in charge of department profits and staff and then rise to become Senior Partners. You may also receive an appointment to the bench or administrative tribunals. If you work for the government as legal advisors, you may become Department Heads or Diplomats. 

Some Environmental Lawyers may opt to work as Lobbyists by combining their academic qualifications and experience in both law and environmental science or other related fields.

With progression, it is possible to become the Head of Department within the firm and take up the responsibility of profit levels and staff of that specific department. 

You may also explore the academic aspect of this career and become a Lecturer in universities. 

Candidates with a master’s degree in environmental law, along with the necessary skills and experience, have the best job prospects.

Continuing professional development (CPD) will help an active Environmental Lawyer build personal skills and proficiency through work-based learning, a professional activity, formal education, or self-directed learning. It allows you to upskill continually, regardless of your age, job, or level of knowledge. Continuing professional development (CPD) activities include attending training seminars, conferences and networking events organised by professional associations.

As a practising Environmental Lawyer, you must periodically undertake continuing legal education to stay abreast with recent legal developments, particularly those that may influence your practice. Law schools and bar associations may provide these courses. Courses may vary across locations but typically cover a legal subject, such as legal ethics, taxes & tax fraud, and healthcare. You may also acquire education credits through accredited online courses.

To upskill, you can undertake mentoring or research in law and writing. You may pursue higher studies and research through a master’s degree, such as an MBA (Master of Business Administration). 

The Importance of Environmental Law

It has become imperative to protect our planet from the depletion of natural resources through sustainability measures for current and future generations. The correct legislation helps ensure the protection of our environment and makes humankind accountable towards the planet. The demand for Environmental Lawyers is increasing with the depletion of our natural resources. 

List of Environmental Laws

Environmental law encompasses diverse areas, ranging from the conservation of sites of natural beauty to climate change. Legislation typically matters such as clean air, water, pollution control, climate change, sustainable energy, environmental protection, wildlife, hunting, countryside and right of way.

Potential Pros & Cons of Freelancing vs Full-Time Employment

Freelancing Environmental Lawyers have more flexible work schedules and locations. They have full ownership of the business and can select their projects and clients. However, they experience inconsistent work and cash flow, which means more responsibility, effort and risk.

A full-time Environmental Lawyer, on the other hand, has company-sponsored health benefits, insurance, and retirement plans. They have job security with a fixed, reliable source of income and guidance from their bosses. Yet, they may experience boredom due to a lack of flexibility, ownership, and variety.

When deciding between freelancing or being a full-time employee, consider the pros and cons to see what works best for you.

Given that 90% of goods are shipped worldwide by sea, the UN Human Rights Office has launched an inquiry in 2021 to study the use of toxic fuels by the shipping industry and stakeholders’ human rights.

With sustainability growing as a global priority, environmental law has become a rewarding career option personally and financially. Environmental Lawyers play a vital role in developing environmental policy and spreading awareness about various environmental issues. Success will be yours if you are passionate about the environment, deeply interested in law and public policy, and well-equipped with research, analysis, negotiation, and communication skills.

Be patient to work your way up from administrative duties to where you can represent clients at a trial in court. Also, remember that every issue has at least two sides, often more. Legal professionals work on all sides to facilitate negotiation and settlement. Not every conflict is a clear-cut divide between pro-green and anti-green points of view. However, with discipline, commitment and careful thought given to ethical matters, you can make a difference.