2 years to land a dream climate job w/ Statton Hammock
Plus, a detailed look at liability for climate disclosures
Hi! I’m Matthew Karmel, founder of the planetary lawyer project and Chair of the Environmental and Sustainability Law Group at Offit Kurman. (Any views expressed are my own. Nothing here is legal advice.)
I started my career as an associate with a single pro bono climate client and am now the head of a cutting edge climate-focused practice group at a full-service AMLaw 200 law firm.
I started this newsletter to help you build your own climate-friendly legal career by sharing hard-won lessons from my own career, short interviews with other climate-focused lawyers, legal developments, and relevant job opportunities.
Statton Hammock persevered for 2 years trying to land his dream climate job.
He faced lengthy interview processes.
He faced ageism.
He faced exhaustion.
But he learned a lot of lessons about what WORKS when applying for climate jobs.
And his perspective matches my own thoughts on applying for jobs as well.
In fact, it can all be summed up in one word…
Click here to read about it in the first first interview in our relaunched interview series, where we’ll talk with lawyers in various climate-related roles.
As we chart our own paths through the climate sphere, it is so helpful to hear the ways that others navigated their careers, even if we are on a different journey.
So please join us and read Statton’s interview here.
Insights and Sponsors
Running a law firm is hard. Reading about it shouldn’t be.
Raise the Bar is your free weekly dose of legal news, smart marketing ideas, and real-world advice, written for small- to mid-size firm owners who don’t have time to waste. The newsletter not only tackles the headlines that matter to legal decision-makers, but also taps top voices for the latest industry insights and actionable takeaways to elevate your firm. Read by more than 20,000 legal professionals across the country, Raise the Bar will soon become your favorite legal read. Subscribe today.
Now, look no further for insights on all things climate, as well as resources from our sponsors!
Now onto this week’s job opportunities.
Have a lead on a job opening? Share it here.
Did you miss an issue? Want to see all the current job postings? Check out our job board here!
Private Practice
Lateral Hub powers this week's private practice opportunities! Lateral Hub is the online lateral job board for where top-tier large, midsize, and boutique law firms publish openings so you can browse and apply directly - it's free to use, no account required.
You can even get SMS job alerts from Lateral Hub tailored to your practice area and location.
Associate, Environmental Transactional. Proskauer, New York. https://lateralhub.com/job/146-0003. Proskauer is seeking a jr./mid-level associate (2-4 yrs) with experience at a large firm in handling the environmental transactional aspects of complex M&A, private equity, financing, and real estate matters. Experience with environmental regulatory compliance matters, brownfield clean-up and other remedial matters, and matters relating to sustainability, climate change and renewable energy is preferred. Salary Range: $215,000- 415,000.
Counsel, Project Development/Finance (EPC Projects). Akin, Washington DC. https://lateralhub.com/job/165-0011. Akin is seeking a Counsel level attorney specializing in engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) projects. Salary range not provided by firm.
Associate, Environment & Energy. Hodgson Russ, Albany, Buffalo, Rochester, Saratoga Springs. https://lateralhub.com/job/180-0009. Hodgson Russ is seeking an associate with 3 to 6 years representing clients in an array of environmental and/or energy matter, with expertise in environmental and renewable project development matters, environmental regulatory compliance, environmental risk management. Salary range: $135,000 - $160,000.
Associate, Energy Transactions. Akin. Dallas, Fort Worth, Houston. https://lateralhub.com/job/165-0017. Akin’s corporate practice group seeks class of 2018-2021 energy associates to be resident in the Houston, Dallas or Fort Worth offices. Ideal candidates will have at least 3 years of experience in upstream or midstream energy transactions. No salary noted.
Associate, Energy Regulatory & Markets Group. Latham & Watkins, Washington DC. https://lateralhub.com/job/143-0033/. Latham is seeking an associate with a minimum of 3 years of federal energy regulatory experience, including experience practicing before FERC with respect to power and/or natural gas. Salary range: $260,000 – 365,000.
Associate, Land Use, Coblentz. SF. https://lateralhub.com/job/173-0009. Coblentz is seeking an associate with 3-6 years of experience in land use law to join the firm's practice. Salary range: $235,000-$300,000
Associate, Energy & Infrastructure. Orrick. SF, DC, NYC, Austin, Houston. https://lateralhub.com/job/116-0036. Orrick is seeking an associate with 3-6 years’ experience in energy and infrastructure joint ventures and/or M&A. Salary Range: $235,000 - $390,000.
Jr./Mid-Level Associate, Environmental. Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner. Multiple Offices. https://lateralhub.com/job/102-0055. Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner is seeking a highly motivated, exceptionally qualified associate (at least 3 to 7 years of experience) to join its nationally recognized Energy, Environmental and Infrastructure practice in one of our US offices. Salary range: $215,000 to $290,000.
Associate, Energy FERC. Troutman Pepper Locke. Washington DC (preferred). https://lateralhub.com/job/110-0132. Troutman Pepper Locke’s Energy Regulatory Practice Group is seeking to add an associate with 3 to 7 years of experience in energy regulatory matters to join our FERC team. The position will be focused on electric matters; candidates with experience with FERC’s electric program are strongly preferred. Salary Range: $275,000 - $370,000.
Associate, Transactional Tax (Energy). Troutman Pepper Locke. Multiple Offices. https://lateralhub.com/job/110-0146. Troutman Pepper’s Tax Practice subgroup of its Tax & Benefits practice group seeks a mid- to senior level associate to join its transactional tax team, with a focus on the energy industry. Salary range: $305,000 - $380,000.
Associate, Land Use. Allen Matkins. Orange County. https://lateralhub.com/job/137-0031. Allen Matkins is seeking a land use attorney (4-7 yrs) with experience in land use due diligence, processing entitlements, and environmental review under CEQA. Salary range: $250,000 - 315,000.
Energy & Infrastructure/PPA Projects Associate. Orrick - all US office locations. https://lateralhub.com/job/116-0045. Orrick currently is seeking an associate for its market-leading Energy & Infrastructure practice, with experience in the areas of energy projects work relating to renewables and energy storage, and specifically focused on energy offtake. Salary range: $260,000 - $435,000.
Senior Attorney, FERC/Energy. Thompson Coburn, DC. https://lateralhub.com/job/162-0020. Thompson Coburn is seeking a FERC Energy Attorney with a minimum of seven years of experience, including FERC litigation and settlement, ISO/RTO market stakeholder proceedings, energy and/or capacity market participation issues and power supply arrangements. Salary Range: $240,000 - $280,000.
Sr. Attorney, Environmental. Allen Matkins, SF, LA, Orange County, San Diego. https://lateralhub.com/job/137-0050. Seeking an environmental attorney with 7-10 years of experience a wide range of environmental regulatory and administrative enforcement matters, including issues arising under CERCLA, RCRA, the Clean Air Act, the Clean Water Act, and related California statutes. Salary range: $315,000 to $345,000.
Senior Attorney, Environmental, Torts & Regulatory. Norton Rose, Any US NRF office location (SF, LA, Houston, Dallas, Austin Preferred). https://lateralhub.com/job/172-0019 . NRF is seeking an experienced environmental regulatory lawyer with at least 8 years of practice experience in complex, high-profile matters involving infrastructure, renewable energy, and power development projects. No salary range provided.
In-House
Patent Attorney/Agent. Inari. Cambridge, MA. https://job-boards.greenhouse.io/inariagriculture/jobs/6995475002?gh_jid=6995475002. 3+ years of patent experience including patent preparation and prosecution, IP landscape and FTO analysis, opinion work, strategic development with a mix of in-house and law firm experience, ideally from an Ag or Biotech/Pharma company. Inari is the SEEDesign™ company, using new breeding technology to push the boundaries of what is possible by designing nature-positive seeds for a more sustainable food system.
Attorney. East Point Energy. Virginia. https://eastpointenergy.bamboohr.com/careers/94?source=aWQ9MjE%3D. Minimum of four (4) years of practice in. East Point Energy is a development firm focused on the origination, construction, and operation of energy storage projects.
Corporate Counsel, Sustainability, Regulatory Advocacy, Product Safety and Compliance. Amazon Web Services (AWS). London, UK. https://www.amazon.jobs/en/jobs/3001062/corporate-counsel-sustainability-regulatory-advocacy-product-safety-and-compliance. No salary listed. 6+ years of experience. Amazon Web Services seeks a Corporate Counsel to advise on global sustainability regulations, ESG reporting, product compliance, and regulatory strategy for its data center and hardware infrastructure operations.
Vice President, Legal- SEC, Governance, and Compliance. EVgo. Los Angeles. https://www.evgo.com/es/company/careers/o7Sewfwt/. A minimum of 10 years’ experience; must have in-house experience at a leadership level, some experience at a top tier law firm preferred. $245,000 USD to $345,000 USD. EVgo (Nasdaq: EVGO) is one of the nation’s largest public fast charging networks for electric vehicles.
Government and Non-Profit
Intern, Climate Change. International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). Washington, D.C. https://hrms.iucn.org/vacancy/7319. $18,000. Enrolled graduate students. IUCN, a global authority on nature conservation, is hiring two interns to support climate adaptation and Nature-based Solutions projects through research, policy engagement, and international collaboration.
Associate Attorney. The Wilderness Society. Remote (preferred: Washington, DC). https://thewildernesssociety.careers.hibob.com/jobs/75b07b04-0f63-4a89-a414-ca7821dfdce7. $70,000–$75,000. 1+ years of experience. The Wilderness Society, a leading conservation nonprofit dedicated to protecting public lands and addressing climate change, seeks an Associate Attorney to support legal and policy advocacy, administrative record-building, and in-house litigation strategy related to environmental and public land law.
Junior Attorney, Compliance & Enforcement. City of New York – Department of Housing Preservation and Development. New York, NY. https://lensa.com/job-application-junior-attorney-compliance-enforcement-in-new-york-ny/cpc-jd-v3/a0b17d2b7c8bebb261db309ab907792e216ac8e7b769fcecefbf46d294f97e37?tr=5355b44495f14d2da39faa20006b7a5fincc1&utm_source=linkedin&utm_medium=slot&utm_campaign=Lawyers%2C+Judges%2C+and+Related+Workers&utm_term=jse. $92,446. 1–3 years of legal experience. This role supports enforcement actions against building owners receiving tax benefits who violate affordability or registration requirements, with responsibilities ranging from case investigation and litigation to supervising paralegals and advising on regulatory compliance.
Climate Policy and Intergovernmental Relations Advisor. California Environmental Protection Agency. Sacramento County, CA. https://calcareers.ca.gov/CalHrPublic/Jobs/JobPosting.aspx?JobControlId=480237. $68,952–$133,452. 2+ years of experience. The California Environmental Protection Agency seeks an Air Pollution Specialist to support state and international climate policy efforts, coordinate multi-agency climate initiatives, and analyze mitigation and adaptation strategies to advance California’s climate goals.
Manager, Legal Affairs. Climate Pledge Arena. Seattle. https://recruiting2.ultipro.com/CLI1008CLDG/JobBoard/7d71658d-73f2-4bcc-a0a5-b3cd3f51afed/OpportunityDetail?opportunityId=05191bfb-af10-485d-9e6e-7673eb2b2585. 2-4 years of legal experience, law firm preferred, with demonstrated success advising clients. $100,000 - $120,000 annually. Climate Pledge Arena serves as a long-lasting and regular reminder for the urgent need for climate action.
Legal and Policy Fellow. Vermont Law and Graduate School. South Royalton, VT. https://recruiting.paylocity.com/recruiting/jobs/Details/3309870/Vermont-Law-School/Legal-and-Policy-Fellow. $65,000–$75,000. 2–4 years of experience. Vermont Law and Graduate School, a nationally recognized institution for environmental and food law, seeks a Legal and Policy Fellow to conduct research, supervise students, and develop legal and policy tools focused on food systems and agriculture.
Staff Attorney, Environmental Enforcement. National Wildlife Federation. Washington, DC (Hybrid). https://recruiting.ultipro.com/NAT1047NWF/JobBoard/1ca8346a-33cc-401d-90d9-d7f752fdfd7d/OpportunityDetail?opportunityId=f62c8320-69f3-418d-a95e-18ba5a769338. $84,000–$95,000. 3+ years of experience. The National Wildlife Federation, one of America's largest and most trusted conservation organizations, is hiring a Staff Attorney to lead Clean Water Act enforcement efforts and provide legal support on federal water and public lands policy to advance environmental protection and environmental justice.
Public Lands Counsel. National Wildlife Federation. Washington, DC (Hybrid or Remote). https://recruiting.ultipro.com/NAT1047NWF/JobBoard/1ca8346a-33cc-401d-90d9-d7f752fdfd7d/OpportunityDetail?opportunityId=1f89cc23-3bdc-4d08-9942-a139e67dbcc4. $90,000–$115,000. 3+ years of experience. The National Wildlife Federation, America’s largest grassroots conservation organization, seeks a Public Lands Counsel to lead legal strategy and review federal actions impacting public lands, advise on policy and legislation, and support litigation, coalition-building, and administrative advocacy to advance wildlife and landscape protection.
Special Counsel/Assistant Attorney General. Office of the Massachusetts Attorney General. Boston, MA (Hybrid). https://massago.bamboohr.com/careers/87. $84,134–$125,572. 3+ years of experience. The Massachusetts Attorney General’s Office, through a NYU-funded legal fellowship, seeks a Special Counsel to support high-impact climate and environmental litigation and policy efforts in its Energy & Environment Bureau, with a focus on federal matters and environmental justice.
Principal Lawyer. Office for Environmental Protection (OEP). Worcester, UK. https://www.civilservicejobs.service.gov.uk/csr/index.cgi?SID=dXNlcnNlYXJjaGNvbnRleHQ9MTM3NDQwNjk0Jm93bmVydHlwZT1mYWlyJnNlYXJjaHBhZ2U9MSZqb2JsaXN0X3ZpZXdfdmFjPTE5NTcxNTcmb3duZXI9NTA3MDAwMCZzZWFyY2hzb3J0PXNjb3JlJnBhZ2VhY3Rpb249dmlld3ZhY2J5am9ibGlzdCZwYWdlY2xhc3M9Sm9icyZyZXFzaWc9MTc1MDE1Nzc0MC0zOGQ2NTRhNzBlNzY0NTQ1YTg3NTE1ZDAyNGE0NGE1OTA1MzgxZmYy. £54,470–£61,000. 4+ years of experience. The Office for Environmental Protection, an independent UK watchdog created by the Environment Act 2021, seeks a Principal Lawyer to lead legal strategy and provide advice on environmental and public law, enforcement, and investigations.
Special Assistant Deputy Attorney General. Delaware Department of Justice. Wilmington, DE. https://stateimpactcenter.org/about/fellows-program/apply. $75,684–$122,920. 0–10+ years of experience. The Delaware DOJ, in partnership with NYU School of Law’s State Impact Center, seeks a Special Assistant Deputy Attorney General to enforce state environmental laws, support multistate climate litigation, and represent DNREC in administrative and court proceedings, with salary and benefits provided by NYU during the fellowship term. *Similar positions available in Massachusetts and Arizona!
Attorney. Resources Legacy Fund. Remote. https://apply.workable.com/resources-legacy-fund/j/9501D9F9A8/. 7 years of experience in a legal or related role, $150,000 to $180,000. Resources Legacy Fund (RLF) builds alliances that advance bold solutions to secure a just and resilient world for people and nature.
Senior Attorney. Defenders of Wildlife. Washington, District Of Columbia Denver, Colorado. https://jobs.jobvite.com/defendersofwildlife/job/ojqevfwc. 10 years of relevant experience; 5 years supervisory experience. SALARY: $160,000 - $180,000. Defenders of Wildlife works on the ground, in the courts, and on Capitol Hill to protect and restore imperiled wildlife and habitats across North America.
Director, Energy and Biodiversity Program. Defenders of Wildlife. Washington, District Of Columbia Denver, Colorado. https://jobs.jobvite.com/defendersofwildlife/job/o2FZvfwV. 10 years of relevant experience; 5 years supervisory experience; SALARY: $120,000 - $140,000. Defenders of Wildlife works on the ground, in the courts, and on Capitol Hill to protect and restore imperiled wildlife and habitats across North America.
Enjoying the newsletter? Wondering how you can contribute?
As climate champions, we often have big hearts and feel best when we’re part of the solution.
If you would like to be part of what we're doing, here are a few ways you can help…
✉️ Reach out! Ask a question, send some kudos, whatever. We love hearing from you!
📣 Sponsor this newsletter! Reach 1,700+ planetary lawyers across the world. Email for details!
💼 Work with us. By day, we provide full-service legal support to companies big and small. Check out our services.
🌎 Share this newsletter! The best thing you can do is turn someone else onto climate work.