Extreme pressure to become a climate lawyer overnight?
Plus, free PDF of the Cambridge Handbook on Climate Litigation.
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.
Have you felt it?
Have you woken up in the middle of the night feeling like you NEED to shift your career IMMEDIATELY?
Maybe you don’t like the work you’re doing…
Maybe you are afraid for the future of the planet…
Maybe you want to make a better world for your children…
Maybe you want to protect your local community and its natural resources…
Maybe you just want more from your career.
I’ve been there.
In those moments where the need to change, and do more climate-friendly work has felt all consuming.
I’m actually pretty susceptible to those feelings.
It can feel like I’m burning up with the desire to change and make a difference.
But, I’m here to tell you that you don’t need to make drastic changes to make a big difference.
In fact, you might be able to have an even bigger impact if you take that strong desire, and start by doing nothing.
Don’t make any changes.
Just think about what you would want to do first.
Think about the ways that you can make change in small ways.
We aren’t all going to be able to make huge changes, but we can all do something small to benefit the planet.
Whether it’s through donating to a nonprofit or investing in a startup, either with time or capital.
Whether it’s by doing pro bono work.
Whether it’s by reading a book on climate.
Whether it’s by taking on a new assignment at work that involves a climate or climate adjacent skill.
Whether it’s by going to an industry group meeting for a climate-focused industry.
Whether it’s by setting up a google alert for a climate topic that interests you.
Whether it’s by scheduling a virtual coffee with someone that’s doing work that interests you in the climate space.
And then celebrate those small changes as if they were big changes, because they are actually huge changes.
Then, think about how those small changes might let you grow something bigger and stronger.
Just by starting on the journey towards climate lawyering, you’ll feel better.
Remember, I’ve been there. I know the calm and peace that comes from taking concrete action and reflecting on how that forward momentum.
So, what’s on your to do list?
Insights and Sponsors
This week’s issue is sponsored by Green Pro Bono, a nonprofit that matches lawyers with climate-related pro bono work. There are such a wide range of opportunities for lawyers that want to have an impact to collaborate with Green Pro Bono. Click here to get involved and start doing pro bono climate work.
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
Staff Attorney. Elevate Energy. Chicago, IL (fully remote; must be licensed in Illinois). https://www.elevatenp.org/careers/staff-attorney/. $95,000-$105,000. 2+ years of experience. Elevate Energy, a nonprofit focused on clean energy access and efficiency, seeks a Staff Attorney to support legal, risk, and compliance work across multi-state programs, including contract negotiation, government procurement, Tribal law intersections, and regulatory compliance.
Legal Partnership & Innovation Lead. Crux. Remote (preferred: DC or NYC). https://www.cruxclimate.com/careers?ashby_department_id=d4727597-0182-40b1-8d60-0a3ec2ace608&ashby_jid=b55a547c-47ba-41be-a971-63fb515fe66c#positions. $190,000–$225,000. 3–7 years of experience. Crux, a capital markets platform focused on clean energy and manufacturing finance, seeks a Legal Partnership & Innovation Lead to manage law firm relationships, shape legal product strategy, and integrate legal workflows with emerging technologies and data infrastructure.
Real Estate Counsel. Catalyze. Purchase, NY. https://jobs.lever.co/catalyze/36bac73a-cfb2-4535-9b54-303997716ccb. $135,000-$170,000. 4+ years of experience. Catalyze, a fully integrated renewable energy developer and independent power producer, seeks a Real Estate Counsel to support project due diligence, contracting, financing, and legal compliance for distributed solar and battery storage projects.
In-House Counsel – Real Estate. SunEnergy1. Charlotte, NC (Full-Time). https://sunenergy1.breezy.hr/p/3ca3e194a1e3-in-house-counsel-real-estate. No salary listed. 5+ years of legal experience in real estate law required, preferably in renewable energy or utilities. Responsibilities include negotiating land agreements, overseeing due diligence, advising on permitting and land use, and managing compliance risks for utility-scale solar projects.
Intellectual Property Attorney. Xylem. North Carolina. https://xylem.wd5.myworkdayjobs.com/es/xylem-careers/job/Intellectual-Property-Attorney_R42160. 5+ years of experience in preparing and prosecuting domestic and international patent applications and providing patentability, validity, and infringement assessments. $146,100.00 - $263,000.00. Xylem, you'll not only contribute to solving water issues but also have the chance to make a difference.
Regulatory Specialist - Legal Services Dept. Formosa Plastics Corporation, U.S.A. Texas. https://jobs.dayforcehcm.com/en-US/fpcusa/CANDIDATEPORTAL/jobs/7558. Five years of experience in regulatory compliance within a manufacturing, petrochemical, or energy-related industry required. Founded in 1978, Formosa Plastics Corporation, U.S.A. (Formosa Plastics) is a growing, vertically-integrated supplier of plastic resins and petrochemicals.
Transactional Attorney. Pacific Fusion. Fremont, CA. https://jobs.ashbyhq.com/pacificfusion/058a139f-1e8a-41fb-91bf-027c1624b488. Minimum of ~5 years of legal experience; $175K – $250K. Pacific Fusion was founded in 2023 with the mission to power the world with abundant, affordable, clean energy.
Regulatory Attorney. Talen Energy. Houston. https://talenenergy.wd1.myworkdayjobs.com/en-US/TalenCareers/job/Regulatory-Attorney_R0003552. 5-7 years of experience in regulatory law, including FERC or state commission experience. Talen owns and operates approximately 10.7 GW of power infrastructure in the United States.
Asst. General Counsel, Environmental & Regulatory. Bridgestone Americas. Nashville, Tennessee. https://bridgestone.wd5.myworkdayjobs.com/en-US/External/job/Asst-General-Counsel--Environmental---Regulatory_2025_10474. Typically requires a minimum of 5 -8 years of related experience. The Assistant General Counsel, Environmental & Regulatory is a member of the Bridgestone Americas (BSA) Law Department, reporting directly to the Division General Counsel, Legal Recoveries and Environmental.
Senior Counsel or Associate General Counsel – Ohio Regulatory. Duke Energy. Columbus, OH (Hybrid). https://dukeenergy.wd1.myworkdayjobs.com/en-US/search/job/Columbus-OH/Senior-Counsel-or-Associate-General-Counsel---Ohio-Regulatory_R35313-1?jobFamilyGroup=161f83deb8ca019e6b1dcd59a74c4d0e. Level based on experience. 3+ years (Senior Counsel) or 7+ years (Associate General Counsel). Provide legal counsel on state energy regulatory issues, including ratemaking, siting, and compliance. Strong preference for candidates with Ohio regulatory experience, litigation skills, and energy policy knowledge. Must be licensed in Ohio or eligible under bar rules. Hybrid position with relocation assistance. Apply by June 16, 2025.
Head of Legal. Circular Services. Austin, TX or New York City (Hybrid). https://workforcenow.adp.com/mascsr/default/mdf/recruitment/recruitment.html?cid=f3d25310-275d-4018-af28-a7bb988a0155&ccId=19000101_000001&lang=en_US&jobId=504086. $300,000. 7+ years of experience. Circular Services, a leading developer of circular economy infrastructure, seeks a Head of Legal to build and lead its first in-house legal department, oversee contracts and regulatory compliance, manage outside counsel, and support strategic growth across its nationwide operations.
Vice President of Legal. Ironclad Environmental Solutions. Houston. https://www.paycomonline.net/v4/ats/web.php/jobs/ViewJobDetails?job=20441&clientkey=4406E63FCAB140F4154EDAA4978E29F4. 10+ years of relevant legal experience, including in-house counsel experience or at a law firm. 10+ years of relevant legal
Government and Non-Profit
Heart of Conservation Undergraduate Intern. World Wildlife Fund (WWF). Washington, DC or Remote (US, with some state exclusions). https://careers-wwfus.icims.com/jobs/3931/in-25048-heart-of-conservation-undergraduate-intern/job. Paid $20.50/hour, part-time (16-20 hrs/wk). Undergraduate student pursuing environmental studies, sustainability, law, or related fields. Supports the GEF-8 Heart of Conservation Initiative through research, event logistics, partner coordination, and communications focused on Indigenous Peoples’ and local communities’ governance of lands and biodiversity conservation.
Staff or Senior Attorney – Southwest. Center for Biological Diversity. Remote. https://biologicaldiversity.bamboohr.com/careers/121. Minimum two (Staff Attorney) and eight (Senior Attorney) years of civil litigation experience; environmental law and Endangered Species Act proficiency preferred; Salary Range: Staff Attorney: $72,500 - $89,500; Senior Attorney: $89,500 - $131,500. The Center for Biological Diversity, a national 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.
Associate Attorney. Earthjustice, Northeast Regional Office. New York, NY (Hybrid). https://earthjustice.org/job/associate-attorney-northeast-regional-office. $121,900–$135,900. 3–6 years of experience. Earthjustice seeks an Associate Attorney to support litigation and advocacy promoting clean energy and environmental justice in the Northeast. The role includes research, brief writing, client engagement, and court appearances, with opportunities for mentorship and professional growth within a leading environmental law organization.
Assistant City Attorney, Senior (Natural Resources/Environmental). City of Bellingham. City of Bellingham, WA. https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/cobwa/jobs/4942879/assistant-city-attorney-senior-natural-resources-environmental. Four years experience; $129,276.00 - $157,152.00 Annually. The City of Bellingham is seeking an experienced and motivated Senior Assistant City Attorney to join our team in the City Attorney’s Office. In this exciting role, you’ll work on a wide range of impactful legal matters in environmental law, natural resources, and public infrastructure.
Assistant City Attorney - Environmental Focused. City of Springfield. Springfield, MO. https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/springfieldmo/jobs/4945732/assistant-city-attorney-environmental-focused. Five years of experience in the practice of law. Assistant City Attorney V: Salary: $88,088.00 - $150,113.60 Assistant City Attorney IV Salary: $74,484.80 - $126,900.80 Assistant City Attorney III Salary: $69,326.40 - $118,185.60. The City of Springfield is seeking an experienced legal professional to serve as an Assistant City Attorney, focusing on the Department of Environmental Services. This is a unique opportunity to practice law in a specialized area that helps shape Springfield’s future through environmental compliance and utility operations.
Senior Advocate, Adaptation. NRDC (Natural Resources Defense Council). Washington, DC or New York, NY. https://careers-nrdc.icims.com/jobs/5767/senior-advocate%2c-adaptation/job. $130,000-$150,000. 7+ years of experience. NRDC, a leading environmental nonprofit advocating for clean air, water, and healthy communities, seeks a Senior Advocate to develop and implement climate resilience strategies focusing on insurance and risk management to support vulnerable communities facing climate impacts.
Senior Attorney, Northeast Regional — Earthjustice. New York, NY (hybrid; 2 days/week in-office). https://jobs.jobvite.com/careers/earthjustice/job/obVWvfwh?__jvst=Job%20Board&__jvsd=plantetarylawyerproject. Senior litigation attorney role focused on climate change, environmental justice, and public health through state and federal litigation and advocacy. Lead complex cases, manage litigation docket, mentor junior staff, build partnerships with community groups, and contribute to strategic planning. JD required; 8+ years litigation experience; admitted/willing to admit NY bar; strong litigation, communication, and leadership skills essential. Salary $179,000+ (NYC), competitive benefits.
Senior Attorney. Defenders of Wildlife, Biodiversity Law Center. Washington, D.C.; Denver, CO; or Remote. https://defenders.org/about/jobs?p=job%2Fojqevfwc. $160,000–$180,000. 10+ years of experience. Defenders of Wildlife seeks a Senior Attorney to lead litigation and legal advocacy under key environmental laws, supervise junior legal staff, and advance the organization's mission to protect biodiversity through interdisciplinary strategies and federal court actions.
AVP, Legal Strategy & Operations. Environmental Defense Fund. New York City Metropolitan Area (Hybrid). https://www.edf.org/jobs/avp-legal-strategy-operations. $200,000-$220,000. 12+ years of experience. The Environmental Defense Fund, a leading global environmental nonprofit, seeks an AVP of Legal Strategy & Operations to lead enterprise legal operations, oversee global risk management and governance, and manage external legal partnerships in alignment with strategic organizational goals.
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