Finding meaning in your non-climate work...
You just need to look at things from a different perspective.
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.
I just recorded a podcast episode with Green Jobs Pod, an initiative of the wildly successful Green Jobs Network.
In the episode, I share how my legal career evolved to include work on climate change, how I help other people find legal jobs in climate through this newsletter, and so much more
We touch on pro bono, industry groups, business development… all the things I talk about in this newsletter.
Listen on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you find your podcasts.
I really enjoyed recording this podcast because it allowed me to take a step back and think about all of the tips and lessons that I’ve shared in this newsletter.
I also got to talk about how important it is to find your own meaning in your career, and you can do that without changing your role and even if you are not doing any climate work.
You just need to look at things from a different perspective.
Are you learning skills that you can use to transition to climate? Well, that’s meaningful even if your job is not a climate job.
Are you developing connections in a specific industry, even if it is not climate-related? Well, maybe there is a way you can solve a climate problem for that industry, so knowing more people in that industry is still meaningful.
You get to decide what is meaningful to you, and how it has meaning.
It’s kind of like playing Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon, but with climate and your career.
Try it yourself, and listen to the episode for more!
Insights and Sponsors
Look no further for insights on all things climate, as well as resources from our sponsors! If you would like to discuss sponsorship, just reply to this email.
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Now onto this week’s opportunities.
Have a lead on a job opening? Share it here.
New Job Board!
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, Energy & Infrastructure Transactions. Winston & Strawn. New York, NY. https://lateralhub.com/job/148-0025. Winston & Strawn's New York office is looking for a mid-level associate who has experience in the energy (particularly power generation and transmission) and infrastructure sectors to be part of highly regarded team. All candidates must be admitted to practice in New York. Salary range is based on typical scale.
Sr. Associate, Environmental Litigation. Allen Matkins. SF, LA, Orange County, or San Diego. https://lateralhub.com/job/137-0026 . Allen Matkins is seeking a senior environmental attorney (7-10 yrs) with a wide range of regulatory defense and administrative enforcement matters, including CERCLA, RCRA, the Clean Air Act, the Clean Water Act, and related California statutes. Salary range: $315,000 – 345,000.
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, Environmental Litigation. Shartsis Friese, San Francisco. https://lateralhub.com/job/121-0007/ Shartsis Friese, a top midsize firm in San Francisco, is seeking an associate with 3+ years of solid environmental litigation and counseling experience. Candidates should have experience assisting clients in environmental matters involving state and federal environmental laws, including laws regulating hazardous and solid waste, water, air and endangered species, as well as California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) issues. Experience with land use litigation is a plus. Salary range: $ 235,000 - 265,000.
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.
Associate, Environmental Litigation. Ice Miller, Indianapolis. https://lateralhub.com/job/122-0038. Ice Miller is seeking a mid/senior level associate (4-6 yrs) to join its environmental and insurance litigation practice in the Indianapolis office. This position will involve all aspects of litigation and certain aspects of environmental cost recovery law, including Indiana’s Environmental Legal Action statute and CERCLA.
In-House
Project Counsel. Rondo Energy. Alameda California. https://grnh.se/986876ba6us. 3 – 25 years of experience in the energy or infrastructure industries. Rondo Energy ise casting a wide net to find interested, interesting, and qualified candidates Rondo is a technology and project company deploying Rondo Heat Batteries to meet the energy demands of industrial processes that previously difficult to transition to carbon-free energy sources. This lawyer will play a key part in the Company’s business of developing, constructing, owning, and operating thermal energy storage (“TES”) projects throughout the United States and around the globe.
Senior Legal Counsel. Hitachi Energy USA. North Carolina. https://www.hitachienergy.com/careers/open-jobs/details/JID3-77616. At least 8 years of experience directly related to the duties and responsibilities specified. Hitachi Energy is a global technology leader that is advancing a sustainable energy future for all.
NAM ESG Regulatory Compliance Specialist. Hitachi Energy. North Carolina. https://www.hitachienergy.com/careers/open-jobs/details/JID3-79107. 8-10 years' experience with ESG regulations with focus on environmental regulations. Hitachi Energy is a global technology leader that is advancing a sustainable energy future for all.
Experienced In-House Counsel/Alternative Energy Developer. Boston-area alternative energy developer. Boston, Massachusetts. https://newenglandlegalsearch.com/job/5-2/. Dynamic Boston-area alternative energy developer is seeking a 10+ year, business-oriented attorney for its collaborative legal team.
Government and Non-Profit
Spring 2025 Legal Externships. Earthjustice. Remote. https://earthjustice.org/about/student-opportunities. Earthjustice is accepting applications for Spring 2025 legal externships across various programs and offices. Aplplications must be submitted by August 14, 2024 at 5PM PT.
Associate Attorney, Mid-Pacific Office. Earthjustice. Honolulu, Hawaii. https://jobs.jobvite.com/careers/earthjustice/job/oUceufwy?__jvst=Job%20Board&__jvsd=plantetarylawyerproject. 0-6 years of litigation experience. Earthjustice’s Mid-Pacific regional office is seeking applicants for an Associate Attorney. The term for this position is three years. Salary Range for 0-6 years experience in Honolulu, HI: $101,800-$129,100. Preference will be given to candidates who apply by August 25, 2024.
EELP 2025-2026 Legal Fellowship. Harvard Law School. Cambridge, Massachusetts. https://eelp.law.harvard.edu/2024/07/eelp-2025-2026-legal-fellowship/?utm_source=eelpLinkedin. This fellowship is designed as an entry-level legal position. Applicants should have earned a J.D. within the last 3 years. Harvard Law School’s Environmental and Energy Law Program (EELP) is seeking a Legal Fellow for fall 2025-2026 with the potential to renew for one additional year. The Fellow will provide legal research and analysis on a range of current issues in environmental and energy law, including regulatory actions to address climate change and environmental protection.
Assoc. Counsel, Assoc. Counsel II, Sr. Counsel or Sr. Counsel II. NYSERDA. Albany, NY; New York, NY. https://www.nyserda.ny.gov/About/Careers-at-NYSERDA/Jobs-at-NYSERDA-and-NY-Green-Bank/Job-Details?reqId=1374. 3-8 years of experience. Salary depends on experience, range from $90,931-173,664. NYSERDA is seeking a motivated, dynamic, and resourceful attorney in its Office of the General Counsel to provide legal support for NYSERDA’s administration of the Clean Energy Standard (CES) and/or NYSERDA’s administration of the new Bulk Energy Storage (BES) Program. The ideal candidate should have experience in energy project development, financing and/or regulatory matters and be committed to NYSERDA’s mission and helping the organization continually improve and execute its work.
General Counsel & Chief Administrative Officer. WildAid. San Francisco, California. https://wildaid.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/General-Counsel-Chief-Administrative-Officer.pdf. Minimum of 8 years’ experience practicing law, particularly employment and contract law; The salary range is $110,000-$130,000 USD annually. WildAid is a growing and dynamic global wildlife conservation non-profit based in San Francisco, California, with a mission to inspire and empower the world to protect wildlife and vital habitats from critical threats.
Chief Legal and Risk Officer. Power Forward Communities. Remote. https://apply.workable.com/rewiring-america/j/E7C0F7E7FE/. A seasoned lawyer with a minimum of 15 years of broad and deep experience, from a combination of litigation, employment matters, corporate governance, and risk management; Compensation for this role has a base salary ranging from $350,000-$425,000. The Power Forward Communities (PFC) organization and coalition seeks a visionary and strategic leader to serve as its to serve as its Chief Legal and Risk Officer. PFC is a coalition of trusted organizations — Enterprise Community Partners, United Way Worldwide, Habitat for Humanity International, Local Initiatives Support Corporation, and Rewiring America — that have collectively spent decades building stronger, healthier, affordable homes with a focus on low-income communities.
In case you missed it…
17 simple ways to get climate clients
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.)