Help break a world record for climate!

How many lawyers does it take to break a Guinness World Record?

Feb 24, 2025

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.

How many lawyers does it take to break a Guinness World Record?

No, this isn't a bad lawyer joke; it's a reason for climate optimism.

We’re going to try and break a Guinness World Record by…

…bringing together the most lawyers EVER for a virtual conference.

And, we’re going to teach those lawyers how to do climate-related pro bono.
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Let’s back up and start at the beginning.

We launched the first Climate Pro Bono Bootcamp in January 2024.

It was a resounding success!

We had 700 lawyers from across the world learning the nuts and bolts of climate pro bono from 10+ leading lawyers.

The panels covered climate issues in IP, corporate, advocacy, and more, and showed lawyers how to use these skills to help climate startups and nonprofits.

We’re planning for our second Climate Pro Bono Bootcamp in April 2025.

(To be exact, it will be hosted virtually on April 22 and 23, 2025.)

It's going to be bigger.

It has to be bigger...

...because we need more lawyers doing climate pro bono right now!

As we began our planning for this year’s virtual conference, we stumbled upon a Guinness World Record for “largest attendance for a virtual law conference in one week.”

Turns out in the midst of the pandemic someone hosted a virtual conference that drew 66,732 people.

We want to break this record with the 2025 Climate Pro Bono Bootcamp!

It may seem ambitious to go from 700 lawyers in 2024 to more than 66,000 lawyers in 2025.

But we’re going to try for it anyway.

And we’re bringing together some incredible content to help you do more climate pro bono.

We’re going to have panels on how to:

push back on executive orders that attack climate policy
find impact litigation that is accessible to all lawyers
support local government climate initiatives
help nonprofits collaborate on a bigger scale
embed climate clauses in contracts for small businesses
and so much more

We’re going to have day one focus on litigation and advocacy topics, and day 2 focus on transactions and non profit topics.

While we had 4 hours of content in 2024, we’ve got 9 hours of content planned for 2025.

You’ll hear from heavy hitters in the climate space, including panelists from:

Environmental Defense Fund
Pro Bono Institute
Stanford Law School
Columbia Law School
and more

So, with all of this firepower in one place, we’re going to try and break the record.

In fact, we want 70 thousand lawyers to join us..

If you think about it, that should be easy to accomplish.

As of January 1, 2024, there were 1,322,649 lawyers in the United States.

We only need 5% of US lawyers to show up to beat the record.

(And that doesn’t even count the 116,851 US law students or other lawyers and law students from across the world!)

In breaking the record, we’ll bring attention to climate in a huge way, while also teaching lawyers that it is possible for everyone to work on climate through pro bono.

Think of the impact of this event!

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So, will you help us? Will you be part of the 70 thousand lawyers making the world a better place?

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 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.

Litigation Junior Associate (Environmental, Product Liability & Mass Torts). Morgan Lewis. Los Angeles. https://lateralhub.com/job/169-0016. Morgan Lewis seeks to hire highly qualified associates with excellent academic credentials and one to three years of large law firm and/or judicial clerkship experience to join our product liability & mass torts and environmental teams within the litigation practice group. Salary Range: $225,000 to $260,000.

Associate, Land Use. Cox Castle. Orange County. https://lateralhub.com/job/117-0010 Cox Castle is seeking a land use associate (2-4 yrs) with experience in land use (project entitlements, administrative proceedings, and litigation), including environmental review under CEQA, the Coastal Act, the Map Act. Salary range: $210,000-$240,000.

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, Tax/Energy Project Finance, Norton Rose Fulbright. SF, LA, Denver, Chicago, DC, NYC, Austin, Houston, Dallas. https://lateralhub.com/job/172-0003. Norton Rose Fulbright is seeking a tax associate (2-3 years experience) with a strong interest in renewable energy and other aspects of the energy transition to work with its project finance group. NYC and DC Salary Range: $260,000- $235,000.

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, 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.

Energy & Project Development Junior/Midlevel Associate (Nuclear Regulatory). Morgan Lewis. Washington, D.C.https://lateralhub.com/job/169-0037. The successful applicant must have an interest in the area of Nuclear Energy and be eligible to acquire a District of Columbia bar membership (or already be a member of the DC bar). U.S. nuclear regulatory experience and a background in science or engineering would be helpful, but are not required if the individual has a strong regulatory background. Salary range: $225,000 to $365,000. No minimum experience noted.

Associate, Real Estate Energy & Infrastructure. Orrick - all US office locations. https://lateralhub.com/job/116-0060. Orrick currently has an opportunity for a real estate associate to join its market-leading Energy & Infrastructure practice, with 3 to 5 years of real estate experience, with a strong preference for experience in the energy and infrastructure sector. Salary range: $260,000 - $390,000.

Associate, Oil & Gas/Energy & Infrastructure - Houston or Austin, TX. https://lateralhub.com/job/116-0062. Orrick is looking for an associate with 3 to 6 years of experience in energy and infrastructure including oil and gas. Salary range: $260,000 - $390.

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, Renewable Energy Project Development. Troutman Pepper Locke, Washington, DC. https://lateralhub.com/job/110-0021 . 4-7 years of project finance and development experience, including experience with M&A, EPCs, O&M, development, supply agreements, power purchase agreements, and project finance, ideally with renewable energy and/or infrastructure projects. Salary Range: $275,000 - $370,000.

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.

Counsel, Environmental & Mass Torts, Norton Rose Fulbright. SF, LA. https://lateralhub.com/job/172-0002 Norton Rose Fulbright is seeking an experienced lawyer with 6+ years of practice in environmental, energy, and natural resources law to advise clients on complex, high-profile, and high-risk issues at both national and international levels. Salary Range: $225,000 - $275,000.

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.

In-House

Clinical Fellow, Emmett Environmental Law & Policy Clinic. Harvard Law School. Cambridge, MA. https://www.linkedin.com/posts/pace-haub-environmental-law-program-9b25461a3_emmett-environmental-law-policy-clinic-activity-7295107206159519744-n026?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop&rcm=ACoAADBN8LIBEsY09zj-EPKgQ9zWerJeLoUPP4s, $60,000-$80,000. 0-3 years of experience. Harvard Law School’s Emmett Environmental Law & Policy Clinic seeks a Clinical Fellow to engage in diverse environmental, energy, and natural resource projects through legal research, policy drafting, and client advising.

Associate Employment Counsel. Waste Connections. Texas. https://careers.wasteconnections.com/us/en/job/R-81377/Associate-Employment-Counsel. 3+ years of experience practicing labor and employment law in a law firm or corporation. Waste Connections, Inc. (TSX/NYSE: WCN) is an integrated solid waste services company that provides non-hazardous waste collection, transfer and disposal services, including by rail, along with resource recovery primarily through recycling and renewable fuels generation.

Commercial Counsel. Upgrade. San Francisco, CA. https://job-boards.greenhouse.io/upgrade/jobs/4492825005. $205,000-$230,000. 5+ years of experience. Upgrade, a leading fintech company providing credit, banking, and payment products, seeks a Commercial Counsel to manage contract negotiations, collaborate with internal teams, and support product development while mitigating legal risks.

Senior Commercial Counsel. Watershed. London, UK. https://watershed.com/careers/5092856004-senior-commercial-counsel. No salary listed. 5+ years of experience. Watershed, a leading enterprise sustainability platform, seeks a Senior Commercial Counsel to support its European Sales team by negotiating complex SaaS agreements, developing scalable deal structures, and advising on regulatory compliance in the UK and EMEA.

Senior Counsel - Commercial. Renew Home. Remote - U.S. West Coast. https://apply.workable.com/renewhome/j/A1E7BDB07C/. $175,000-$225,000. 7+ years of experience. Renew Home, a leader in residential virtual power plant solutions, seeks a Senior Counsel to provide legal guidance on commercial agreements, strategic partnerships, and regulatory compliance in the clean energy sector.

Legal Counsel. Ineratec. Karlsruhe, Germany. https://www.ineratec.de/en/jobs/Legal-Counsel--mwd--__1958117. No salary listed. 8+ years of experience. Ineratec, a pioneering cleantech company specializing in sustainable synthetic fuels and Power-to-X technology, seeks a Legal Counsel to advise on corporate transactions, contract negotiations, regulatory compliance, and risk management in an international setting.

Sr. Counsel - Renewable Energy (Remote). Mars. Chicago. https://careers.mars.com/us/en/job/R108371/Sr-Counsel-Renewable-Energy-Remote. J.D. from an accredited US law school, with 10+ years of complex renewable energy contracting experience, ideally with experience in both a well-respected law firm and in the legal department of a multinational company. USD 168,217.00 - USD 231,293.00. Mars, Incorporated employs over 150,000 Associates across the globe and its segments, Mars Petcare, Mars Snacking, and Mars Food and Nutrition.

Director - General Counsel. MonoSol. Chicago. https://www.paycomonline.net/v4/ats/web.php/jobs/ViewJobDetails?job=297174&clientkey=36E39642F3B792D80A70C85CCF70A88D. 10+ years of experience as a practicing attorney, with 5+ of prior in-house experience, and previous firm tenure.Compensation range - $200,000.00 – $275,000.00. With the power of water-soluble technology and our brilliant team of chemists, engineers and innovators, Monosol creates safer, simpler and more sustainable solutions for a range of industries. MonoSol envisions a future with no waste – no wasted energy, product, packaging, potential or water.

Government and Non-Profit

Environmental Justice Senior Counsel. Southern Coalition for Social Justice. https://southerncoalition.org/environmental-justice-senior-counsel/. Extensive experience serving as the primary attorney at all stages of litigation. Southern Coalition for Social Justice (SCSJ) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that was founded in August 2007 and works across the South.

Law Fellow. Oceana. Washington, DC. https://workforcenow.adp.com/mascsr/default/mdf/recruitment/recruitment.html?cid=c636b4b1-9b8d-4e27-a0d2-6cdea1e0fdc6&ccId=19000101_000001&source=CC2&lang=en_US&selectedMenuKey=CurrentOpenings&jobId=554630. The Law Fellow position is designed for a current law school student in their 3L year of a J.D; $65,000.00 To $70,000.00 Annually. Oceana, inc. is a 501 nonprofit ocean conservation organization focused on influencing specific policy decisions on the national level to preserve and restore the world's oceans.

Water Justice Clinical Lecturer. UC Davis School of Law. Davis, CA. https://recruit.ucdavis.edu/JPF06919. $83,988-$156,243. 3+ years of experience. UC Davis School of Law seeks a director for its Water Justice Clinic, a transactional clinic providing legal assistance to disadvantaged California communities lacking reliable, affordable, and safe drinking water while training law students in environmental justice and water law.

Senior Attorney, Clean Transportation. Environmental Defense Fund. Remote - U.S. https://www.edf.org/jobs/senior-attorney-clean-transportation. $120,000-$129,000. 5+ years of experience. The Environmental Defense Fund seeks a Senior Attorney to develop and defend policies reducing transportation sector pollution, advocate before regulatory agencies, and engage in litigation and policy initiatives to advance clean air and climate protections.

Attorney, Environmental Justice and Protection Section. California Department of Justice. San Diego, Oakland, Los Angeles, or Sacramento, CA. https://calcareers.ca.gov/CalHrPublic/Jobs/JobPosting.aspx?JobControlId=464663. $11,644-$15,627 per month. 6+ years of experience. The California Department of Justice seeks an attorney to handle complex environmental litigation, regulatory matters, and enforcement actions, focusing on federal environmental laws and environmental justice initiatives.

Senior Assistant Attorney General, Natural Resources Law Section. California Department of Justice. Los Angeles, Oakland, Sacramento, San Diego, Fresno, or San Francisco, CA. https://calcareers.ca.gov/CalHrPublic/Jobs/JobPosting.aspx?JobControlId=466167. $18,442.00 - $18,442.00 per Month. The California Department of Justice seeks an attorney to lead the Natural Resources Law Section and its team of dedicated attorneys and legal staff.

Senior Attorney. Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC). Multiple U.S. Locations (Hybrid). https://careers-nrdc.icims.com/jobs/5681/senior-attorney/job. $160,000-$184,000. 8+ years of experience. NRDC seeks a Senior Attorney to lead complex environmental litigation, develop legal strategies, mentor junior attorneys, and advocate for environmental and public health protections in federal and state courts.

Senior Attorney, Public Interest Litigation. Environmental Law & Policy Center. Washington, DC (Hybrid). https://environmentallawpolicycenter.applytojob.com/apply/Qp1gIRoqAV/Sr-AttorneyPublic-Interest-Litigation?source=Our%20Career%20Page%20Widget. $170,000-$200,000. 11+ years of experience. The Environmental Law & Policy Center seeks a Senior Attorney to lead appellate litigation and regulatory advocacy on federal environmental policies, engaging in litigation strategy, rulemaking, and policy development to advance clean energy and environmental protections.

Executive Director. Environmental Law Alliance Worldwide. Flexible Location. https://www.dsgco.com/search/21728-elaw-executive-director/. Environmental Law Alliance Worldwide (ELAW) is an international NGO that brings together a global community of advocates in more than 80 countries who offer each other solidarity, mutual assistance, and inspiration. ELAW seeks a visionary and collaborative Executive Director (ED) to lead its global mission supporting public interest lawyers who advance environmental justice and defend human rights in more than 80 countries. The salary range for this position is $185,000 to $205,000.

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