Steal our best climate emails

These emails launched partnerships, landed clients...

Feb 10, 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.

Okay, so remember a few weeks ago when I wrote about sending emails that help you work on climate?

Well, I’m about to share something even more valuable than my 5 rules…

I’m going to share the exact emails that I used to get clients, media coverage, and more.

How did I get featured on a podcast about climate?

I sent an email.

How did I get an intro to a large private equity company that hired me to help with several climate projects?

I sent an email.

How did I land an outside general counsel role with a large trade group with a sustainability focus?

I sent an email.

How did I end up giving a keynote at a national environmental conference that reached 3000 people as an associate?

Sent.

An.

Email.

I’m going to share copies of these emails with you.

You can use them as a template to send your own emails and make a difference for the planet and your career.

To get these emails, complete our annual survey here.

(The survey will be available to complete until 2/28, so don’t miss your chance to get these emails!)

Like this email that landed me a podcast opportunity and led to a good bit of work:

As you see, I’m not just including the email, but also my notes on how the email was successful.

Just fill out our annual survey here and I’ll send over the emails.

Plus, filling out our annual survey is incredibly helpful, helps us understand our audience and plan better content.

Our best content of 2024 came from something one of you asked in last year’s annual survey.

So what are you waiting for?

Fill out the survey by 2/28 to get these emails!

Steal our best climate emails!

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

Paralegal. NextEra Energy. Juno Beach, FL. https://jobs.nexteraenergy.com/job/Juno-Beach-Paralegal-FL-33408/1260059700/. Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience required. NextEra Energy seeks a Paralegal to provide securities and governance support, draft legal documents, and assist in corporate mergers and acquisitions. Preferred experience with public company governance, SEC filings, and proficiency with Microsoft Office and Diligent.

Senior Counsel. Duke Energy. St. Petersburg, FL. https://dukeenergy.wd1.myworkdayjobs.com/en-US/search/details/Senior-Counsel_R33769?jobFamilyGroup=161f83deb8ca019e6b1dcd59a74c4d0e. JD required, 3+ years of experience. Duke Energy seeks a real estate litigator to represent the company in court, manage real estate legal matters, and provide legal counsel on real estate issues. Experience with condemnation cases and trial experience is preferred. Apply by February 13th!

Senior Counsel North America (Hybrid). GE Vernova. Findlay Township, Pennsylvania. https://careers.gevernova.com/global/en/job/GVXGVWGLOBALR5001007EXTERNALENGLOBAL/Senior-Counsel-North-America-Hybrid. Minimum of 5 years legal experience at both a large law firm and as in-house counsel. GE Vernova is leading a new era of energy – electrifying the world while simultaneously working to decarbonize it.

Lead HVDC Contract Manager. GE Vernova. Foxborough, MA; Oakbrook Terrace, IL. https://careers.gevernova.com/global/en/job/GVXGVWGLOBALR3788313EXTERNALENGLOBAL/Lead-HVDC-Contract-Manager. Minimum of 5 years of experience managing large scale construction and or civil contracts. The salary range for this position is 120,800.00 - 161,000.00 USD Annual. GE Vernova is leading a new era of energy – electrifying the world while simultaneously working to decarbonize it.

General Counsel. Habitat Energy. Austin, TX. https://habitatenergy.bamboohr.com/careers/137. 5+ years of corporate legal experience, including both in-house and AmLaw 200 firm roles, with expertise in power markets (e.g., FERC/regulatory work, renewable energy projects, battery energy storage systems). Habitat Energy is a fast growing company focussed on the trading and algorithmic optimisation of energy storage and renewable assets around the world.

Corporate Counsel - Claims and Litigation. Coastal Waste. FL-Boca Raton. https://careers-coastalwasteinc.icims.com/jobs/2629/corporate-counsel---claims-and-litigation/job. Minimum of 5-7 years of legal experience, with a focus on handling claims and managing litigation related to property damage, auto liability, and workers' compensation. Coastal Waste & Recycling is growing a privately owned, locally operated solid waste disposal and recycling company headquartered out of Boca Raton, Florida serving communities across Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina (and more to come)!

In-House Counsel / Construction / Alternative Energy Developer. New England Legal Research. Boston, MA. https://newenglandlegalsearch.com/job/in-house-counsel-alternative-energy-developer-construction/. Dynamic Boston-area alternative energy developer seeks a 7+ year, business-oriented attorney for its collaborative legal team.

Corporate Attorney. SOLV Energy. San Diego, CA. https://solvenergy.wd1.myworkdayjobs.com/en-US/SOLV_External_Career/details/Corporate-Attorney_J10721?q=attorney. $168,091-$223,562. 7-8 years of experience. SOLV Energy, a leading provider of engineering, procurement, and construction services for utility solar and energy storage markets, seeks a Corporate Attorney to manage legal affairs, draft and negotiate construction-related contracts, advise on business transactions, and support procurement and operations groups with a focus on renewable energy.

Assistant General Counsel, Environmental Compliance. Arkema Inc. King of Prussia, PA. https://jobs.arkema.com/job/King-of-Prussia-Assistant-General-Counsel%2C-Environmental-Compliance-Job-PA/1127212901/. No salary listed. 10+ years of experience. Arkema Inc., a global leader in specialty chemicals and advanced materials, seeks an Assistant General Counsel to provide legal counsel on environmental compliance matters, oversee permitting and regulatory issues, and manage sensitive investigations.

Sr HVDC Contract Manager. GE Vernova. Remote, Georgia, Ohio, Pennsylvania. https://careers.gevernova.com/global/en/job/GVXGVWGLOBALR3785425EXTERNALENGLOBAL/Sr-HVDC-Contract-Manager. Minimum of 10 years of experience managing large scale construction and or civil contracts. Building on over 130 years of experience and proven innovation, GE Vernova is leading a new era of energy – electrifying the world while simultaneously working to decarbonize it.

Head of Legal. Renewable Energy Grid Solutions. GE Vernova. Atlanta, GA, Oakbrook, MA, Schenectady, NY. https://careers.gevernova.com/global/en/job/GVXGVWGLOBALR3791302EXTERNALENGLOBAL/Head-of-Legal-NAM. Minimum ten years of experience in relevant commercial transactions and general corporate law acquired at a prominent law firm or in a corporate legal department with an international scope, or both.The salary range for this position is 150,100 - 200,000 USD Annual.Building on over 130 years of experience and proven innovation, GE Vernova is leading a new era of energy – electrifying the world while simultaneously working to decarbonize it.

General Counsel. Enveritas, Inc. Remote. https://job-boards.greenhouse.io/enveritas/jobs/4131966008?gh_src=8f9104048us. Minimum of 10 years experience as a practicing attorney in the United States, preferably with in-house experience at a global company. Base salary for this position is between $120,000 to $165,000 annually, commensurate with experience.Enveritas builds solutions to improve the measure of sustainability in agricultural supply chains and include smallholder farmers in responsibly sourced agricultural products, in particular coffee and cocoa.

Government and Non-Profit

Summer 2025 Internal Events Internship. Earthjustice. San Francisco, CA. https://earthjustice.org/job/summer-2025-internal-events-internship. $18.67/hour, must be a junior or senior undergraduate. Earthjustice, a nonprofit environmental law organization, is seeking an intern to assist in planning a large-scale internal event and contribute to various event-related tasks.

Regulatory Officer 1, New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection. Trenton, NJ. https://20230907151728_7watzdscjmz1b02y.applytojob.com/apply/HaoIAcKNFz/LRA20254-Regulatory-Officer-1. $78,024.71-$111,000.80. Requires J.D. and 1 year of legal experience. Seeking a candidate with environmental law experience to assist in rulemaking, legal communications, and adjudicatory functions. Must be eligible to practice law in New Jersey. Apply by February 25, 2025!

Clinical Teaching Fellow, Social Enterprise & Nonprofit Law Clinic. Georgetown University Law Center. Washington, D.C. https://apply.interfolio.com/163086. $70,000-$75,000. 2+ years of experience. Georgetown University Law Center seeks a Clinical Teaching Fellow for its Social Enterprise & Nonprofit Law Clinic, where the fellow will supervise students in representing nonprofit and social enterprise clients, co-teach seminar sessions, and participate in clinical pedagogy activities, with the fellowship culminating in an LL.M. in Advocacy.

Attorney/Senior Attorney, Administrative Law Issues. Institute for Policy Integrity. New York, NY. https://policyintegrity.org/about/jobs/adminattorney2024. $93,600–$101,800 for Attorney / $105,000–$135,000 for Senior Attorney. 3+ years of experience for Attorney / 6+ years of experience for Senior Attorney. The Institute for Policy Integrity, a non-partisan think tank at NYU School of Law focused on improving government decision-making in energy and environmental policy, seeks an attorney to handle appellate litigation and emerging administrative law issues.

Attorney. Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC). Any NRDC U.S. Office (New York, Washington D.C., San Francisco, Santa Monica, and more). https://careers-nrdc.icims.com/jobs/5693/attorney/job. $120,000-$143,000. 3-8 years of experience. NRDC, a leading non-profit environmental advocacy organization, seeks an attorney to litigate environmental cases, lead legal actions, and support institutional development across multiple offices.

General Counsel of General Administration. Sierra Club. Remote. https://jobs.lever.co/sierraclub/eb4c9b88-8ec6-4d48-ae41-dac4b81fb087. At least 15 years of relevant legal and/or regulatory compliance experience with a 501(c) organization or similar in-house (including non-profit) experience. $260,000 - $280,000 a year. At the Sierra Club, we believe in the power of interdependence. Together, we remain committed to the fight for a healthy climate built on a foundation of environmental, racial, economic, and gender justice – a future where all people benefit from a healthy, thriving planet and a direct connection to nature.

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