Two simple secrets to transformative climate (career) goals
You’ve probably set some goals for yourself, or had some dreams about doing more climate work...
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.
If you’re reading this, then chances are you are working to do more climate-related legal work.
You’ve probably set some goals for yourself, or had some dreams about doing more climate work.
These goals and dreams will be different for everyone.
But I feel like I have learned two simple secrets to achieving transformation in this areas.
SECRET #1…
…set goals that are HUGE!
Like that you will be an ESG lawyer for a Fortune 50 company, or that you will be the chief lawyer for a public utility agency pushing renewables forward, or that you will be the biggest volunteer for a climate-related NGO, or that you will be the head of a environmental and sustainability law practice at a top law firm.
I’ve had a few huge goals over the years, including wanting this newsletter to be read by every lawyer that dreams of doing climate work, no matter their role or experience, something I’m still working on and which you can help with by sharing this newsletter today with just one other lawyer!
Why are huge goals important?
Well, when you read my goal for this newsletter, what did you think? Did you want to help? Did you feel inspired?
The truth is that people want to be part of something bigger than themselves, and when we see people striving for BIG goals, we just want to help.
Big goals are also just easier to achieve.
I know this sounds counterintuitive, but there are tons of books and articles talking about the concept. (Here’s a pretty good one.)
Big goals are easier because there is less competition, because setting a BIG goal means you need to be more specific and being more specific means that you are more targeted and clearer on your messaging and the benefits of being clear and focused are incredible, and because having a big goal inspires YOU, helps to motivate you, and keeps you moving towards a bright future.
SECRET #2…
…do tiny actions every day to meet those goals.
While we are often surprised by how quickly we can achieve big goals, a career is still a marathon and some goals will take longer to realize than others.
I find that the best way to keep me moving forward, without falling into apathy, disillusionment, despair, or other negative patterns, is to find very small ways to do meaningful work on a regular basis.
It actually doesn’t have to be every day, and it doesn’t have to be groundbreaking.
The key is to let it make you feel like you are achieving your goal.
For instance, if your goal was to be ESG counsel for a Fortune 50 company, you could post on LinkedIn about a relevant topic, or write a article, or learn about an ESG concept that would matter to you if you were in that role.
Allow the action that you take to make you feel like you have already achieved your goal, and think about how much closer your action has gotten you towards that dream.
These small actions should not be exhausting, but should be exciting, so you may need to play around with what works for you until you find the right thing.
For me, I enjoy doing pro bono work and writing and talking about interesting concepts. In these ways, I feel like I’m working to help businesses with sustainability matters, even when those businesses were just reading my articles and not my actual clients. I let myself imagine that there was someone out there who would use my insight to improve their business, and I thought about who they were and how they would use my guidance. I also wrote better articles as a result, and felt really proud of those accomplishments.
So remember, DREAM BIG and ACT SMALL. Those are the two secrets to transformative climate career goals.
What are your dreams? What actions will you take? Reply and let me know!
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Now onto this week’s opportunities.
Have a lead on a job opening? Share it 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.
Land Use Associate. Duane Morris, San Francisco, LA, San Diego. https://lateralhub.com/job/137-0026 Duane Morris, a top global firm, is seeking an associate with 2-4 years of land use, planning, and zoning experience, representing owners, developers, tenants or municipalities, with knowledge on environmental, regulatory, and administrative law issues. Salary range: $225,000-265,000.
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.
PPA/Energy Projects Associate (Energy & Infrastructure. Orrick, all U.S. offices. https://lateralhub.com/job/116-0045. Orrick, a top global firm, is seeking an associate with 4-8+ years of experience in energy projects related to renewables and energy storage, focused on energy offtake including renewable energy power purchase agreements, corporate PPAs, offtakes for carbon removal credits, renewable energy credit agreements, ISDAs, EEI agreements, and others. Salary range: $260,000-435,000.
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.
In-House
Associate Counsel. APEX Clean Energy. Charlottesville, VA. https://www.smartrecruiters.com/ApexCleanEnergy/744000006569247-associate-counsel. No salary listed, 2-8 years of relevant experience. Apex is an established industry leader in the origination, commercialization, construction, and operation of utility-scale wind energy facilities.
Intellectual Property (Patents) Paralegal. Fluence. Arlington, VA. https://jobs.lever.co/fluence/858655d2-68d6-4030-929e-8c393d3d4d25. No salary listed, 6+ years of relevant experience. Fluence is a global market leader in energy storage products and services and cloud-based software for renewables and storage.
Senior Counsel - Nuclear. Duke Energy. Charlotte, NC. https://dukeenergy.wd1.myworkdayjobs.com/en-US/search/details/Senior-Counsel---Nuclear_R31985?q=senior&jobFamilyGroup=161f83deb8ca019e6b1dcd59a74c4d0e. No salary listed, 3+ years of relevant experience. The attorney will provide counsel on nuclear regulatory matters to ensure compliance with federal regulations and interpret federal laws, Nuclear Regulatory Commission regulations, and Nuclear Regulatory Commission guidance documents issued by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission that apply to nuclear plant operations.
Counsel, Sustainability. Apollo. NY. https://athene.wd5.myworkdayjobs.com/en-US/Apollo_Careers/job/New-York-New-York/Counsel--Sustainability_R240454?q=legal. 4+ years of relevant legal experience at a top-tier law firm and/or in-house at an alternative investment manager of registered/regulated products; Pay Range: 225,000-250,000. Apollo is a high-growth, global alternative asset manager.
Legal Counsel. ACCIONA. Louisiana. https://www.acciona.com/es/nuestro-proposito/trabaja-con-nosotros/detalle-empleo/?id=20067957&_adin=0789076630. 5+ years of demonstrated legal experience. ACCIONA is a global company, leading in the development of regenerative infrastructure that creates a positive impact on society.
Legal Counsel Real Estate & Construction. Crusoe Energy. San Francisco. https://jobs.ashbyhq.com/Crusoe/b85779cd-7211-46a6-9769-8752d29ec7a2. Experience: Minimum of 5-7 years of experience in construction law and real estate transactions; Compensation will be paid in the range of $220,000 - $260,000. Crusoe Energy is on a mission to unlock value in stranded energy resources through the power of computation.
Senior Corporate Counsel, Contracts. Republic Services. Phoenix, AZ. https://jobs.republicservices.com/us/en/job/ROURSAUSR122962EXTERNALENUS/Senior-Corporate-Counsel-Contracts. No salary listed, 6+ years of relevant experience. The Senior Corporate Counsel (Contracts) is responsible for reviewing and negotiating a broad range of contractual and other transactional matters relating to the Company’s and its affiliates’ business of delivering waste, recycling, and environmental services to commercial, industrial, municipal, and residential customers.
Legal Director. Scale Microgrid Solutions. Ridgewood, NJ / New York, NY. https://jobs.lever.co/ScaleMicrogridSolutions/194f791e-45fe-463f-ae03-babaa67a4b06. 7+ years post-JD transactional experience, or 5+ years of transactional experience from a nationally recognized law firm. Scale Microgrid Solutions is a fully integrated distributed energy platform focused on designing, implementing, and financing innovative distributed clean energy solutions.
Government and Non-Profit
Law Clerk Summer 2025 - Public Lands Law Center. The Center for Biological Diversity. Remote. https://biologicaldiversity.bamboohr.com/careers/92. 2L+ equivalent. $18.07/hour. The Center’s Public Lands Law Center litigates important federal public lands cases across the country, including cases involving mining, logging, oil and gas production, and livestock grazing on national forests and state-managed lands.
Attorney-Adviser. Environmental Protection Agency. Washington, D.C.. https://www.usajobs.gov/job/805295500. $82,764 - $107,590. 3L or equivalent accepted. This is a two-year term position.
Staff / Senior Attorneys - New Mexico Oil & Gas (TWO openings). Albuquerque, New Mexico. Center for Biological Diversity - Climate Law. https://biologicaldiversity.bamboohr.com/careers/86. Staff Attorney (min 3 years litigation experience) salary range: $69,000-$85,000 DOE; Senior Attorney (min 8 years litigation experience) salary range: $85,000-$125,000 DOE. The Climate Law Institute wages innovative legal and grassroots campaigns to protect people, wildlife and ecosystems from climate change and the fossil fuel industry.
Legal Counsel. International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT). New Delhi, India. https://apply.workable.com/cimmyt-1/j/2165A528C8/. No salary listed, at least 5+ years of relevant experience. CIMMYT is a cutting-edge, non-profit, international organization dedicated to solving tomorrow's problems today. It is entrusted with fostering improved quantity, quality, and dependability of production systems and basic cereals such as maize, wheat, triticale, sorghum, millets, and associated crops through applied agricultural science, particularly in the Global South, through building strong partnerships.
Attorney. Puget Sound Clean Air Agency. Seattle. https://pscleanair.gov/Jobs.aspx?UniqueId=98&From=All&CommunityJobs=False&JobID=Attorney-77. Grade S $106,812 - $146,630. The Puget Sound Clean Air Agency has a vision of healthy air, climate, and environmental justice for the benefit of all people in the Puget Sound region.
Legal Director. Beyond Petrochemicals: People Over Pollution. Remote. https://grossmansolutions.applytojob.com/apply/bqGaoU5jsP/Beyond-Petrochemicals-People-Over-Pollution-Legal-Director. A minimum of 8 years of professional experience in environmental law and advocacy; Starting salary of $200,000. Beyond Petrochemicals will transform the US industrial sector, ensuring more local victories in the transition to a clean economy, supporting laws that protect communities from harm, and reducing the greenhouse gas emissions that are fueling the climate crisis.
Senior Attorney. Center for Biological Diversity – Oceans. Oakland, California. https://biologicaldiversity.bamboohr.com/careers/79. At least 8 years of civil litigation experience; $85,000-$125,000 yearly. The Center for Biological Diversity seeks an experienced full-time staff attorney for our oceans program. The staff attorney will work as part of a team using law and advocacy to address threats and increase marine wildlife and habitat protections.