Week of 12/4 - My biggest key to climate career growth
What do I think is the most important key to climate career growth?
Consistency.
Real growth comes when we work towards a goal continually.
But let’s be honest, consistency can be hard…
Some weeks we’re tired, or busy, or focused on personal things.
That’s what happened to me this week, but I’m still showing up with these abbreviated remarks…
Because consistency matters.
And I’m working on some huge announcements for this community.
Want to help me?
If you’re a US-based in house lawyer with an interest in climate-related pro bono, I would appreciate 20 minutes of your time to discuss a new initiative.
I’m only looking for 5 volunteers!
Just reply to this email and write “I’m interested!” and we’ll find a time to talk.
Otherwise, please stay tuned and get excited!
Hi! I’m Matthew Karmel, chair of the Environmental and Sustainability Law Group at Offit Kurman, P.A. and founder of the planetary lawyer project.
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 with a thriving book of climate-related clients.
I did it all without going to a T14 law school, working in BigLaw, or running myself into the ground along the way.
Now, I want to help you build your own climate-friendly legal career through my newsletter, the planetary lawyer project.
Any views expressed are my own. Nothing here is legal advice.
Paralegal, Litigation. Canadian Solar. Remote (US). https://jobs.jobvite.com/canadian-solar/job/ohV3ofwn. $65,000 – $95,000. 3-5 years of relevant paralegal experience. This is a newly created position offering a unique opportunity for a Paralegal with a litigation background to join our organization. Canadian Solar Inc. is a publicly-traded company that manufactures solar PV modules and runs large-scale solar projects. *This company is also hiring for more senior positions in international locations!
Law Clerk. BETA Technologies. South Burlington, VT. https://www.beta.team/job/?jobId=a42aea96-35ea-47ea-8a28-7d16349b609a. No salary listed, post-2L or 3Ls accepted. Beta Technologies is an aerospace manufacturer developing electric vertical take -and landing and electric conventional take-off and landing aircraft for the cargo, medical passenger, and military aviation industries – this is great for law students looking to learn more about intellectual property!
Climate & Energy Intern. National Caucus of Environmental Legislators. Optional Hybrid in Maryland or Remote in New York. https://www.ncelenviro.org/app/uploads/2023/10/Climate-Energy-Intern-2024.pdf. : $16/hour. NCEL is a nationwide network of over 1,200 state legislators with membership in all 50 states and from both major parties.
Assistant General Counsel. World Wildlife Fund. Washington, D.C. https://careers-wwfus.icims.com/jobs/3579/assistant-general-counsel---24038/job. No salary or minimum experience is listed. The World Wildlife Fund (WWF), one of the world’s leading conservation organizations, seeks an Assistant General Counsel to provide a full range of in-house legal services to WWF-US, with emphasis on non-profit legal matters, data privacy, contracts and grants, corporate governance, charitable giving, litigation, technology, employment, intellectual property, and other relevant areas.
Deputy Legal Director. Futurewise. Seattle. https://www.futurewise.org/assets/reports/Deputy-Legal-Director-Job-Announcement-102723.pdf. Three or more years of experience. Salary: $80,000 – $100,000. Futurewise works throughout Washington state to encourage healthy, equitable and opportunity-rich communities, and to protect our most valuable farmlands, forests and water resources through wise land use policies and practices.
Corporate Counsel, Commercial. Zoox. Foster City, CA. https://zoox.com/careers/cb67587b-a8b4-427f-88f1-05fe69e380cc. $155,000 to $254,000. Looking for 4+ years of relevant experience. Zoox, Inc. is a subsidiary of Amazon developing autonomous green vehicles that provide mobility as a service.
General Attorney, Office of Environmental Management - Richland Operations Office. Department of Energy. Richland, WA. https://www.usajobs.gov/job/761033500. $98,496 - $151,308 per year. Looking for an attorney with relevant experience for a GS 13-14 pay grade. Looking for a General Attorney to work on government contracts and procurement law relevant to local environmental/energy issues.
Senior Attorney. Center for Biological Diversity. Oregon.https://biologicaldiversity.bamboohr.com/careers/51. Five years experience as an environmental attorney.Salary Range: $85,000 - $125,000 commensurate with experience. The Center for Biological Diversity, a national 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to the protection of imperiled plants, animals and wild places, seeks an experienced attorney to advocate for the conservation of endangered species utilizing administrative and legal tools.
Lead Legal Counsel US. Climeworks,. Austin. https://climeworks.com/jobs/lead-legal-counsel-us. Extensive (at least 5 years) experience in negotiating, drafting and reviewing US law governed contracts. Climeworks removes CO₂ from the air to fight global warming and protect future generations to come.
Associate Counsel. Waste Connections. Texas. https://careers.wasteconnections.com/us/en/job/R-69246/Associate-Counsel. 5+ years of experience practicing corporate 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.
Senior Manager, Legislative & Regulatory Policy. Building Decarbonization Coalition. Remote. https://buildingdecarb.org/about-us/careers. Demonstrated 5+ years experience with administrative dockets and successfully influencing regulatory policy. The salary range for this position is $120,000 - $140,000. (BDC) aligns building industry stakeholders with energy providers, environmental organizations, and local governments to help electrify homes and workspaces with clean energy.
Senior Counsel, Strategic Legal Advocacy. Climatebase. Washington, District Of Columbia San Francisco, California Remote, Telecommute. https://earthjustice.org/job/senior-counsel-strategic-legal-advocacy. A minimum of 7 years of legal experience preferred, with a strong preference for candidates with a state or federal appellate clerkship. Salary for Washington, D.C.: $184,600 - $217,200. Salary for San Francisco, CA: $194,300 - $228,600. Remote Salary: $165,200 - $228,600. Earthjustice is the nation’s largest, oldest, and most active public interest environmental law organization.
Clean Energy & Climate Attorney (Staff I, Staff II, and Senior Attorney positions available). Conservation Law Foundation. Montpelier, VT. https://secure6.saashr.com/ta/6181430.careers?CareersSearch. The starting salary range for Staff Attorney I is $72,000-$84,000, for Staff Attorney II is $79,000-$92,000, and for Senior Attorney $88,000-$104,000. 2+ years of experience practicing law for Staff Attorney I, 5+ years for Staff Attorney II, and 7+ years for Senior Attorney. The attorney will work independently and as part of state-based and regional teams and coalitions advocating for a just and clean energy future, leading and supporting high-impact, cutting-edge advocacy efforts in the energy, transportation, and buildings sectors.
General Counsel. Electriq Power. West Palm Beach, FL. https://electriqpower.com/company/. No salary listed, looking for 5-7 years of experience. The General Counsel role will report to the Chief Operating Officer of Electriq Power and will be responsible for corporate maintenance issues on a proactive and independent basis.
Senior Counsel, Environmental Affairs. Rivian. Washington, D.C. | Plymouth, MI. https://careers.rivian.com/careers-home/jobs/13665?lang=en-us. No salary listed, 6+ years of relevant experience. Rivian Automotive, Inc., is an American electric vehicle manufacturer and automotive technology and outdoor recreation company – *This company is also hiring for similar positions in various locations!
Senior Legal Counsel. Fluence. Melbourne, Australia. https://jobs.lever.co/fluence/bed7f0e2-a267-4f4c-b1c3-0f96b0b8e3fd. No salary listed, 6+ years of relevant experience. Fluence offers proven energy storage products designed for the full spectrum of applications in the market with the ultimate goal of delivering creative, commercial energy storage and digital offerings at scale that enable sustainable energy networks. *This company is also hiring for similar positions in other locations!
Policy Director. Brightline Defense. San Francisco, CA. https://www.brightlinedefense.org/policy-director. $125,000 - $140,000. 5+ years of relevant executive experience, JD not required but strongly preferred. The Policy Director will engage with diverse stakeholders, conduct in-depth regulatory research and policy analysis, draft essential documents, and serve as a key spokesperson for the organization.
Senior Counsel, Strategic Legal Advocacy. Earthjustice. Washington, D.C. | San Francisco, CA | Remote. https://earthjustice.org/job/senior-counsel-strategic-legal-advocacy. Salary for Washington, D.C.: $184,600 - $217,200 | San Francisco, CA: $194,300 - $228,600 | Remote: $165,200 - $228,600. 7+ years of relevant legal experience. Earthjustice is looking for a collaborative and experienced attorney to join its Strategic Legal Advocacy team which focuses primarily on serving as a resource to our talented team by, for example, providing research and drafting assistance on novel or difficult legal issues that arise during litigation, with a focus on cases that arrive before an en banc court or the U.S. Supreme Court, and convening litigators from across Earthjustice to develop organizational responses to new legal doctrines.
Energy Law and Policy Project Director, Emmett Institute on Climate Change and the Environment. UCLA School of Law. Los Angeles, CA. https://recruit.apo.ucla.edu/JPF08900. $122,000 to $172,000. 7+ years of relevant experience. The Project Director will contribute to law and policy-oriented service and teaching programs and projects as well as the Institute’s research programs. The attorney will manage legal and policy work; develop and implement strategic research; supervise interns and volunteers; and perform other tasks in support of the Emmett Institute, as necessary.
Product Counsel. Mill. California. https://boards.greenhouse.io/mill/jobs/4337477005. 5-10 years of law firm and/or in-house experience, focused on counseling innovative products/services. The estimated base salary range for this position is $130k to $180k. Mill is all about answering a simple question: how can we prevent waste? Less waste can save time, money, energy, maybe even our planet.
Grid Compliance and Commissioning Manager. Canadian Solar. Austin. https://jobs.jobvite.com/canadian-solar/job/oeLlofws. 5-10 years of relevant work experience in Generator Interconnection to Transmission or Distribution networks. Canadian Solar Inc. (NASDAQ: CSIQ) is a vertically integrated manufacturer of solar cells, modules, and battery energy storage solutions.