Week of 5/20 - Why you should ask for help
Since I started this newsletter, several of you have reached out for help.
Sometimes you are looking for help with job searches, marketing ideas, how to ask for a promotion, and lots of other things.
I know we’ve helped at least one person find an amazing climate job by making an introduction!
But the person asking usually seems guilty or upset about asking for help…
While I instinctively understand why you feel like this, because I feel it too, I have been wondering about how to make it easier to ask for help.
For one thing, have you ever noticed how we phrase a request for help?
We almost always talk about the help that we “need.”
But why do we have to wait until we “need” help to ask for it?
In his book All You Have to Do Is Ask, sociologist Wayne E. Baker identified 8 main barriers to asking for help:
We think others are unwilling or unable to help us.
We are too self-reliant.
We perceive there to be social costs of seeking help — we believe that others see us as weak, lazy, or incapable of doing our job.
Our work culture lacks psychological safety.
The systems, procedures, or structure of our organization get in our way.
We don’t know what to request or how to request it.
We worry we haven’t earned the privilege of asking for help.
We fear seeming selfish.
I can relate to all of this.
In fact, I reached out to a colleague a few weeks ago in a flurry of stress and overwhelm, but then could NOT bring myself to actually ask for help because I did not know what to ask for. So I got no help.
So we have to work on these things, we need to create a culture of support, where we help each other achieve our climate goals. We also need to get clear about what we need and want, so we can ask for specific help. And we need to normalize asking for help without knowing exactly what we need.
We also need to factor in how much people like to help others.
Lawyers and climate professionals are often excited to help others.
And asking for help has been VERY impactful in my career. It has led to really tremendously fulfilling relationships as well as new clients. Not to mention the times that asking for help has literally helped me sleep at night.
So I’m reminding you that you can reach out for help, and I’m challenging you to ask for help whether you “need” it or not, because we could all use something.
If you don’t know where to turn for help, we took a vote in our last issue and people are interested in virtual networking and mastermind coaching, so you can express your interest in these programs here and we’ll follow up with more details.
Hi! I’m Matthew Karmel, chair of the Environmental and Sustainability Law Group at Offit Kurman, a full-service AMLaw 200 law firm, and the founder of the planetary lawyer project.
Here’s what I’ve been up to lately:
Presented on FTC Green Guides for the NJ Waste Wise Business Network
Presented on Organic Waste Legislation for the Illinois Recycling Foundation
Getting ready to present two more times in early June, one about sustainable and resilient remediation of brownfields and another about legal aspects of sustainable business practices
Thank you for reading! Any views expressed are my own. Nothing here is legal advice.
Now onto this week’s opportunities.
Have a lead on a job opening? Share it here.
Law and Policy Program Manager. New Jersey Environmental Justice Alliance. Newark, NJ. https://njeja.org/get-involved/. $60,000 - $75,000. No minimum experience listed. Looking for a professional to work in tandem with NJEJA staff, supporters, members, and others to further education, advocacy, and policies that prioritize justice and equity for New Jersey’s low-income communities and communities of color, especially those already overburdened with pollution and at risk from climate disaster.
Attorney - Bilingual (Spanish-English or Portuguese-English). Indian Law Resource Center. Washington, D.C. or Helena, Montana office or Remote. https://indianlaw.org/about/careers. $70,000 to $105,000. 3+ years of experience. The attorney will work with our experienced team dedicated to promoting and protecting the rights of indigenous peoples, protecting indigenous lands and endangered ecosystems, and fighting climate change.
Associate Attorney, Sustainable Food and Farming. Earthjustice. New York, NY or Washington, DC. https://earthjustice.org/job/associate-attorney-sustainable-food-and-farming. $97,200 - $112,000. 2-4 years of relevant experience required. Looking for an attorney to work closely with Earthjustice attorneys, scientists, and professional staff to build cases and support policies that serve a diverse set of clients.
Associate Counsel or Senior Counsel, Codes and Products. New York State Energy Research and Development Authority. New York City/Albany/Buffalo, NY. https://www.nyserda.ny.gov/About/Careers-at-NYSERDA/NYSERDA-Career-Opportunities/791-Associate-Counsel-or-Senior-Counsel. The Associate Counsel salary range is $85,712-$133,319, and the Senior Counsel range is $116,686 - $163,695. 3-5 years of experience for Associate Cousnel, 6-8 years for Senior Counsel. Looking for an attorney to provide legal support for its Codes, Products and Standards Team; the ideal candidate should have experience in NYS Energy Code and/or Uniform Code as well as regulatory matters related to New York State including relevant SAPA experience.
Counsell, Public Policy. American Farm Bureau Federation. Washington, DC. https://www.fb.org/careers/counsel-public-policy.Three to eight years’ relevant experience with a law firm, federal agency, and/or trade association. The American Farm Bureau Federation is the national advocate for farmers, ranchers and rural communities.
Senior Legal Counsel. Repsol. Houston. https://repsol.wd3.myworkdayjobs.com/en-US/Repsol/job/SENIOR-LEGAL-COUNSEL_67974. A minimum of 4 years of relevant experience. In 2021, Repsol expanded its renewables operations to the US through a 40% acquisition of a major U.S.-based PV solar and battery storage project developer.
Corporate Counsel. Vital Farms. Remote. https://vitalfarms.com/current-job-openings/?gh_jid=4243939005. 5 or more years of experience as a practicing attorney, with employment and/or litigation experience. Vital Farms is a Certified B Corp that sources and markets delicious, high-quality, ethically-sourced egg and dairy products nationwide.
Corporate Counsel. Clēnera. Idaho. https://apply.workable.com/clenera/j/0C2C26E0F9/. Minimum of 5 years of experience in a major law firm or renewable energy firm. Clēnera is the US-based subsidiary of an international renewable energy developer.
Operations Counsel. Pattern Energy. https://careers-patternenergy.icims.com/jobs/2285/operations-counsel/job. Minimum of five (5+) years of experience. Pattern Energy is a leading renewable energy company.
Attorney. Naval Nuclear Laboratory. Various Locations. https://navalnuclearlab.energy.gov/job-search/job-detail/?job-id=1007. 5 years of relevant experience is required. The Naval Nuclear Laboratory comprises the U.S. Department of Energy locations and personnel responsible for developing advanced naval nuclear propulsion technology.
Policy Attorney. Clean Ocean Action. Long Branch, NJ. https://cleanoceanaction.org/about-coa/job-announcements. No salary listed, 5+ years of experience. The attorney will help shape regional and national ocean protection policies, as well as monitor issues and respond proactively to protect water quality.
Senior Attorney, Electrification. Environmental Defense Fund. NY / Remote (US). https://www.edf.org/jobs/senior-attorney-electrification. $118,000 - $127,000. 5+ years of experience. Looking for a knowledgable attorney to lead the engagement of EDF in electric vehicle related utility regulatory proceedings across the U.S.
Senior Attorney, Clean Power. Environmental Defense Fund. Washington, D.C. / Remote (US). https://www.edf.org/jobs/senior-attorney-clean-power. $118,000 - $127,000. 5+ years of experience. Looking for an attorney to work under the Senior Director and Lead Counsel, Climate Risk & Clean Power to advance EDF’s climate, clean energy, and health priorities before the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the U.S. Department of Treasury, and other decisionmakers, partners, and policymakers.
Attorney or Senior Attorney. The Center for Applied Environmental Law and Policy. Remote (US). https://www.caelp.org/attorney. $110,000-$170,000. 5+ years of experience. The attorney will work closely with CAELP colleagues to support innovation and progress on critical questions of law and policy, help lead the development of legal and technical analysis, and engage with the broader coalitions and partners working in these areas.
Government Representative I. New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection. Office of Legal Affairs. Trenton, NJ. https://www.nj.gov/dep/jobs/dclrl-2023-7.pdf. $120,000.00 — $140,000. 8+ years of experience. Looking for an attorney to provide executive guidance and direction in the establishment as well as implementation of policies and procedures regarding the overall work operations, programs, activities and staff of a major operating Division concerned with the areas of environmental management.
Senior Director, Intellectual Property. Pivot Bio. Berkeley. https://www.pivotbio.com/open-positions?gh_jid=6750621002.10+ years of experience with patent preparation and prosecution (law firm + in-house experience). Salary rate: $235,000—$294,000 USD. Pivot Bio is pioneering game-changing advances in agriculture.