Week of 6/10 - Making friends with reporters
Welcome to the planetary lawyer project, a newsletter for lawyers that want to do more for the planet.
I get a ton of press coverage… read my recent profile on environmental justice in the waste industry here.
My wife often wonders if the same person that takes out the trash is the same one she reads about online…
So how do I get press?
I intentionally develop my contacts with journalists in much the same way that I develop potential clients.
And calling them contacts is even a little diminutive.
I build real relationships with journalists in publications.
So far, I’ve had success with the following:
Identify niche publications in industries that interest you (as it’s a lot easier to get press from niche publications than the big guys at least initially)
Set up google alerts on topics that interest you (I have alerts for composting, recycling, renewables, environmental justice, and on and on)
From the publications and alerts, identify journalists that write about your interests
Email them. Tell them you liked a story they wrote. Tell them about a new development. Tell them about an article you wrote for your firm’s blog or on LinkedIn.
Connect with them on LinkedIn. Comment on their posts if you have something to add to the conversation.
Build relationships. Stay in touch. Keep a list.
Rinse and repeat. You won’t become friends with every journalist, but, as with all things, some will become great friends. And you can help each other.
It’s not magic. It’s simple, continuous effort.
That’s actually how I got the profile that I linked above. I made friends with a staff reporter, sent him regular updates about goings on in New Jersey, and he referred me to a colleague who wanted to talk about environmental justice and the waste industry (double niche!). We’ve talked several times and I’ve been quoted by them in a few articles.
And then…they reached out to request that I give an interview for this profile. If you do this right, you will get media requests. They will come to you!
But still keep expanding and making new connections.
Now onto this weeks opportunities!
DO GOOD
Pro bono projects are excellent opportunities for you to learn new skills and meet new people, all while doing more for the planet.
Know a pro bono project that needs assistance? Submit it here.
We don’t have any new pro bono projects this week, so I thought I would take a moment to highlight the work of the Renewable Energy Legal Defense Initiative, which attorneys can partner with to provide pro bono representation to renewable energy projects.
To expand my renewable energy practice, I will be working on pro bono projects in the renewables industry through the Initiative. I am still waiting to receive my first assignment, but I’ll update you in the future.
I’m also starting to provide pro bono support to a minority beekeeping association.
The opportunities to help (and grow your practice at the same time) are really limitless and quite rewarding.
DO WELL
Job opportunities with planet-aligned employers allow you to get paid to do more for the planet. From certified B corporations to NGOs to companies with real impact, there are lots of ways to work for the planet.
Have a lead on a job opening? Share it here.
Policy intern. Advanced Energy Economy. Remote. https://advancedenergyeconomy.applytojob.com/apply/83K7Dx5SBn/Policy-Intern-West. If an intern is not receiving academic credit, AEE will pay interns at a rate of $15.20 per hour (this rate increases to $16.10 beginning on July 1st). Interest in politics, policy, and/or the advanced energy field is strongly preferred. AEE is a national association of businesses that are making the energy we use secure, clean, and affordable.
Federal Legislative Specialist. The Good Food Institute. Washington D.C. https://gfi.org/job/?gh_jid=5977147002. $90,476-$95,000. At least two years of experience working in legislative roles in the United States Congress, or equivalent government relations / lobbying experience.The Good Food Institute is a nonprofit working internationally to accelerate alternative protein innovation.
Federal Affairs Advisor. From Energy. Washington DC. https://jobs.lever.co/formenergy/d76b42e5-a0d8-4a07-b23e-c1bbd45ea30c. Requires bachelor’s degree and minimum 2-3 years experience in business and/or local, state, or federal policy environment. Form Energy is a U.S. technology and manufacturing company that is developing and commercializing cost-effective multi-day energy storage systems.
Policy Intern. Patch. Remote (San Francisco). https://www.patch.io/careers/3836b056-cc54-4696-ab91-a4ed189f38fd-e. 2+ years of experience operating at the intersection of policy/climate/carbon markets. Patch's API connects carbon removal and renewable energy suppliers directly with the businesses that need them most with just a few lines of code.
Staff Attorney. App Harvest. Lexington. https://www.appharvest.com/careers/?gh_jid=5121091003. 2+ years in a corporate in-house counsel role (experience with rapidly scaling public company desired). AppHarvest is a sustainable food company in Appalachia developing and operating some of the world’s largest high-tech indoor farms.
Legal & Contract Manager. Archive Resale. Remote. https://jobs.lever.co/Archive/3247105d-3f55-45a0-b2e8-7913acbb6596. 2-5 years of proven legal or paralegal experience in a business environment, such as working within a law firm or a corporation, preferably with experience in technology, where a variety of legal topics were part of regular work, including corporate, contract, intellectual property, privacy, and/or tax laws. Archive is building an ‘operating system for resale’ that delivers a customized online secondhand marketplace site.
Policy Principal. Advanced Energy Economy. Washington, DC. https://climatebase.org/job/72506/policy-principal--wholesale-electricity-markets?source=jobs_directory. Salary: Starting at $70,000. Minimum of three years of professional experience, with at least some of that experience in policy analysis, policy advocacy, and/or market analysis; some experience with FERC or competitive wholesale electricity markets is strongly preferred. AEE is a national association of businesses that are making the energy we use secure, clean, and affordable
Policy and Partnerships Associate. Running Tide. Remote. https://jobs.lever.co/runningtide/dd26ead9-11c4-479d-827c-502b21d99473. 3+ years of professional experience. Running Tide is an ocean technology company built to tackle humanity's most urgent challenge: climate change.
Global Business Legal Counsel. NIO. San Jose, California. https://jobs.lever.co/nio/cab4dde5-6165-4c98-91eb-e55f2e915822. 3-10 years of relevant legal experience in law firm and in-house experience in automotive industry. NIO Inc. is a pioneer in China’s premium smart electric vehicle market.
Legislative Director. The Good Food Institue. https://gfi.org/job/?gh_jid=5898599002. $135,850-$143,000. A minimum of 5 years of experience working in legislative roles in the United States Congress, including experience securing funds through the federal appropriations process.The Good Food Institute is a nonprofit working internationally to accelerate alternative protein innovation.
Corporate Legal Specialist. AMP Robotics. Louisville, Colorado. https://www.amprobotics.com/careers-open-positions?gh_jid=5121682003. Minimum of 5 years’ relevant experience supporting legal and/or compliance professionals in a law firm or corporate legal department setting, preferably both. AMP Robotics is a pioneer and industry leader in artificial intelligence.
Manager, Policy & Government Engagement. Electric Hydrogen. Remote. https://jobs.lever.co/eh2/233271a1-29f7-4f3d-9917-3cf3628a118c. 5+ years of climate policy experience. Electric Hydrogen’s mission is to create an abundant and decarbonized material future.
Regulatory & Government Affairs, Senior Manager / Director. TeraWatt Infrastructure.Remote.https://jobs.lever.co/terawattinfrastructure/63525a4b-9b08-4fdf-8039-db35cea13387. 5+ years of Regulatory, Legislative, or Government Affairs experience. TeraWatt is the leader in developing, financing, owning, and operating the charging solutions and infrastructure that will change how goods and people move.
Lead Public Policy. Span. Remote (San Francisco).https://www.span.io/careers?gh_jid=4786553003. 5-8 years experience and prior success in public policy and advocacy working for hardware and/or software companies. SPAN is developing products to enable rapid adoption of renewable energy and deliver an intuitive interface for the home.
Senior Manager, State Government Affairs. Pivot Bio. (Remote, Preferably In The Corn Belt, Chesapeake Bay Area) https://www.pivotbio.com/open-positions?gh_jid=6120569002. Minimum of seven (7) years’ experience in state governmental affairs, legislative, public policy or public administration, political campaigns, communications, or public relations. Pivot Bio is pioneering game-changing advances in agriculture.
Senior Manager, Goverment Relations. Lime. Seattle. https://jobs.lever.co/lime/f9ec4dbe-efc7-4fb5-8609-877321839bd4. Bachelor’s degree or at least seven (7) years related experience leading or working in government affairs, campaigns, and/or community development in a government-related environment. Lime is the world's largest shared electric vehicle company.
First Hire - Policy and Government Relations. Heirloom. San Francisco. https://jobs.lever.co/HeirloomTechnologies/9c6a986a-d2aa-4428-9097-d25a627a3ba7. 7+ years of government, government relations and/or policy experience, with CA State experience preferred. Heirloom uses the natural carbon capture properties of abundant minerals to pull CO2 from the air, and store it permanently underground.
Manager - Carbon Free Buildings Policy. RMI. Boulder, CO. https://rmi.synchr-recruit.com/job/414628/manager-carbon-free-buildings-policy?s=cw. At least 8 years of direct, relevant experience in public policy, advocacy, coalition-buildings, or policy-related energy work. RMI’s Carbon Free Buildings Policy program is seeking a Manager to lead the building decarbonization policy with Governor’s Offices.
Legal Director, Commercial Contracts. Sila. Alameda.https://www.silanano.com/careers/job-application/4206854.10+ years of relevant contract drafting and negotiation experience at a law firm and/or technology company, 3+ years of experience leading an in-house contracting team at an automotive company or a company in the automotive supply chain is a plus. Sila Nanotechnologies is an electronics company that offers new battery materials chemistry.
Head of Legal. TeraWatt Infrastructure. San Francisco. https://jobs.lever.co/terawattinfrastructure/1abe7873-81c6-48d5-a460-2f976c61bb27. 5+ years in-house with an additional 10+ years in-house or at a reputable law firm, with experience.TeraWatt is the leader in developing, financing, owning, and operating the charging solutions and infrastructure that will change how goods and people move.
DO IT TOGETHER
We all will go further together, whether that means collaborating on passion projects, pro bono opportunities, or referring a potential client to our network of planetary lawyers.
Sign up for our referral network here.
Make a referral to our network!
That’s all for this week. See you next time!