3 answers
Blake
Student
Issaquah, Washington
1
Question
Updated
566 views
What advice would you give to a college student studying law and business who wants to understand how corporate lawyers help companies balance profit goals with ethical and sustainable practices #Spring25?
I am currently a pre-law, business administration student at the University of Oregon, interested in Corporate Law. I am a junior, thanks to the Running Start program in high school, and hope to graduate next year and go into law school.
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3 answers
Emily Henderson
Attorney
8
Answers
New York, New York
Updated
Emily’s Answer
Hi Blake! It's a super interesting field, and I actually completed a research capstone in college about corporate responsibility in large public corporations. I went to law school with a specific interest in corporate law and geared my classes, internships and extracurricular activities in that direction. When looking for law schools, it's important to find a school that has the programs and classes you're interested in -- for example, when I attended Boston University, they had a class dedicated to contract drafting, clinics focused on helping nearby start-up companies and journals with a corporate/business focus. Now, it looks like Boston University has a really great class specifically geared towards ESG: https://www.bu.edu/academics/law/courses/law-jd-885/.
I only use Boston University as an example -- I'm sure many other great law schools have similar opportunities, as it's such an important and growing field of study. Definitely do your due diligence on the classes and programs each law school offers before making your decision!
Outside of the classroom, it may be hard to get internships/externships specifically geared towards ESG, but focusing your search on in-house corporate opportunities will be beneficial. Even if it's not specific to ESG, the exposure to balancing corporate priorities in-house will be invaluable and help you start migrating towards that path!
Best of luck!!
I only use Boston University as an example -- I'm sure many other great law schools have similar opportunities, as it's such an important and growing field of study. Definitely do your due diligence on the classes and programs each law school offers before making your decision!
Outside of the classroom, it may be hard to get internships/externships specifically geared towards ESG, but focusing your search on in-house corporate opportunities will be beneficial. Even if it's not specific to ESG, the exposure to balancing corporate priorities in-house will be invaluable and help you start migrating towards that path!
Best of luck!!
Chiquria Willis
Loan Processor - Rocket Mortgage
94
Answers
Dearborn Heights, Michigan
Updated
Chiquria’s Answer
You're on an exciting journey, and it's clear you're making great strides in your academic pursuits! As a pre-law student focused on business administration and corporate law, you're diving into a field that plays a vital role in helping companies achieve success while maintaining ethical and sustainable practices. This is a key area that shapes today's legal and business landscapes.
Corporate lawyers are essential in guiding businesses to meet their goals while considering ethics and sustainability. They advise on corporate governance, helping clients create policies that encourage transparency, accountability, and responsible choices. This includes drafting ethical codes, setting up compliance programs, and working with executives to ensure business strategies meet legal and stakeholder standards.
They also assist companies in understanding and applying environmental, social, and governance (ESG) principles, which are crucial for compliance and attracting investors, employees, and customers. For instance, when expanding internationally, a corporate lawyer might evaluate labor laws, environmental effects, or anti-corruption policies to ensure the approach is both profitable and ethical.
To enhance your knowledge, consider internships or externships with law firms specializing in corporate or ESG law, or with in-house legal teams at ethically strong companies. Attend webinars, read about significant corporate law cases involving ethics or sustainability, or join student organizations focused on pre-law and business that offer panels or competitions.
As you prepare for law school, continue blending your business and legal education—this is the heart of corporate law. Courses in business ethics, corporate finance, environmental law, or negotiation can offer valuable insights. You're already on a promising path, and the more you engage in both academic and practical experiences, the better equipped you'll be to champion practices that are not only profitable but also principled.
If you need help finding internships or reading materials on ESG law or corporate responsibility, feel free to ask.
Explore more:
- Harvard Law School Forum on Corporate Governance
- SEC – Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG)
- American Bar Association: Business Law Section
Corporate lawyers are essential in guiding businesses to meet their goals while considering ethics and sustainability. They advise on corporate governance, helping clients create policies that encourage transparency, accountability, and responsible choices. This includes drafting ethical codes, setting up compliance programs, and working with executives to ensure business strategies meet legal and stakeholder standards.
They also assist companies in understanding and applying environmental, social, and governance (ESG) principles, which are crucial for compliance and attracting investors, employees, and customers. For instance, when expanding internationally, a corporate lawyer might evaluate labor laws, environmental effects, or anti-corruption policies to ensure the approach is both profitable and ethical.
To enhance your knowledge, consider internships or externships with law firms specializing in corporate or ESG law, or with in-house legal teams at ethically strong companies. Attend webinars, read about significant corporate law cases involving ethics or sustainability, or join student organizations focused on pre-law and business that offer panels or competitions.
As you prepare for law school, continue blending your business and legal education—this is the heart of corporate law. Courses in business ethics, corporate finance, environmental law, or negotiation can offer valuable insights. You're already on a promising path, and the more you engage in both academic and practical experiences, the better equipped you'll be to champion practices that are not only profitable but also principled.
If you need help finding internships or reading materials on ESG law or corporate responsibility, feel free to ask.
Explore more:
- Harvard Law School Forum on Corporate Governance
- SEC – Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG)
- American Bar Association: Business Law Section
Alex Thacher
Tax Partner
5
Answers
San Mateo, California
Updated
Alex’s Answer
Great! You might want to check out B Corp. It's a certification for companies that care about their social and environmental impact while also making a profit. You can learn more at https://www.bcorporation.net/en-us/certification/. At Armanino, we're proud to be the largest professional services firm with B Corp certification.