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What’s it like to go eviromental lawyer school?

What’s it like being an eviromental lawyer

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Subject: Career question for you

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Edward’s Answer

I've been passionately working as an environmental lawyer since 1972. By 1980, we had made significant strides in improving the health of both our air and water resources in the U.S., and things were looking promising. We then turned our attention to soil remediation, which, unfortunately, didn't go as smoothly as we had hoped. It ended up causing a lot of disagreements and incurred high costs, without making a substantial positive impact on the environment.

From 1980 onwards, the situation has sadly deteriorated. The regulation of particles smaller than 10 micrometers, so-called "greenhouse gases" and carbon dioxide, has been marred by dubious cost-benefit analyses. Some have even accused the USEPA of using these issues to further its own political agenda and inflate its payroll. Today, there are over 100,000 full-time government environmental officials across the country, and their actions have raised some concerns.

Therefore, it's with a heavy heart that I express my reservations about recommending a career in environmental law to anyone.

Edward recommends the following next steps:

Aspire to practice law that benefits people; I recommend contract negotiations, which succeed only when all persons benefit and create wealth far exceeding the costs.
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Michelle’s Answer

Hello, Hailee !

Although I have never been a law student, I would be happy to give some insightful advice that may shed some light on what you can expect in law school.

First you would go for your Bachelors Degree in political science or economics and minor in a science. Colleges typically do not offer a Bachelors degree in Environmental Law. Than you should try to get an internship or do volunteer work and enroll in Law School after you get your Bachelors Degree and after taking the LSAT exam. When applying to law schools, cover a lot of ground to increase your acceptance rate.

When you are in law school, you will get a general law degree with a concentration in environmental law. When you graduate Law School take the bar exam and when you pass it you will than be a lawyer.

The expectations in law school are very high. You always have to be on time for every class and prepared. You will examine cases and learn the principles of the law and how it is applied to cases. You will use critical thinking. Additionally, you will learn civil procedure, constitutional law, criminal law and criminal procedure, and learn about contract and methods. You will learn legal writing, property law and torts which have to do with legal wrongs such as assault, negligence, and defamation towards a person. You may even be required to do a practice court case in which you will argue the case. You will also have extra curricular groups that you can join in Law School.

I hope that this has shed some light on at least what first year law school could be like. Sounds as though you have a fabulous college and career experience ahead and I wish you all the best !
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DENNIS’s Answer

Hailee: A lawyer is a lawyer. After getting your degree and passing the bar exam you are free to pursue any field of interest you have. Enviromental law is clearly a worthy pursuit. However, as Edward points out - it is tough and frustrating! However a very important area of the law. Climate change is doing major damage to our country. We need people like you who care and want to do something about it!
It's a long road from now to becoming a lawyer. Lots of things change. Your interests might change. However, as Mike Rowe (Dirty Jobs guy on TV) always says - bring your passion with you and it will all be fine! Good luck!!
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