Climate and environmental law, including the closely related ESG and sustainability space, is a growing and meaningful area of legal practice, as environmental and climate concerns and sustainability rise up the agenda for governments, businesses and society. If this area draws you, especially if you care about these issues, it is worth understanding how to build a career here. Let me walk you through it.
Quick answer
To build a career in climate and environmental law, broadly: build a strong legal foundation (a solid grasp of law, ideally including related areas like environmental, regulatory or corporate law); develop knowledge of environmental, climate and sustainability law (the legal framework and principles around the environment, climate and sustainability, and how they apply, including the related ESG space); understand the environmental and climate context (enough understanding of the underlying issues to advise sensibly); gain relevant experience (through internships, work or roles touching environmental, climate, ESG or related legal work, at firms, companies, organisations, NGOs or elsewhere); stay current (this area is developing as sustainability rises, so continuous learning matters); and build toward climate and environmental roles (positioning yourself for such work as the field grows).
Climate and environmental law is a growing, meaningful area with rising importance, driven by sustainability moving up the agenda. The work suits lawyers who care about environmental and climate issues and are interested in their legal dimension. It rewards legal skills, environmental, climate and sustainability knowledge, understanding of the context, and staying current. It can also be deeply meaningful for those who care about these issues.
The keys are: strong foundation, environmental, climate and sustainability knowledge, understanding the context, relevant experience, staying current, and building toward the field as it grows. This is a growing area, so stay current as it develops.
Step 1: Build a strong legal foundation
Start with a solid grasp of law, ideally including related areas such as environmental, regulatory or corporate law. A strong foundation is the base on which climate and environmental expertise sits. See “What Does an Environmental Lawyer Do in India?” and the ESG explainers.
Step 2: Develop environmental, climate and sustainability knowledge
Develop real knowledge of environmental, climate and sustainability law, the legal framework, principles and how they apply, including the closely related ESG space. This is the core of the specialisation and is learnable through study, courses, reading and engagement. See “Emerging Practice Areas: Climate Change Law” and the ESG guides.
Step 3: Understand the environmental and climate context
Develop enough understanding of the underlying environmental and climate issues to advise sensibly. Climate and environmental law connects closely to real-world environmental, scientific and policy issues, so understanding the context makes you a more effective adviser. See “Skills the Future Lawyer Will Need.”
Step 4: Gain relevant experience
Gain experience touching environmental, climate, ESG or related legal work, through internships, work or roles at firms with relevant practices, companies, increasingly focused on sustainability, organisations, NGOs, or other relevant settings. Real exposure builds skill, credibility and clarity about the paths within this area. See the internships and experience guides, and the public-interest and NGO career guides.
Step 5: Stay current and build toward climate and environmental roles
This area is developing as sustainability rises up the agenda, so continuous learning matters. Stay current on the evolving law, policy and ESG landscape, and build toward climate and environmental roles, positioning yourself as the field grows. Because the area’s importance is rising, building expertise here can be both promising and meaningful. See “Emerging Legal Practice Areas to Watch.”
YLCC ACTION STEP: Build a strong legal foundation, ideally including related areas like environmental, regulatory or corporate law; develop genuine environmental, climate and sustainability knowledge, including the related ESG space; understand the environmental and climate context enough to advise sensibly; gain relevant experience across firms, companies, organisations or NGOs; stay current as the field develops; and build toward climate and environmental roles as the area grows. If you care about these issues, this can be a promising and deeply meaningful area to build toward.
Who it suits (and who it doesn’t)
Climate and environmental law suits lawyers who care about environmental and climate issues and are interested in their legal dimension, and who are willing to understand the context and stay current. It is less suited to those with no interest in these issues. For those who care, it offers work that can be both professionally promising, given rising importance, and personally meaningful. If these issues matter to you, this is a strong area to build toward.
FAQs
- How do I build a career in climate and environmental law? Build a strong legal foundation, ideally including related areas; develop environmental, climate and sustainability knowledge, including ESG; understand the environmental and climate context; gain relevant experience; stay current; and build toward climate and environmental roles.
- Is climate and environmental law a good area? It is a growing, meaningful area with rising importance, driven by sustainability moving up the agenda. It suits those who care about these issues and can be both promising and meaningful.
- Where can I gain experience? At firms with relevant practices, companies increasingly focused on sustainability, organisations, and NGOs, among others.
- What foundation should I build? A solid grasp of law, ideally including related areas like environmental, regulatory and corporate law.
- Is it meaningful work? For those who care about environmental and climate issues, it can be deeply meaningful, as well as professionally promising given rising importance.
