Law
The practice of representing and advocating for clients in the legal system. Lawyers use communication and problem-solving skills to ensure justice and meet their clients’ goals while upholding the law.
What would you do?
- Provide legal advice for clients
- Draft legal documents
- Negotiate with opposing parties to reach settlements
- Conduct legal research and investigations
- Argue and advocate for clients
To fight climate change, lawyers…
Ensure environmental laws are followed
- Help businesses understand laws like the Clean Air Act
- Sue polluting companies and hold them liable
Influence policy
- Draft and lobby for new legislation
- Provide advice and analysis on proposed environmental policies
Advocate for environmental justice
- Represent people affected by environmental discrimination
- Improve health conditions in marginalized communities
Manage natural resources
- Encourage sustainable practices in energy, transportation and more
- Uphold land use laws that protect biodiversity
Relationship to climate change
Environmental lawyers are crucial to advancing legal initiatives that promote sustainability and environmental protection.
Use law for these Project Drawdown solutions:
- Abandoned Farmland
- Advanced Biofuels
- Agrivoltaics
- Agroforestry
- Airplane Contrails
- Alternative Refrigerants
- Appliance & Equipment Efficiency
- Aquaculture
- Aviation Efficiency
- Bio Oils
- More solutions →
Get started
A good fit if you’re passionate about civil rights, problem solving, communication, and where government systems meet the environment.
Recommended classes
High school: Modern World History, AP World History, AP US History, AP US Government and Politics, AP Language and Composition, AP Literature and Composition, AP Environmental Science, Psychology / AP Psychology (helpful), AP Macroeconomics (helpful)
Project ideas
- Explore local environmental policies
- Write an article or post proposing an environmental policy
- Interview people who have experienced environmental discrimination to find community solutions
- Start a group advocating for a specific environmental issue
- Connect with city or state officials to learn how local climate laws are made
More resources
- Prelaw: What Do Lawyers Do?
- Environmental Law Career Guide
- Guardians of the Earth: The Role of Environmental Lawyers (University at Buffalo)
- How an Environmental Lawyer Stays Motivated to Fight the Climate Crisis (Earthjustice)
Written by Makeleta Vaka, Mills High School (2027)
