What Else Is Out There? Legal Career Alternatives, Part X – Environmental Careers
June 20, 2012 Law-related environmental jobs have grown in number steadily, if not dramatically, in the 40 years since “environmentalism” first flowered in the United States. For the first decade after the enactment of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1970 (NEPA), the growth of environmental law and its accompanying attorney and law-related jobs was “regulatory driven.” This was followed by a lull in environmentalism during era when the prevailing ideology and politics veered toward deregulation. After close to 30 years of “stasis,” growth began to surge once more as environmental issues re-emerged and went global. That is where we are now.
Law-Related Environmental Job Titles
The list of law-related environmental job titles includes:
- Advisor, Regulatory Management
- Carbon Transactions Manager
- Clean Energy Program Director
- Coastal Zone Resources Manager
- Conservation Field Representative
- Director of Environmental Affairs
- Director of Land Conservation
- Director, Legislative Analysis Environmental Policy Professional
- Environmental/Public Health Advocate
- Environmental Claims Examiner
- Environmental Compliance Manager
- Environmental Consultant
- Environmental Ombudsman
- Environmental Planning Manager
- Environmental Policy Analyst
- Environmental Policy Director
- Environmental Protection Specialist
- Environmental Public Participation Specialist
- Global Government Affairs Director
- Hazardous Waste Management Consultant
- Land Protection Specialist
- Marine Resource Management Specialist
- Remediation Specialist
- Resource Policy Analyst
- Safety and Occupational Health Specialist
- Technological Program Hazards Specialist
- Trade Association Environmental Staffer
- Water Program Assistant
Useful Environmental Membership Organizations
Want to keep up with developments in environmental law and policy? Interested in making strong networking contacts for a law-related environmental job? Seek advance information about where the environmental jobs are likely to be?
Then you would be well-advised to join one or more of the organizations listed below:
- American Bar Association Environment, Energy, and Resources Section
- Environmental Defense Fund
- Environmental Law Institute
- National Association of Environmental Professionals
- Natural Resources Defense Council
- Sierra Club
Environmental Law-Related Jobs Websites
- Earthjustice
- Environmental Job Alert Bulletin
- Environmental Jobs and Careers
- Environmental Career Opportunities
- Environmental Policy and Law Center
- Land Trust Alliance
- United Nations Environment Programme
- World Meteorological Organization
Enhancing Your Environmental Law Credentials
A large number of environmental graduate certificate programs exist, with additional ones emerging all the time. These programs, almost all of which are far less expensive in terms of time, cost and effort than enrolling in an LLM program—and in many instances just as effective—enable you to distinguish yourself from your competitors for a job. Gaining such separation is invaluable. A selection of environmental progams follows:
- Harvard University—Certificate in Environmental Management (online)
- University of Denver University College—Environmental Policy Certificate
- University of Colorado—Graduate Certificate in Environment, Policy, and Society
- Pace Law School—Certificate in Environmental Law
- Tufts Institute of the Environment—Certificate in Environmental Management
- University of Georgia—Environmental Ethics Certificate Program
- University of Washington Extension—Certificate Program in Environmental Law and Regulation
- The Academy of Board Certified Environmental Professionals—Certified Environmental Professional Designation
- National Registry of Environmental Professionals
Registered Environmental Manager Certificate
Associate Environmental Professional Certificate
Clean Air Compliance CAC Specialist
Clean Water Compliance CWC Specialist
EMS Compliance EMSC Specialist
Hazardous Waste Compliance HWC Specialist
QMS Compliance QMSC Specialist
Regulatory Compliance Specialist RCS
- Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health—Humane Sciences and Toxicology Policy Certificate
- United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)—Water & Environmental Law and Institutions
- University of California-Davis Extension--Certificate in Land Use and Environmental Planning
- Marylhurst University
Environmental Law, Renewable Energy Certificate (online)
Environmental Law, Green Development Certificate (online)
Environmental Law, Natural Resources Certificate (online)
Environmental Law, Government Policy Certificate (online)
Environmental Protection and Policy (online)
- Lehigh University—Graduate Certificate in Environmental Law and Policy
- George Mason University—Graduate Certificate in Environmental Conflict Resolution and Collaboration
- George Washington University—Climate Change Management and Policy Certificate
A Cautionary Note
Environmentalism ebbs and flows based on a variety of factors, not only ideology and politics. It also depends to some extent on economics. In times of economic growth, societies and governments are able to focus more attention on the environment. In times of economic stress, their attention turns more to stimulating their economies, often at the expense of the environment.
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