what should i major in to become an environmental lawyer

A few bachelor’s degrees that an aspiring environmental lawyer may consider include:

• B.S. in Environmental Science and Climate Change – Learning through the lens of climate change adaptation and mitigation, this degree program allows students to step into enriching careers that make ...
• B.S. ...
• B.A. ...

Full Answer

What degree do I need to apply to environmental law schools?

To practice as an Environmental Lawyer you will need to obtain a law degree commonly known as a Bachelor of Laws (LLB) or a Juris Doctor (JD). The JD is a postgraduate qualification, the bachelor is an undergraduate qualification.

What do you need to know about environmental law careers?

Jan 31, 2022 · Aspiring environmental lawyers may benefit from completing a bachelor's degree program focusing on environmental policy or environmental science. These programs typically provide instruction about conservation methods, pollution problems, and the impact of humans on the environment.

Can business courses help you become an environmental attorney?

As licensed attorneys, all environmental lawyers need to have completed a bachelor's degree and a Juris Doctor (JD) degree from an accredited law school. After receiving your bachelor's degree in any discipline (there are no major requirements for law school applicants), you must pass the LSAT exam in order to apply to law school.

Can I become a lawyer with a science degree?

Oct 20, 2021 · Becoming an environmental lawyer requires completing a Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree program at an accredited law school. Prospective environmental lawyers may also wish to further their knowledge by selecting a J.D. program that offers a specialization in environmental law, or by completing a Master of Laws program with an environmental law …

What undergraduate degree is best for Environmental Law?

Students typically need at least a bachelor's degree to qualify for law school. However, colleges rarely offer undergraduate environmental law degrees. Instead, students should consider a bachelor's degree in political science or economics with a minor in a science-related field.Nov 9, 2021

Where do environmental lawyers make the most money?

San FranciscoEnvironmental Lawyers make the most in San Francisco, CA at $270,894, averaging total compensation 49% greater than the US average.

Is environmental law a good career?

They might also counsel municipalities, manufacturers or developers on how to minimize their environmental impact. Environmental law can be an excellent career, especially for those who have prior experience in a regulated industry, regulatory body or advocacy group.Jul 29, 2021

Is Environmental Law in demand?

The demand for environmental lawyers is growing about as fast as average with a 9% growth expected over the next 10 years. Approximately 71,500 lawyer jobs will be added by 2028.

What type of lawyer makes the most money?

Types Of Lawyers That Make The Most MoneyMedical Lawyers – Average $138,431. Medical lawyers make one of the highest median wages in the legal field. ... Intellectual Property Attorneys – Average $128,913. ... Trial Attorneys – Average $97,158. ... Tax Attorneys – Average $101,204. ... Corporate Lawyers – $116,361.Dec 18, 2020

Why are environmental lawyers important?

What do Environmental Law lawyers do? An environmental lawyer works to represent clients in legal issues such as in clean technology, water law, climate change law and the management of land subject to native title and other public land. Environment laws are a large and complex specialty within the practice of law.

What is a career in environmental law?

Roles and Responsibilities. As an environmental lawyer, you can expect to draw on innovative ways to challenge government decision-making or government intervention points, find legal opportunities for clients and work on developing strategic solutions towards environmental issues.

Is it hard to get into law school?

Getting into law school is tough, but not insurmountable. As long as you have the minimum requirements to get in, your dream of getting your Juris Doctor degree and becoming a lawyer is achievable. Law schools generally require that you have specified minimum collegiate GPA and LSAT scores to qualify for admission.

Is it worth going to law school?

However, law school can be prohibitively expensive, and some graduates may regret their decision to pursue a Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree. Just 48% of all J.D. holders strongly agreed that their degree was worth the cost, a Gallup and AccessLex Institute study found.Feb 9, 2022

How much do environmental lawyers make in South Africa?

R33,476 (ZAR)/yr The average environmental lawyer gross salary in South Africa is R618,777 or an equivalent hourly rate of R297. In addition, they earn an average bonus of R33,476. Salary estimates based on salary survey data collected directly from employers and anonymous employees in South Africa.

How many years do you have to study to be a lawyer?

7 yearsBecoming a lawyer usually takes 7 years of full-time study after high school—4 years of undergraduate study, followed by 3 years of law school. Most states and jurisdictions require lawyers to complete a Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree from a law school accredited by the American Bar Association (ABA).Sep 8, 2021

What does a family lawyer do?

As the term implies, family lawyers focus on issues that have an impact on families. They deal with matters such as divorce proceedings, adoptions, and child custody. Common tasks include drafting custody agreements, wills, prenuptial agreements, and other documents.

What Does An Environmental Lawyer do?

An environmental lawyer works to represent clients in legal issues such as in clean technology, water law, climate change law and the management of...

Where Does An Environmental Lawyer Work?

Depending on where an Environmental Lawyer works, the day to day duties of an Environmental Lawyer include meeting with clients, researching enviro...

What Is The Average Environmental Lawyer Salary?

The median salary range for an Environmental Lawyer is $113,530 per year or $54.58 per hour. Employment for Environmental Lawyers is growing at a r...

Environmental Lawyer Jobs & Job Description

1. Analyze and interpret data obtained from literature reviews, case law, criminal, civil and regulatory research, and sample findings 2. Interview...

What Degree Do I Need to Apply to Environmental Law Schools?

To practice as an Environmental Lawyer you will need to obtain a law degree commonly known as a Bachelor of Laws (LLB) or a Juris Doctor (JD). The...

What Kind of Societies and Professional Organizations Do Environmental Lawyers have?

1. The Environmental Law Institute (ELI) is the professional organization for environmental lawyers globally. ELI's visions is for a “healthy envir...

What Does an Environmental Lawyer Do?

Attorneys help individuals resolve legal problems. An attorney's job tasks may include researching laws, drafting legal documents, arguing a client's case before courts, and negotiating settlement terms. An environmental lawyer is an attorney who focuses his/her legal practice on handling environmental law issues.

How Much Money Do Environmental Lawyers Make?

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, lawyers in general made a mean annual wage of $145,300, which is a mean hourly wage of $69.86 as of May 2019.

What Is the Outlook for an Environmental Law Career?

The projected growth for employment for all types of lawyers from 2019 to 2029 is anticipated to be four percent, which is the average for all occupations. If you are interested in an environmental law career, the outlook is good, as there will be a continued need for environmental lawyers as new regulations and laws are developed and implemented.

How Can I Become an Environmental Lawyer?

An environmental lawyer is a lawyer who specializes in environmental law. They may be employed by governmental agencies, non-profit organizations, or a private law firm. A suggested step-by-step process to start a career as an environmental lawyer:

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What degree do I need to become an environmental lawyer?

What Should I Study to Become an Environmental Lawyer? As licensed attorneys, all environmental lawyers need to have completed a bachelor's degree and a Juris Doctor (JD) degree from an accredited law school.

What is environmental law?

Environmental lawyers interpret environmental laws on behalf of government agencies, public interest nonprofits, and private businesses. With myriad local, state, and federal environmental regulations in place today, environmental law has become a vast and complex specialization of legal practice. Environmental lawyers are tasked with helping clients navigate those regulations. They might be hired to help clients comply with existing regulations, fight regulations that may be harming clients, or advocate for new regulations that are desperately needed. Read the table below for a quick overview of this career.

What does an environmental lawyer do?

These attorneys, who sometimes work in public interest jobs in government or at environmental nonprofit organizations, specialize in interpreting environmental laws and regulations at the international, federal, state and local levels.

Can companies that follow environmental regulations get in trouble?

Companies that follow environmental protection regulations but fail to file proper paperwork can get in trouble. "Good intentions don’t always get you brownie points in environmental law," she says. "There is a certain way you have to do things and certain records you have to keep, and that’s just the way it is.".

Should environmental lawyers go to law school?

Though aspiring environmental lawyers should take courses in environmental law, it isn't critical for them to attend a law school with an official concentration in this discipline, Gracer says. "There are several law schools that have great environmental law programs," he says, "but there are also law schools that are just excellent law schools ...

Who is Sahana Rao?

Sahana Rao, an associate at the Sive, Paget & Riesel P.C., says she enjoys the fact that she does both litigation work and regulatory practice. "There’s never been a shortage of things to learn," says Rao, a recent law school graduate who earned her J.D. from the New York University Law School in 2016.

Essential Information

Environmental lawyers counsel governments, corporations and other organizations in matters that include public health, pollution or sustainability. Becoming an environmental lawyer requires completing a Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree program at an accredited law school.

Educational Requirements for Environmental Lawyers

All lawyers, regardless of their specialization, must graduate from a law school that is accredited by the American Bar Association. The traditional J.D. program in most law schools lasts three years, during which time students take courses in such areas as the constitution, property rights and torts.

Salary Info and Employment Outlook

As noted by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the median annual salary of lawyers, including environmental lawyers, was $126,930 as of May 2020. Employment of lawyers in general was predicted to grow 4% between 2019 and 2029, mainly due to the ongoing need for legal services (BLS).

What is the best way to become an environmental lawyer?

Pre-law undergraduate education is your first step towards becoming an environmental lawyer. Contrary to popular belief, an undergraduate degree in science is not necessary in order to become an environmental lawyer. Related fields such as government relations, public policy and real estate law are all beneficial to environmental lawyers. Business courses can also help lawyers of all specialties, including environmental lawyers.

What is the job description of an environmental lawyer?

Job duties and skills required for environmental lawyers are broad and may include: Drafting legislation for environmental law. Lobbying elected officials. Advising policymakers at all levels of government.

What is an environmental lawyer?

An environmental lawyer is responsible for understanding the many, varied, and ever-changing laws and regulations pertaining to our environment. They represent a wide range of clients in environmental case law and legislation.

What is the ABA certification?

The American Bar Association (ABA) provides a listing of certificate programs if you are interested in choosing a school that offers certification in environmental law. Pick from the links below, depending on your education level that best describes your situation: Pre-law Undergraduate Programs.

How To Become an Environmental Lawyer

An environmental lawyer can spend around 7 years in school before obtaining the proper qualifications to practice law. A career in this field requires a bachelor’s degree in a related subject, followed by 3 years of law school. A law school graduate must then successfully complete the state bar exam for the state where they will be practicing law.

Environmental Lawyer Salary Data

We’ve provided you the following to learn more about this career. The salary and growth data on this page comes from recently published Bureau of Labor Statistics data while the recommendations and editorial content are based on our research.

Programs and Degrees

Here are the most common degrees for becoming an Environmental Lawyer. a is usually recommended and specifically a degree or coursework that prepares you for the particular field, see below.

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What is the closest thing to law school?

Political Science. Of all majors, this may be the closest to a "law school" curriculum as you can get. In this major, you'll study political systems, public policy, international relations and the relationship between government, the law, and individual rights, among other things.

What is an economics major?

Not only are economics majors trained to think logically and analytically, but economic policies and procedures, as well as how resources are distributed and managed, are topics closely connected to the legal issues you'll encounter as a lawyer.

What do philosophy majors study?

Philosophy majors delve deep into the study of logic, ethics, and morality —areas of thought that also happen to be the cornerstones of law. You'll debate with classmates, present arguments and do a lot of research to support your case, which is not all that different from what lawyers do to prepare for court.

What do history majors learn?

From a practical standpoint, history majors are also tasked with lots of research and writing and must learn to draw conclusions based on historical documents, a great precursor to the work you'll do in law school.

Is business a good major?

A business major is a good option for those who plan to go into corporate law. That said, be sure to supplement business fundamentals with humanities and liberal arts electives so you can train your analytical and critical thinking muscles, as well as practice research and writing, too.

Does it matter what you study as an undergraduate?

If you have your heart set on landing a legal gig, it's important to know that it doesn't necessarily matter what you study as an undergraduate. This is truly a profession suited to those coming from vast educational backgrounds.

Is Discover Student Loans affiliated with LSAT?

LSAT is a registered trademark of the Law School Admission Council, Inc., and is not affiliated with Discover Student Loans.

Why do lawyers need an English major?

The English major is a very popular major for law school because of its immediately obvious benefits: advanced reading comprehension and persuasive writing skills. Students of the English major study dense and complex literature and are then required to process the information, make connections and create organized analytical arguments and defend positions. In this light, the critical thinking skills required of English majors mirror the skills required by law students. Strong reading and writing skills are required by all lawyers, so the English major is a no-brainer when it comes to selecting a major for law school.

What are the skills required for an English major?

In this light, the critical thinking skills required of English majors mirror the skills required by law students.

What is the LSAT test?

The LSAT tests for critical thinking skills rather than subject matter expertise. Law schools look for candidates with abstract thinking skills, the ability to interpret written texts, and high reading comprehension. They want candidates that have fine reasoning abilities, the ability to think logically. Notice how all majors have students that ...

What is psychology major?

Through the psychology major’s coursework, students develop a solid understanding of how people can make correct or incorrect judgments that can lead to things like stereotyping, prejudice, or discrimination. Psychology courses also teach students how to network and prepare for negotiations.

What is the study of human behavior and the mental processes that fuel how people interact with each other and the world around them

Psychology is the study of human behavior and the mental processes that fuel how people interact with each other and the world around them. Since law is a system designed to govern human behavior, psychology can help lawmakers understand what kind of laws will have positive effects on society.

Why is sociology a good major?

Sociology is a great major for potential law students because it studies the big picture of society. It looks at the social issues we face in our society like poverty, economic justice, racial discrimination, and LGBT rights. Sociology looks at the way the law can help, and how to develop solutions to fight inequality. In this light, sociology is a great area of focus for students that hope to one day end up using the law to affect public policy.

What is political science?

Political science is the study of government systems, political behavior, and how the judicial system works. This is where a political science degree shows its advantage in law school. Students in this field often have a better understanding of how laws are created and executed as well as the history behind them.