what type of law classes for pre law to become environmental lawyer

by Elyse Stamm 5 min read

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.

Full Answer

Should I take environmental law courses at Law School?

5. Law schools without a formal program can still provide high-quality courses. 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.

What qualifications do you need to be an environmental lawyer?

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.

Which pre-law majors are best for law school preparation?

Popular pre-law majors that are great preparation for law school include philosophy/classics, economics, political science, history, English, and engineering. What Are the Most Popular Majors of Law School Applicants?

What classes should I take to prepare for Law School?

Preparing for law school in college doesn't mean that you should only take classes about the legal system. Law schools would rather you take challenging courses that will help you improve your analytical skills and reading comprehension.

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.

What do you study in environmental law?

While there is not a specific major that's required to become an environmental lawyer, pursuing majors such as political science, public policy or environmental studies are all excellent options. It's common for undergraduate programs to have pre-determined class requirements.

What are the types of skills needed for environmental lawyer?

They focus on environmental rights and laws and may work on projects relating to renewable energy, sustainability, and climate change. A successful environmental lawyer will have many skills including research, analysis, negotiation, and both written and verbal communication.

Is environmental law a good career?

Environmental law can be an excellent career, especially for those who have prior experience in a regulated industry, regulatory body or advocacy group.

How long does it take to study environmental law?

Duration The duration of the programme will in general be four semesters (2 years) but may be completed within two semesters (1 year) where possible, subject to fulfilment of all the requirements for the degree and payment of the full amount prescribed for the LLM degree.

Can I study environmental law?

Study within an environmental law degree may include legal foundations, conservation, development regulation, and international law. Common careers pursued upon graduation include resource management, environmental planning, and policy setting for conservation and related areas.

Is environmental law boring?

Although much of the scholarship in environmental law has tried to find a master vocabulary in cost-benefit analysis, the law itself has an inconsistent, even erratic relation to economic balancing. Not to put too fine a point on it, environmental law is often boring.

Where do environmental lawyers make the most money?

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

What exactly 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 land subject to native title and other public land. Environment laws are a large and complex specialty within the practice of law.

Are environmental lawyers rich?

A 2009 income survey by the State Bar of Texas, the most recent available, found that full-time attorneys in private practice earned $120,324 a year. For-profit corporate attorneys earned $156,839 a year. And nonprofit attorneys, like those working for environmental groups, earned $83,000 annually.

What kind of lawyer makes the most money?

Some of the highest-paid lawyers are:Medical 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.

What are the different environmental laws?

The Bureau Is Mandated To Implement On A Nationwide Scale The Six (6) Important Environmental Laws To Wit:Environmental Impact Assessment Law (PD 1586)Toxic Substances And Hazardous Waste Management Act (RA 6969)Clean Air Act Of 1999 (RA 8749)Ecological Solid Waste Management Act (RA 9003)Clean Water Act (RA 9275)More items...•

Why do we study environmental law?

Environmental law and legislation are central in protecting us humans as well as the different plants and animals in the greater ecosystem that we exist in. Environmental law ensures that individuals, governments and cooperates do not cause harm to the environment or its ecosystems.

Why you should study environmental law?

Climate and environmental law forms one of the most rapidly expanding areas of specialisation in the law. It examines legal issues arising from the protection of natural resources, prevention of pollution and planning of urban development and infrastructure.

Is environmental law boring?

Although much of the scholarship in environmental law has tried to find a master vocabulary in cost-benefit analysis, the law itself has an inconsistent, even erratic relation to economic balancing. Not to put too fine a point on it, environmental law is often boring.

Why studying environmental law is important?

Legal study of environmental issues not only provides insight into how societies respond to environmental problems, but also how our lives are structured and designed to accommodate environmental issues.

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 is Environmental Law?

According to Paul Boudreaux, Professor of Law at Stetson, “Environmental law is the law concerning pretty much everything around us, including human health, the air, the oil, the water, the plants, the animals.”

What is the Main Purpose of Environmental Law?

Environmental law prevents people from mistreating the environment and safeguards our natural resources, communities, and ecosystems. Without enacted environmental laws, people could freely pollute, contaminate, hunt, or delay action in the face of a disaster.

5 Key Environmental Law Pathways

Environmental Law’s core functions are to conserve, manage and protect Check out a few pathways for doing just that with an environmental law concentration:

What Does An Environmental Lawyer Do?

A range of things, according to Professor Royal Gardner, Director of the Institute of Biodiversity Law and Policy at Stetson “From government to in-house counsel to local law firms, or even for non-governmental or international organizations.”

How Do I Become An Environmental Lawyer?

A career in environmental law starts with your connection to the environment. Your desire to step up and create change for those around you, especially ones without a voice, like flora, fauna, and wildlife, can drive your pursuits as an environmental lawyer.

Help Save the World. Study At Stetson

Given that Florida is one of the most biodiverse states in the country, Stetson’s location helps distinguish our Environmental Law Certificate of Concentration as one of the best in the legal field.

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 ...

What is the most important thing a lawyer can do?

The most important thing you can do as a lawyer is: You can right very big power imbalances. Law is a tremendous power equalizer. Every day, Davids beat Goliaths in court—even though they don’t in the economic marketplace, and they don’t in a gerrymandered and corrupted political space.

Why is it common to have environmental and consumer protection combined?

If you work at a county counsel's office, for instance, it’s common to have environmental and consumer protection combined, because oftentimes, companies that have bad environmental practices are also defrauding their customers.

Is environmental law federal or state?

But most of environmental law practice is state and local. The laws you are going to be enforcing, or advising clients to comply with, are state and local. There will be federal ones that are relevant. But there’s so much more below the federal level. That’s something that should actually give people optimism.

What majors do prelaws have?

Some of the most popular majors for pre-law students are political science, psychology, and history. That said, students can choose any undergraduate major and apply to law school. You could major in something that seems totally irrelevant, like music or the visual arts, and still become a lawyer! In fact majoring in a less-traditional discipline ...

What are the liberal arts and humanities courses?

Liberal arts and humanities courses, including English and history, will help you learn how to think critically, read efficiently, and write competently — skills that will be essential when you’re a lawyer. They’ll also give you experience reading and analyzing texts, another pivotal part of the law school curriculum.

Does Harvard Law School have STEM?

Harvard Law School actually encourages applications from all backgrounds, and states that STEM students “may wish to work in the field for a few years to garner practical experience in the sciences before studying the legal aspects that regulate such work.”.

What are the best pre-law majors for law school?

Popular pre-law majors that are great preparation for law school include philosophy/classics, economics, political science, history, English, and engineering.

What is a good pre-law program?

A good pre-law program should also give you an advantage when you enter law school. For example, law schools generally teach by using the Socratic Method, a style of teaching in which the professor asks questions and you learn through classroom discussion.

Why is a good GPA important in law school?

While many college students have a few semesters when they slack off or settle for mediocrity, you need to maintain a high GPA throughout your undergraduate years.

What is a pre-law major?

The term "pre-law" refers to any course of study by an undergraduate college student to prepare for law school. A few colleges have a specific pre-law major for those students who intend to go to law school, but you can major in any subject and still enter law school, as long as you successfully complete college and get a bachelor's degree.

Is 4.0 a good GPA for law school?

While your GPA is a critical component of your law school applications, a 4.0 in mechanical engineering is more impressive to a law school than a 4.0 in pre-law. Law schools tend to think it's not as challenging to get good grades in pre-law than in most other majors.

Do law schools admit well rounded students?

Law Schools Want to Admit Well-Rounded Classes. Law schools strive to admit students from a variety of backgrounds and majors. Believe it or not, math and science majors tend to have extremely high admission rates to law school.

Is pre-law a good major?

This ties back to our first point, that pre-law just isn't seen as a great major to have. Most colleges emphasize traditional academic subjects and don't offer many pre-professional majors like pre-law. They stress scholarship over job preparation, so most choose not to offer pre-law as a major.

What are the subjects that are considered to be traditional preparation for law school?

You may choose to major in subjects that are considered to be traditional preparation for law school, such as history, English, philosophy, political science, economics or business, or you may focus your undergraduate studies in areas as diverse as art, music, ...

What is the best pre-law class?

At the very least, you can keep these notes and PowerPoint presentations to use them as a refresher in the future. Business law is arguably the best pre-law class you can take, but courses on sales and contract law will also benefit you greatly.

What is the last suggested course?

The last suggested courses have to do with the US government itself. History is the suggested department, but these classes vary by university in terms of which department offers them. A class identifying how the government operates is fairly important to understand how laws are passed and the interactions between the Supreme Court and the other branches of government.

Do you need trial prep for a resume?

Furthermore, trial prep courses are often required and moot court or trial team are strong resume boosters. As a result, if speaking in front of a crowd isn’t your thing, you should probably get some practice as an undergrad.

Do undergrads have to be pre-law?

In order to feel fully “prepared” for the rigors ahead, many undergrads will declare themselves pre-law and try to customize their courses to get a jump start of the legal curriculum.