Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why does environmental law = pipe dream?

Because you either have to fight for a tiny percentage of jobs that actually are protecting the environment, for almost no pay OR you end up working for a huge corporation and using your background to help them legally destroy the environment. It's not a pretty picture.

+1

Environmental law is not what it seems.

Get to dedicate your life to a company like this - http://www.royalfume.com/aboutus/the-royal-family.html

To try to do end runs around EPA laws to help family business, like this was to get an exemption to use methyl bromide to fumigate pine before export. Because it is considered an ozone-depleting substance, methyl bromide was phased out by the Environmental Protection Agency in 2005, except for allowable “critical use exemptions” – cases in which there are no technically and economically feasible alternatives or substitutes available that are acceptable from the standpoint of environment and public health, according to the EPA.

Of course our India friends have no problem using methyl bromide at -> http://www.fumigationindia.com/

so you get to help corporations screw the environment for the rest of your life and get paid big bucks and work long hours.

Anonymous wrote:I want to go to law school. I am a few years out of undergrad and have been working in a law firm since graduating. A few members of my family have recently (generously) offered to fully pay in-state tuition for all 3 years. The biggest gripe I hear from law school grads is not being able to pay off their loans - I wouldn't have this issue. Should I finally get my ass in gear and seriously get ready to apply for fall 2015?

Of course. Fantastic opportunity.

I don't think anyone cares about top-ten public schools. The focus is on overall ranking (so in your case the top 25 remark). I went to a law school in the high teens and had many job offers BUT that was a decade ago and I was in the top 10% of my class.

Things are much more competitive now. I switched from big law firm to federal govnt and there were 500 applications for my job. We don't have many openings because of the budget and when we do we have tons of applications. Just letting you know that it's really hard out there right now, even in the government, which used to be easier to get into.

That said, if environmental law is your passion (or you think it is - you might change your tune once you actually start studying), and you will have no debt, you can try it out and see what you think. I would suggest many, many internships and summer positions while in law school to try to set the groundwork for a job. I think people are just trying to warn you about how difficult the market is.

Anonymous wrote:People are haters. I think this sounds like a no brainer. Go for it. Having been looking for atty jobs in ither parts if the country, I can attest that there's a growing need for environmental lawyers, and the government is hiring them all over the place.

Are you an admissions director for a TTT?

You are in a unique situation due to a very generous offer. You have the opportunity to continue your education for personal enrichment vs. high salary requirements. Many people would love to be in your place. Good luck.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:People are haters. I think this sounds like a no brainer. Go for it. Having been looking for atty jobs in ither parts if the country, I can attest that there's a growing need for environmental lawyers, and the government is hiring them all over the place.

What? This is just not true.

+ 1000. over 60,000 unemployed lawyers in America. Go read some of the blogs and legal publications. If you don't go to a top tier law school, forget it. There are no jobs and the industry is in tumult while changing from the tradition associate/partner model to more efficient operations.

OP here. Is top 10 public/top 25 overall not top tier? Forgive me if I'm wrong. I don't obsessively study rankings because the program (ability to do clinic and/or law review in my desired field) and location/cost (public, in-state, in my parents' hometown) is more important to me than rankings.

Further, yes, there are environmental law firms that follow the traditional associate/partner model (and ones who aren't just corporate defense lawyers!), but there are many more environmental lawyers doing great work in the public interest and for the environment (non-profits, local, state and federal governments, environmentally friendly or renewable energy companies, etc. I could go on) where that model isn't even a thought. It's not something I aim for anyway. I won't need and don't want a high-paying hotshot Biglaw job just to pay off my massive loans.

Noooooooooooooooooo! Go to med school instead. We need more qualified doctors in this country.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:People are haters. I think this sounds like a no brainer. Go for it. Having been looking for atty jobs in ither parts if the country, I can attest that there's a growing need for environmental lawyers, and the government is hiring them all over the place.

What? This is just not true.

+ 1000. over 60,000 unemployed lawyers in America. Go read some of the blogs and legal publications. If you don't go to a top tier law school, forget it. There are no jobs and the industry is in tumult while changing from the tradition associate/partner model to more efficient operations.

No. You could spend that three years and that money pursuing a more profitable, useful, fulfilling career.

Nursing, engineering, art, anything....

Anonymous wrote:simple decision tree regarding law school:

Accepted into YLS, SLS, HLS = Go

Accepted into CCN with 50%+ scholly = Go

Accepted into MVPB with 75%+ scholly = Go

accepted anywhere else unless it is a regional leader AND you get massive scholly = don't go

OP here. What is CCN and MVPB?

The school is neither Michigan nor UVA. It is a top 10 public and top 25 overall.

Everyone I know who does environmental law does compliance work for corporations. You're not protecting the environment, you're protecting the corporations.

OP could apply for JAG corps--environment jobs opening up in military.

Anonymous wrote:People are haters. I think this sounds like a no brainer. Go for it. Having been looking for atty jobs in ither parts if the country, I can attest that there's a growing need for environmental lawyers, and the government is hiring them all over the place.

What? This is just not true.

People are haters. I think this sounds like a no brainer. Go for it. Having been looking for atty jobs in ither parts if the country, I can attest that there's a growing need for environmental lawyers, and the government is hiring them all over the place.

Environmental law means protecting corporations from people trying to save the environment. Do a little research first, as you sound completely unemployable.