Environmental law has become the call for the day as more and more companies have now become concerned about the optimum usage of natural resources. It is the duty of the environmental law lawyers to see that the environmental laws are implemented properly.
For taking up a career in environmental law it calls for knowledge of laws pertaining to the state of natural resources, and protection given to endangered animals and plants. It is seen now each day that more and more companies are challenged by law for the deposition of hazardous wastes and polluting the river waters with waste. It is here that the environmental law lawyers step in. They advise the companies on what could be done and how the waste should be treated.
As a lawyer of environment law you will be well aware of the optimum utilization of the natural resources and a complete knowledge of the environment laws will be expected from you to guide the companies in treating the waste from the factories before it is released. It will also be expected that you guide them with the utilization of the natural resources which are very fast on the verge of extinction.
The academic qualifications required for taking up a law career in the environment vary and depend upon the law profession which has been chosen. For example, if you chose to become a paralegal it is enough if you have an associate's degree from a paralegal program which will take at most two years while if you chose to become a professional lawyer you must have a bachelor's degree from a university or a college and enroll in a program at an accredited law school. Lawyers must also pass the bar exam before they can get a license to practice their profession.
An environmental lawyer is involved with the hearings of those who do not comply with laws pertaining to the sustainability of the environment. So for taking up a law career in environment, one must be well aware of the administrative law, air pollution law, alternative dispute law, Conservation Law Foundation, and Environmental Economics.
Environmental laws are very complicated among all the laws. So it is necessary for the environmental lawyer to communicate effectively both with words and writings. He should be able to make people accept and be convinced with his point of view.
The openings in this field are very optimistic. Here it will be better to quote the government economists who anticipate the job opportunities in the government to increase manifold. But it will be fair to say that there will be a lot of competition here. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts that the growth rate of job opportunities in this field will be over 10% in the next decade. If you are not interested in government jobs you can very well apply to the private firms as they are sure to have many cases regarding this. You can also join the companies and represent them in their legal matters regarding the environment. You can also suggest the ways the waste should be treated or the natural resources used for optimum usage as you will have a better understanding over it.
Environmental lawyers can keep themselves updated about the changes in the laws and government regulations by enrolling in continuing education. It is a kind of education which is required by all the professionals after their completion of formal education. As we find that many laws are constantly being changed by the government as per the requirement of the day it is necessary for the lawyers to be updated then and there.
The salary of the environment law lawyers vary according to the field in which they represent. For an example I would like to cite the salary as declared by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics which is $108,090 for the federal government lawyers and that of the local government lawyers is $73,410.
With the global recession in sight and many firms on cutting their work force taking up a law career in environment sounds like a better option as it is still in the budding stage and is sure to grow in the coming years as environmental awareness is up-surging.
