From how we carry our groceries to the car to washing clothes on the cold cycle, even the smallest things in our daily lives has been affected by the ‘green movement.’ Environmental issues like the global warming and the oil spill are on everyone’s minds which has created a growing trend in the world of environmental law.
Legal minds of all ages and backgrounds are looking towards including environmental law to their skills. Although it is currently a growing field for lawyers, it is anything but new. Going as far back as the 1960s and 70s, you can begin to see the hallmarks of what is fundamentally environmental law with the passage of statutes that regulated land use and protected National Parks. And that was just the beginning. Today, the sector works to create statutes on a wide range of policy issues, including land protection and development, pollution control, and resource conservation and management.
Once considered a ‘niche’ practice area, environmental law has blossomed into a massive body of law that touches on many and various social issues. So, it is no wonder that this is such a vastly growing field when you think about the complexities of the industry and the various policy issues that are encompassed within environmental law. As attorneys enter the field, they quickly become involved in pressing issues that will have implications that reach all across the world. The excitement of dealing with policy creation that not only impacts environmental issues, but also affects foreign trade, global economics, and natural resources is now a constant draw among attorneys looking for diverse ways to effect positive change.
The ‘green movement’ has certainly paved the way for many attorneys to take the plunge into this exciting sector. The wave has brought about a change to the legal landscape, resulting in a drastic increase in opportunities within the field. As firms grow and branch out into other areas, it is unusual to not have at least one practitioner of environmental law. Some of these firms even employ entire departments to serve the needs of their clients.