Resume

Environmental Lawyer Resume Example & Writing Guide

Use this Environmental Lawyer resume example and guide to improve your career and write a powerful resume that will separate you from the competition.

Environmental law is a fast-growing field with plenty of opportunity for those who want to make a difference. Environmental lawyers help protect the planet by researching, drafting, and litigating environmental regulations. They work with scientists, engineers, and other experts to identify and address environmental issues like pollution, endangered species protection, fracking, and climate change.

If you love being outdoors and have a passion for protecting the environment, you might want to consider becoming an environmental lawyer. Here are some tips plus an example resume to help you write your own stellar environmental lawyer resume that hiring managers will love.

David Moore
Chicago, IL | (123) 456-7891 | [email protected]
Summary

Environmental lawyer with a decade of experience in the field. Proven ability to develop and implement creative solutions to complex legal and regulatory challenges. Driven by a passion for justice and a dedication to protecting the environment.

Education
Northwestern University School of Law Jun '10
J.D.
Brown University Jun '06
B.A. in Environmental Studies
Experience
Company A, Environmental Lawyer Jan '17 – Current
  • Drafted and reviewed environmental due diligence memoranda, including the application of CERCLA Section 101(40)(A) to determine whether a release or threatened release occurred at a facility;
  • Conducted site visits for clients in connection with environmental due diligence reviews;
  • Reviewed and analyzed complex environmental data (e.g., groundwater modeling results);
  • Assisted clients with negotiating and drafting transactional documents related to real estate transactions that may have an impact on potential environmental liabilities;
  • Provided advice regarding state regulatory requirements applicable to specific business activities, such as air quality regulations under Title V of the Clean Air Act, hazardous waste regulations under RCRA, etc.;
Company B, Environmental Lawyer Jan '12 – Dec '16
  • Assisted in the negotiation of a settlement agreement with an industrial waste company that resulted in $1M+ in cost savings for clients
  • Conducted legal research and drafted documents related to environmental litigation, including motions, briefs, pleadings and discovery requests
  • Prepared client-facing written materials such as reports, white papers and articles on current issues affecting the environment
  • Collaborated with government agencies (e.g., EPA) on enforcement actions against polluters
  • Represented clients before state administrative boards and courts of law
Company C, Environmental Compliance Coordinator Jan '09 – Dec '11
  • Supported the company’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiative by leading the implementation of energy conservation projects in multiple facilities, with a total savings of $1.6M annually and reduced CO2 emissions by over 2K tons per year.
  • Managed team responsible for EHS auditing at all sites to ensure compliance with international quality standards such as OHSAS 18001, ISO 14001 and AS9100 across five continents.
  • Developed and implemented Environmental Management System used to track environmental data related to water usage and waste management systems, resulting in an improvement from non-compliant at some locations to achieving excellence recognition levels in less than two years.
Certifications
  • Juris Doctorate
  • Certified Environmental Law Specialist
Skills

Industry Knowledge: Environmental Law, Environmental Policy, Air Quality, Water Quality, Soil Quality, Corporate Liability
Technical Skills: Microsoft Office Suite, Legal Research
Soft Skills: Communication, Teamwork, Problem Solving, Public Speaking, Critical Thinking

How to Write an Environmental Lawyer Resume

Here’s how to write an environmental lawyer resume of your own.

Write Compelling Bullet Points

Bullet points are the most important part of your resume because they’re the first thing recruiters will see. And since they’re so important, it’s crucial that you use them to your advantage by including specific details about your experience and accomplishments.

For example, rather than saying you “assisted in drafting legal documents,” you could say you “assisted in drafting legal documents for $10 million environmental lawsuit, resulting in favorable settlement for client.”

The second bullet point is much more specific and provides more detail about what you did and the outcome of your work.

Identify and Include Relevant Keywords

When you apply for an environmental lawyer role, your resume is likely to go through an applicant tracking system (ATS). This system will scan your resume for certain keywords related to the job opening. If your resume doesn’t have enough of the right terms, your application might not make it past the initial screening process.

One way to make sure your resume includes the right keywords is to read through the job posting and take note of the terms and skills that are mentioned. Then, make sure to include those same terms on your resume. Here are some common environmental law keywords to get you started:

  • Environmental Law
  • Environmental Litigation
  • Environmental Compliance
  • Environmental Impact Assessment
  • Environmental Policy
  • Environmental Studies
  • Environmental Regulations
  • Environmental Consulting
  • Environmental Management Systems
  • Environmental Impact Assessments
  • Environmental Awareness
  • Water Law
  • Sustainability
  • Corporate Social Responsibility
  • Natural Resources
  • Environmental Issues
  • Water Quality
  • EIA
  • Mining
  • Aquatic Ecology
  • Environmental Assessment
  • Environmental Impact Statements
  • Hazardous Waste
  • Remediation
  • Superfund
  • Legal Writing
  • Legal Research
  • Civil Litigation
  • Negotiation
  • Litigation

Showcase Your Technical Skills

As an environmental lawyer, you need to be proficient in a variety of software programs and systems in order to conduct your research and communicate with other members of the legal team. Programs like Westlaw, LexisNexis, and PACER are essential for conducting legal research. Additionally, many environmental lawyers use Microsoft Office Suite programs like Excel and Word to create presentations and drafts of legal documents. familiarity with environmental law software programs is also beneficial.

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