Environmental Attorneys

Environmental law attorneys, as defined by FindLaw.com, “handle cases involving the protection of natural resources, land and wildlife; regulation of harmful emissions into air and water; and monitoring of commercial and industrial activities for their impact on the environment. Environmental law attorneys also advise businesses on compliance with federal and state environmental laws.”

Many large environmental organizations have their own environmental attorney (or attorneys) on staff, while smaller nonprofits and community watchdog groups often hire an attorney to help them research and oppose an environmentally unsound proposal. For example, a community environmental group trying to stop a freeway project would retain an attorney to research the land use laws and current environmental legislation, and to represent them in the event of a conflict. Many law firms have attorneys who specialize in environmental law.