Acing Environmental Law Firm Interviews: Preparation and Tips

Apr 10, 2024

Written By Lewis Ogg

Environmental Law is a field growing in prominence within the legal sector. It is largely centred upon regulatory compliance with environmental legislation. It has proven to be an immensely appealing area of law as a new, more environmentally conscious generation of lawyers seeks to specialise in legal practice. Due to the high demand for positions within environmental law and the often highly tailored nature of firms focused on this type of law, preparation prior to an interview is fundamental to understanding both the firm and the nature of its work. In this article, we will guide you through preparation tips for acing your environmental law firm interviews.

Understanding Environmental Law Firms

Environmental law is a multi-faceted area which covers a range of sub-fields, including pollution control, climate change, natural resource management, and land use planning.

Because of the overlapping nature of these environmental fields with other areas, such as real estate and energy practice, full-service law firms have an in-built competitive advantage with the likes of Burges Salmon, DLA Piper, Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner, Evershed Sutherland, and CMS being just a handful of such firms with a strong environmental showing.

There are a number of emerging issues within the Environmental Law field that are closely related to broader political issues, with environmental projects like Ultra-Low-Emissions Zones and the Green Belt being hotly contested.

On environmental rulings, it is important to consider the recent landmark cases of the CJEU, which, while no longer binding, are still ‘highly persuasive’ within UK courts. For those interested in learning more about recent developments on the continent, the EU Biomass Case, The People’s Climate Case, and the ‘Stichting Varkens in Nood’ Case are good places to start.

Preparing for the Interview

Thoroughly researching the firm prior to an interview is integral to a successful interview. When researching, searching the firm’s website to see how they talk about themselves, reading recent news articles, and networking with current or former employees are great ways to gain insights to construct an accurate image of the firm.

Part of this research should also be to understand the role of environmental lawyers within the firm. Typically, such roles involve advising clients on compliance matters, representing them in regulatory proceedings, and negotiating agreements. Within this role, it is also important to understand the extent to which environmental lawyers are independent from other practice areas in the firm.

Because of the specific nature of environmental law, it is essential that your CV and cover letter are appropriately tailored to the opportunity, given what you have established about the role from your research. Highlighting relevant coursework, internships, volunteer work, and other related experiences can be useful ways to demonstrate your commitment to environmental law and your suitability for the role.

Navigating Common Interview Questions

Many candidates find communicating their passion for a subject difficult in an interview setting. The easiest way to avoid this situation is through constant reinforcement with examples, whether they are your own experiences, the firm’s cases, or developments in the field; they all help the interview build a clear picture of your interest and understanding of the industry.

While candidates usually have examples of their own experiences and the firm’s cases on hand, they often neglect to familiarise themselves with key statutes, regulations, case law. With an area as focused as environmental law, this base familiarity and the ability to discuss it coherently are foundational to demonstrating understanding in an interview.

For example, a scenario-based interview question may be: You have been approached by a Petrochemical company looking to build a large refinery on a greenfield site close to a nearby small town; advise on what legal issues the company can expect to encounter during the construction and what requirements it will have to meet to proceed.

When approaching a question like this, the most important element is to demonstrate that you have a thoughtful and structured thought process, so try breaking each element down in turn.

What is the relevance of it being a greenfield site? What requirements will a chemical-producing factory have to meet? Where will waste from the factory go? Are there restrictions on what materials can be used in construction? What is the relevance of their being a nearby town to construction and operations?

Within these questions, you should be looking to demonstrate a combination of legal, commercial, and ethical considerations.

Showcasing Your Skills and Experience

Academics are an essential starting point for highlighting your suitability for a role, so actively emphasise any relevant coursework, research projects, publications, or awards related to environmental law or sustainability. This should be coupled with suitable attention to your practical experience through discussing any internships, externships, summer positions or pro-bono work you have completed in the environmental law field.

While hard skills and experiences are important, it is also vital that you highlight your interpersonal skills gained during these experiences. Consider when you have worked effectively in interdisciplinary teams or collaborated with clients, government agencies, and community stakeholders.

Demonstrating Cultural Fit and Career Goals

Interviewers, especially in more specialised practice areas like environmental law, are looking for individuals who are aligned with the ethos of the firm and have long-term aspirations of working in the field. It is, therefore, important to properly articulate your reasons for wanting to join the firm and the field, in conjunction with your long-term career aspirations.

When trying to convey the correct impression in a given interview, research will be your best friend. Try researching the firm’s mission statement, diversity initiatives, and pro-bono work; understanding these elements of the firm culture will help you demonstrate your alignment with these values.

Final Preparation Tips

As with all things, interviews become easier with practice, so where possible, conducting mock interviews with peers, mentors, or career advisors can provide invaluable experience and constructive feedback on communication skills.

Part of this practice is anticipating the questions you may be asked, consider pre-preparing answers to common interview questions and receiving response feedback to create a bank of refined answers.

In preparation, it is also worth taking the time to review key environmental law concepts, recent case law developments, and current events related to environmental law issues so that you can go into the interview confident and informed.

Conclusion

Preparation is an unavoidable component of a successful interview, whether it is to better understand the field of environmental law or the firm that you are applying for or to give depth to your communication skills. These are deeply competitive opportunities, so do not underestimate the opportunity you have been given in getting to the interview stage.

Additionally, remember that the best way to remain prepared for these opportunities is through continued learning. To continue your learning, try attending conferences, joining professional associations, or pursuing advanced degrees or certifications. These opportunities will also have the added benefit of enhancing your expertise and marketability in the field.

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