Environmental law is a dynamic field that evolves rapidly with new challenges as they emerge but also against the backdrop of the politics of state and federal administrations. Regulatory focus shifts from administration to administration and crisis to crisis, creating a challenging area of law for those who practice it.

 Our guest, David Mandelbaum, is a shareholder with the firm of Greenberg Traurig and has practiced environmental law since 1984. He’s seen a lot, from focusing on solid waste landfills decades ago to today’s challenges created by a changing climate. 

Legal procedures vary from state to state in addition to how the federal government oversees environmental issues, challenging practitioners to understand the law and the issues and the procedural process. Laws and statutes are in constant flux.

For newer lawyers, Mandelbaum says the constant changes in the field of environmental law level the playing field between experienced attorneys and those getting out of law school. Changes come so fast that a new lawyer who has studied the latest regulations and cases can be on equal footing with someone who has practiced in the field for decades. In this field, it’s never “the way we’ve always done it.”

If you’ve ever considered a career in environmental law, this discussion may open your eyes to new opportunities.

Resources:

“SEC Adopts Rules to Enhance and Standardize Climate-Related Disclosures for Investors,” SEC.gov

Superfunds and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

“EPA Imposes First National Limits On 'Forever Chemicals' In Drinking Water,” NBC news

Pennsylvania Environmental Law Forum 2024

Different Career Paths in Environmental Law

Nurturing the Future of Animal Law

American Bar Association on Environment, Energy, and Resources

American Bar Association

American Bar Association Young Lawyers Division

Guest Evita Nwosu-Sylvester focuses on the civil rights and fair lending needs of middle- to low-income earners in their quest for affordable housing. She works in multifamily fair lending operations at Freddie Mac (the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corp.).

But Nwosu-Sylvester is also a fighter for rights, fair hiring needs, and workplace accommodation for those embracing disabilities.

Nwosu-Sylvester followed a nontraditional path to her legal career. She earned her undergraduate degree in psychology with the goal of pursuing that field, focusing on helping people with disabilities. Then, the idea of putting a law degree to work in the field of disability and civil rights attracted her. Throughout her education, she worked to embrace her own disability – cerebral palsy – and learn how to live independently while making a difference.

In her legal career, Nwosu-Sylvester shows organizations that people with disabilities are capable, valuable contributors. Accommodation doesn’t have to be insurmountable or expensive, and Nwosu-Sylvester and her team regularly make themselves available to help organizations understand and develop neurodiversity policies and programs.

RESOURCES:

U.S. Department of Labor Job Accommodation Network (JAN)

ABA Commission on Disability Rights

The American Association of People With Disabilities

American Bar Association

American Bar Association Young Lawyers Division

Guest Michael Kippins is a Boston-based civil rights attorney with Lawyers For Civil Rights. Driven by a desire to advocate for those too often left without robust representation, Kippins made the courageous jump from a big law setting to his civil rights practice and hasn’t looked back.

In one of his high-profile cases, Kippins is challenging what the suit describes as Harvard University’s system of admission bias toward “legacy” students and the harm that practice poses to communities, including first-generation students and students of color. 

During the episode, Kippins discusses the differences between civil rights law and his previous role in big law. From working with community groups to prioritizing public awareness of his cases, the range of skills required as a civil rights attorney is diverse and unique to the practice.

A career in civil rights litigation can be a labor of love and fulfill a passion. Hear how the work civil rights attorneys does make a difference in people’s lives. If you’ve been interested in pro bono work, if you’ve found something missing in another area of law, or if you’re simply curious about civil rights law, this is an episode you can’t miss.

Christina Gregg served as the associate producer on this episode of Young Lawyer Rising.

Resources:

Why I Became a Civil Rights Attorney 

ABA Civil Rights and Social Justice Section

Lawyers For Civil Rights

Lawyers For Civil Rights, Facebook  

Lawyers For Civil Rights, Email: [email protected]

Massachusetts Black Lawyers Association

Boys & Girls Club of Boston

Newsweek, “Harvard Faces Another Legal Fight Over Its Admissions”

Reuters, “Harvard 'Legacy' Policy Challenged On Heels Of Affirmative Action Ruling”

SXSW Educational Seminar Week

American Bar Association

American Bar Association Young Lawyers Division

Happy New Year, and what a year that was. Host Montana Funk sits down with Tamara Nash, chair of the American Bar Association Young Lawyers Division, to review 2023 and share stories from listeners about the past year.

For listeners, it was a year of lessons learned. Learning how to separate work and life is difficult, but in one case, a young lawyer reported that an unexpected health issue forced her to learn what life’s about and that it’s OK to ask for help. Hear how she learned that being a good lawyer means being a healthy lawyer. Take care of yourself.

In another letter, a listener shares how, like our host, they moved to the United States and took on a career in law. Leaning on the resources of the American Bar Association and the state bar has proven crucial to success in a challenging field.

And it was a year of “back to normal” after those crazy COVID years. For young lawyers who worked through the pandemic, 2023 was a time to catch up on the training and mentoring they missed. Hear how a senior lawyer recognized that gap and redoubled efforts to help younger attorneys. Rebuild connections, professional and personal.

Young Lawyer Rising is more than a podcast; it’s a community. Draw inspiration from how others overcame life’s bumps during the past year. Embrace your professional colleagues and know that you’re never alone. Support is all around you.

Blair Hlinka served as the associate producer on this episode of Young Lawyer Rising.

Resources:

Thinking Like a Lawyer to Navigate the Challenges of Long COVID

Pushing Yourself Too Hard? Your Health and Wellness Matters

How to Make Your Law Firm See the Benefits of Bar Involvement

5 Tips for Mentoring and Managing Legal Interns

The Importance of Mentorship and Sponsorship in the Legal Profession

University of South Dakota Knudson School of Law

American Bar Association

American Bar Association Young Lawyers Division

It’s been said there are only two things in life that are certain: death and taxes. Guest Anthony DeRiso can help with one of them. He’s a tax attorney.

It may sound like a daunting career path, but it really isn’t, DeRiso says. It’s about helping people chart a course to a desired outcome. Being a transactional tax attorney makes you the “coach,” drawing up plans as teams of attorneys deal with contractual issues. Then, there are opportunities to help clients untangle IRS-related civil and criminal matters. And there are even opportunities to serve charitable, tax-exempt organizations.

From individual clients to corporations to charities, it’s about solving puzzles and finding solutions.

If you’ve never considered tax law as a specialty, what you hear from DeRiso might surprise you. Get some tips on how to get started, whether you’re in law school now or are already practicing.

Carneil Wilson served as the associate producer on this episode of Young Lawyer Rising.

RESOURCES:

United States Tax Court circuit schedule

Have You Considered a Career in Tax Law?

Do You Need Specialized Training to Practice Tax Law?

The Advanced Degrees and Certifications That Help New Lawyers Move Their Careers Forward

Tax Dispute Survival Guide

American Bar Association Section of Taxation

American Bar Association

American Bar Association Young Lawyers Division

Professor Tony Ghiotto went from the battlefield to the classroom. He started his legal career in the Air Force Judge Advocate General Corps, and he explains how his career took him from Afghanistan to a law school classroom. 

Saddled with student debt, and after an unexpected meeting with a JAG representative, Ghiotto found himself in the Air Force. Within his first two weeks as a full member of the JAG, he was in the courtroom trying a case. 

There were pros and cons. Struggles included feeling overwhelmed and making mistakes early on, but the pros were getting a lot of courtroom experience in a hurry and learning on the job. From practicing law in a tent in Afghanistan to a boardroom in Washington, DC, “It made me grow up and gave me some direction,” Ghiotto says.

Thanks to the JAG, he practiced in multiple fields. One of his oddest cases involved a low-flying jet causing a cow to give birth prematurely. His criminal cases ranged from traffic tickets to reviewing wartime procedures and civilian casualties.

If you’ve ever considered starting a legal career in the military, this is a don’t-miss episode. (And, bonus, Ghiotto is open to mentoring any young lawyer considering a JAG career. Drop him a note). 

Stephen C. Dinkel served as the associate producer on this episode of Young Lawyer Rising.

Resources:

Why Should You Become a JAG Officer?

Army JAG Careers Provide Financial Incentives for Those Interested in Foregoing the Traditional Path

The Army Judge Advocate General’s Funded Legal Education Program

American Bar Association

American Bar Association Young Lawyers Division

Air Force Judge Advocate General Corps

JAG School 

University of Illinois College of Law

Is practicing law all dusting off established precedents and applying old case law? No way. Guest Jessica Gonzalez shares how she broke free, followed her passions, and found herself a pioneer in the wildly evolving arena of cannabis law.

Gonzalez started in the usual practice of law for a firm after graduating. Contracts, paperwork, and a less-than-satisfying experience. Then, she started looking at the emerging field of cannabis law. Trademark protections, navigating vague state regulations, labeling, packaging, and CBD guidelines all need a lawyer’s touch. And few lawyers were serving the industry, one of the fastest-growing sectors worldwide.

Hear how Gonzalez followed her dreams, cultivated her personal brand, and forged ahead into an exciting and unknown world. She shares tips for getting established as a thought leader and building a recognizable brand as she created a consultancy business and educational programs and began teaching cannabis issues at the graduate level.

Looking for a career in an emerging area of the law and “building the airplane as you fly?” Be part of legal history and set the precedents instead of following them. This is a fast-paced, creative part of the legal world that’s just getting started.

Christina Gregg served as the associate producer on this episode of Young Lawyer Rising.

Resources: 

Massachusetts Cannabis Control Commission

American Bar Association

American Bar Association Young Lawyers Division

New Jersey Business Action Center

“New Jersey Cannabis Advocate Named As Consultant To Build No-Cost Cannabis Technical Assistance Program,” New Jersey state news release

The ABA Law Student Podcast: A Career in Cannabis Law with Jerome Crawford 

ABA Career Center Career Choice Webinar on Cannabis Law

Host Montana Funk (herself a Canadian living and working in the United States) talks with immigration lawyer Stephanie Baez about the many facets of immigration law—a field that has been in the public eye a lot recently.

Immigration law covers an array of niches, including employment and business immigration, student visas, and removal defense—fighting for desperate clients against deportation. Cases range from emotional courtroom litigation to overcoming mountains of paperwork. The field can be rewarding and plays an enormous role in the country’s history and the lives of families today. It is advocacy in the truest sense of the word.

The field offers opportunities to serve private, public, and nonprofit interests. Young lawyers could find themselves helping large corporations to attract workers from other countries or working for a nonprofit helping immigrants apply for asylum as protection against dangers in their home countries.

Baez describes how she found her way from law school to the fascinating and vital field of immigration law.

Guest References: 

American Bar Association Commission On Immigration, Website

American Bar Association Commission On Immigration, LinkedIn

American Bar Association Immigration Justice Project

San Diego Volunteer Lawyer Program

Additional Resources

Balancing Ethics and Zealous Advocacy for Undocumented Clients

In the Trenches: Representing Migrant and Seasonal Farmworkers

ABA Young Lawyers Division

Guest Alexandra Graves tells her story, and it’s unreal. Bad things happen to good people. She was experiencing headaches and vision issues as a 2L and discovered she had a brain tumor. She needed neurosurgery and had to withdraw from classes. Then she started over.

If you hit obstacles, and you will, you can overcome them. Life can throw you for a loop. You can fight back. You are not alone.

Graves’ story is an inspiring tale of pursuing dreams, no matter what. She took a step back and went back to law school. But while studying for the bar, her brain tumor came back, and she failed the exam. Anyone can fail because of medical issues or other distractions. Failing the bar, for whatever reason, hurts. But it’s not the end of the world, and you can regroup and pass if you don’t give up.

Through it all, Graves learned what’s important to her. She set her priorities (she loves spending life with her animals, especially her new baby donkey, and being close to her family). Do what you love and love what you do. Don’t sweat the small stuff (or even some of the big stuff). You got this.

Plus, an update on some big legal rulings: Andy Warhol, Prince, Fair Use, NIL rules (College athletes), and more.

If you’re getting started, or thinking about getting started, trying criminal trials, this episode is a gold mine. Learn from one of the most noted and experienced trial attorneys out there, guest Paul Mark Sandler, a longtime attorney, author, and lecturer. 

This is an opportunity to hear from one of the best. Lessons on ethics and insider courtroom tips. Learn about your relationship with the jury, the judge, and opposing counsel. How to question witnesses. How to prepare. You didn’t learn this in law school, but Sandler can cut the learning curve in just a half hour podcast. Hear what a criminal trial actually looks like, both in the courtroom and behind the scenes. You can learn this the hard way, or you can learn here from Sandler. 

If you want to be a great trial lawyer, you have to try cases. There’s no way around that. But you can avoid some basic mistakes. A trial is structured simply. But at each step, it’s all about the details.

Hear three key tips for new trial attorneys. And what about hiring a jury consultant? (spoiler, yes, do. Sandler learned this from Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall. You’ll want to hear this story.)

Resources:

American Bar Association

American Bar Association Young Lawyers Division

“The Art of Persuasion: Essays on Rhetoric in the Courtroom” by Paul Mark Sandler

“Boot Camp Trial Training Programs Committee,” American College of Trial Lawyers

Aristotle, “Rhetoric”

Mental health, wellness, and managing burnout made headlines during and after the pandemic. But what did we learn? Guest Richard Rivera, a highly successful partner at a Florida law firm, knows we should. Many of us work too much and too hard and push beyond reasonable limits.

Rivera knows firsthand. He was a fourth-year associate in a litigation focused firm, and he said yes to everything. Any new case, any new project, he was game. It was a matter of professional pride and rapid development. Then he noticed the stress was taking a physical toll on his body resulting in itchy and yellowing skin, fatigue, and sleepless nights. He figured eventually things would slow down and these conditions would pass. Of course, neither happened. A doctor eventually found the constant stress had taken an enormous toll on his body. 

Set boundaries: a time you won’t go to the office before or stay after; take at least one day off – really off – during the week. You only have so much capacity, and when you exceed that, you damage yourself and you can harm your clients and your firm with errors due to exhaustion. If you’re not good to yourself, you’ll be no good to anyone. Take a moment to listen to this critically important episode.  

By Rich Rivera

• My Experience with Organ Transplantation

Additional Resources

• How Sleep Affects Your Health
• How Lawyers Can Manage Stress and Cortisol Levels
• How to Talk about Mental Health with Your Employer
• ABA Young Lawyers Division
• ABA Commission on Lawyer Assistance Programs