It does not take a superhero with special powers to save the planet from environmental issues; sometimes these heroes come in the form of someone much more believable: an environmental law attorney. Environmental law has been around since the 1970s, ever since Congress began passing laws concerning the environment. Although a relatively new area of law, environmental attorneys play an important part in making sure that everyone is working together to keep our planet safe. Keep reading to learn about what these environmental lawyers specifically do on a day-to-day basis, depending on which sector they work in.

Non-Profit Groups

When working for a non-profit organization, environmental attorneys generally help groups such as Greenpeace and the Sierra Club fight for causes they believe in. Although non-profit groups generally have fewer resources than government agencies and private companies, these attorneys usually get to pick their own battles. This means that they are often very passionate about the cases they are involved in. Environmental lawyers working for non-profit organizations can work as advocates to help legislation get passed by Congress. Their job is also to stay up to date on policies and help litigate for the groups that employ them.

Government Departments

Federal, state, and local governments all use environmental law attorneys to pass bills focused on the environment. These lawyers are also used as a mechanism to protect the laws that are already in place. Environmental lawyers who work in the government sector generally focus on one specific area, while non-profit lawyers can work for a variety of environmental issues. This means that environmental attorneys working for the government are generally very specialized in their practice. The government usually gives its lawyers access to a variety of resources, making it easier to accomplish the task at hand.

Private Businesses 

When working for a private company, environmental lawyers help businesses that are at risk of violating environmental laws. Whether the company is in the automotive or energy industry, they need environmental lawyers to help them understand the policies that the government has in place, otherwise they are at risk of being sued. Suppliers of livestock and fish also need to be especially careful, since they face many restrictions and regulations that can be impossible to stay current on without a lawyer's help. For example, the government is constantly imposing catch limits on fishing companies. Without environmental lawyers, these companies are at risk for being forced to pay large fines for overfishing the population.

For more information, contact a law firm that does environmental law, such as Moore Smith Buxton & Turcke-Chartered, directly. 

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