ABA and HBCUs highlight environmental law jobs through new partnership

By Amanda Robert

As part of a new initiative, the ABA and several historically Black colleges and universities are working together to engage students who are interested in environmental, energy and natural resources law.

The ABA Section of Environment, Energy and Resources will host an ongoing webinar series that aims to educate law students about careers that focus on and relate to environmental law, according to a memorandum of understanding signed by the ABA and five ABA-accredited HBCU law schools in 2024.

These five law schools are: Florida A&M University College of Law; Howard University School of Law; North Carolina Central University School of Law; Southern University Law Center; and Thurgood Marshall School of Law at Texas Southern University.

“I want to encourage the section to engage HBCU law students as much as they can because of the talent that’s there but also to ensure that we reach out to diverse groups and get them informed and engaged about what careers look like in this space,” says Jonathan Nwagbaraocha, the chair of the Section of Environment, Energy and Resources.

Along with participating in webinars, members of the Section of Environment, Energy and Resources have attended in-person events at HBCU law schools. In February, they participated in a career fair and networking reception at Florida A&M University College of Law.

Another goal of the initiative is to make law students aware of the Section of Environment, Energy and Resources’ Environmental Law Society Network, which connects and provides resources to students across the United States; and Bridge Program, which mentors students interested in environmental, energy and natural resources law, Nwagbaraocha says.

“Through a combination of in-person and virtual events, SEER will engage law students at the HBCUs to get them involved in the various programs and member engagement activities that we have for law students,” Nwagbaraocha says. “We really are engaging them on multiple levels.”

As part of her role at the North Carolina Central University School of Law, Savaun Perry helps students explore potential career paths. She says she was immediately on board when she heard about the chance to partner with the Section of Environment, Energy and Resources.

“We were just excited at this opportunity to expose our students to environmental law and to all of the opportunities that there were in that particular section,” says Perry, the law school’s assistant dean of career services and professional development.

Perry, who graduated from the North Carolina Central University School of Law in 2010, adds that she doesn’t remember seeing any internships or jobs in environmental law when she was a student.

“Raising awareness and showing students that they can have a vibrant career in this area of law is something they need to see, and something they may not traditionally see,” Perry says.

The next Section of Environment, Energy and Resources event for HBCU law students is a “meet the chair” program with Nwagbaraocha.