Environmental Law
Richa Tyagi | Senior Program Officer | WWF, IndiaWhat is Environmental Law?
Environmental Law is a great Career option. Internet is brimming with pages on How to get into Environmental Law, while one should first understand What is a Career in Environmental Law. Just like you would normally not trust a non Doctor with names of medicines, you should also not trust opinions about Environmental Law from non professionals.
Senior Program Officer Richa Tyagi has worked in Environmental Law for 3 years & 11 months. Senior Program Officer Richa Tyagi outlines Environmental Law as:
Environmental law, also known as environmental and natural resources law, is a collective term describing the network of treaties, statutes, regulations, common and customary laws addressing the effects of human activity on the natural environment. The core environmental law regimes address environmental pollution. A related but distinct set of regulatory regimes, now strongly influenced by environmental legal principles, focus on the management of specific natural resources, such as forests, minerals, or fisheries.
How Senior Program Officer Richa Tyagi got into Environmental Law?
After completing a degree in Law, I interned with WWF India for two months. While working with them, I realised this was a field where I wanted to work for the rest of my life. Even since I have been working with WWF India as an Environmental Lawyer.
Senior Program Officer Richa Tyagi's Talk on Environmental Law |
|
The Journey of an Environmental Lawyer: Richa Tyagi's Passion for Conservation Richa Tyagi, an environmental lawyer with a profound commitment to conservation, shares her unique journey and insights into the multifaceted world of environmental law. Starting her academic journey in English literature, Richa unexpectedly found her calling in law during an internship with WWF India, where her passion for wildlife and forest conservation blossomed. In this article, she discusses the intricacies of environmental law, the essential educational background, the skills required, and both the rewards and challenges of this impactful career. Join Richa as she takes us through a day in her life and the significant contributions of environmental lawyers in protecting our planet. What Is Environmental Law? Environmental law is a critical field dedicated to the protection of the environment and the regulation of human activities that may harm ecosystems. It encompasses a range of legal principles that govern the interaction between people and natural resources, focusing on conservation, pollution control, and wildlife protection. Richa explains that while many perceive environmental law merely as regulations surrounding endangered species, it entails a broader perspective that includes habitat protection and sustainable resource management. Environmental lawyers play a pivotal role by interpreting and implementing laws that safeguard both flora and fauna, ensuring that the delicate balance of our ecosystems is maintained. Education To pursue a career in environmental law, acquiring a degree in law is essential. Richa emphasizes the necessity of mastering legal concepts, analyzing judicial decisions, and understanding statutes. Law school provides the foundation necessary for interpreting complex legislation and utilizing it effectively in conservation efforts. A comprehensive education in law equips aspiring environmental lawyers with the tools to navigate the intricacies of legal frameworks that govern environmental protection. An understanding of conservation science is paramount for those entering this field. This knowledge, while not always taught in traditional curricula, helps prospective lawyers comprehend the various challenges and methods of conserving biodiversity. Richa encourages individuals to familiarize themselves with conservation issues in their region, as this scientific insight enriches their capability to advocate for effective legal protections. Studying environmental science is also crucial for aspiring environmental lawyers. Richa highlights that awareness of environmental issues and the scientific principles underlying these issues provides a necessary context for legal work. Through this education, individuals learn to connect pollution and development issues to their impact on local ecosystems, fostering a deeper understanding of their legal responsibilities and advocacy strategies. Continuously updating general knowledge about environmental issues and regional developments is imperative for success in this role. Richa advises staying informed through news and research, as understanding the current socio-political landscape helps environmental lawyers foresee potential conflicts and identify opportunities for intervention. Knowledge of local industries and environmental challenges informs a lawyer's ability to address concerns proactively and effectively. Skills Excellent communication skills are crucial in environmental law, where translating complex legal jargon into understandable language is often required. Richa articulates that environmental lawyers must convey intricate legal points to various stakeholders, including community members, policymakers, and fellow conservationists. By breaking down legal complexities, lawyers ensure that everyone involved comprehends their rights and responsibilities regarding environmental conservation. Strong writing skills are indispensable for drafting legal documents, reports, and correspondence that are clear and legally sound. Richa emphasizes the importance of presenting information succinctly while maintaining technical accuracy, especially when addressing governmental authorities or stakeholders. The ability to write persuasively enhances their capacity to advocate for effective legal action and conservation measures. Advocacy skills enable environmental lawyers to persuade governments and communities to adopt environmentally friendly practices. Richa underscores the necessity of effectively negotiating alternative solutions to environmental dilemmas, such as proposing modifications to infrastructure projects that threaten vital ecosystems. Effective advocacy requires a blend of legal knowledge, strategic thinking, and interpersonal skills. Building relationships within and outside the organization is key for success in this sector. Richa points out that strong interpersonal skills foster collaboration and trust, facilitating communication with field staff, community members, and even government officials. Maintaining these connections opens channels for sharing concerns and mobilizing collective action toward conservation goals. Patience is an often-overlooked skill that is vital in environmental law due to the slow nature of change in this field. Richa explains that significant improvements often require prolonged discussions and negotiations. Environmental lawyers must remain steadfast and patient as they work toward their objectives, understanding that progress may unfold gradually. Positives The most compelling reason Richa finds fulfillment in this work is the opportunity to contribute to the protection of our planet. She views her role as an essential part of the global fight against environmental degradation, making a positive impact on biodiversity and ecosystems that are facing unprecedented threats. With climate change and species extinction at the forefront of global concerns, her contribution is both vital and rewarding. Working in environmental law offers a unique chance to connect with a diverse array of professionals and experts. Richa cherishes the enriching conversations she has daily with individuals from various fields, including biologists and conservationists. These interactions foster a collaborative environment that enhances knowledge and strengthens the movement towards shared conservation goals. Richa enjoys extensive travel, both domestically and internationally, as part of her work. This aspect of her career allows her to explore untouched regions, observe wildlife in their natural habitats, and engage with local communities. She appreciates that few professions provide such opportunities for adventure while contributing to real-world solutions for preserving the environment. Engaging with varied cultures and environmental issues globally broadens Richa's perspective on conservation challenges. Exposure to different approaches and strategies from around the world enriches her understanding and informs more effective conservation tactics in her own work. Each experience gained from travel further fuels her passion for making significant environmental impact. Challenges One of the primary challenges associated with a career in environmental law is the relatively modest financial rewards. Richa candidly notes that individuals entering this field should not prioritize financial gain. While the job satisfaction and sense of purpose are substantial, it is essential to reconcile with the fact that passion is often the main motivator rather than monetary benefits. Environmental lawyers can often labor in the shadows of their organization's more visible fieldworkers, receiving limited recognition for their efforts. Richa acknowledges that, while essential, their role is often underappreciated in a society that tends to celebrate more visible conservation efforts. Nevertheless, the vital contributions made behind the scenes remain crucial to the organization's overall impact. The lifestyle of an environmental lawyer can be rugged, involving frequent travel to remote areas where amenities are limited. Richa describes her experiences of staying in forest rest houses with basic facilities, which can lead to discomfort but ultimately enrich her connection to nature. Embracing these challenges is part of the lifestyle that she finds rewarding and fulfilling. Being in this field, especially when engaging with communities and government structures, can involve significant risks. Richa acknowledges that environmental lawyers may find themselves in contentious situations where their advocacy for the environment could place them at odds with powerful stakeholders. It requires a robust focus on safety and awareness of the circumstances surrounding their advocacy. Lastly, Richa reflects on the often slow and arduous nature of achieving results in environmental law. Cases can take years to resolve, and the path to effective change is rarely linear. The importance of patience and persistence cannot be overstated, as some victories may take time to emerge, and plateaus in progress can be frustrating. A Day Of Richa describes a typical day in her role as an environmental lawyer filled with variety and engagement. Her day often begins with discussions with field colleagues to identify current challenges and research needs. The majority of her time is spent delving into legal regulations and exploring solutions to ongoing environmental issues, such as investigating pollution incidents and collaborating with her team to draft necessary legal documents. She remains actively involved in internal campaigns, ensuring her organization plays a leading role in advocacy and awareness initiatives. Ultimately, each day presents Richa with new learning opportunities and a deep sense of purpose as she champions the cause of conservation. The journey of Richa Tyagi in environmental law exemplifies the critical intersection between legal expertise and environmental conservation. This career, while filled with challenges, offers profound rewards through the impact it has on protecting our planet. As environmental issues continue to escalate, the role of environmental lawyers will only become increasingly vital, making their contributions indispensable in safeguarding our natural world for future generations. | |
Install the LifePage App to:
- (for Free) Watch Senior Program Officer Richa Tyagi’s full Environmental Law Career Talk
- ₹ Do a Self Assessment on Environmental Law to calculate your Dream Index, which is defined as:
According to Richa Tyagi your chances of success in Environmental Law is __%
- Access your personalized Dream Index Report which will have all your Dream Indices sorted in descending order.
How to get into
Environmental Law?
If you are want to get into Environmental Law, start by investing in a Career Plan.
The 14 hour process, guided by a LifePage Career Advisor, will help you introspect and check whether your interest in Environmental Law is merely an infatuation or is it truly something you wish to do for the rest of your life.
Next, your Career Advisor will help you document how you can get into Environmental Law, what education and skills you need to succeed in Environmental Law, and what positives and challenges you will face in Environmental Law.
Finally, you will get a Career Plan stating which Courses, Certifications, Trainings and other Items you need to do in the next 7 years to become world’s best in Environmental Law.
LifePage Career Plan
14 hour personalized guidance program
Your LifePage Career Advisor facilitates your guided introspection so that you systematically explore various Career options to arrive at a well thought out Career choice.
Next: your Advisor helps you figure out how you will get into your chosen Career and how will you develop the skills needed for success in your Chosen Career.
LifePage Plan will not stop at saying "to become an Architect study Architecture". It will guide you on which Certifications, Trainings and Other items you need to do along with your Architecture education to become the world's best Architect.
Links for this Talk
LifePage Career Talk on Environmental Law
[Career]
https://www.lifepage.in/careers/environmental-law
[Full Talk]
https://lifepage.app.link/20180319-0002
[Trailer]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qoYWsr2yCQk
(Environmental Law, Richa Tyagi, WWF India, Senior Program Officer, Conservation, Environmental Science, Environment, Wildlife Safety, Law, Changemaker)
Similar Talks
Criminal Law
Atul Singh Pundir
Advocate | District Court, Dehradun
Advocate | District Court, Dehradun
[ 14 years & 1 month Experience ]
Criminal Law is a system of law concerned with the punishment of offenders. In other words we can say Criminal law is the body of law that relates to crime.
"After running my business for 4 years I decided to practice law because my entire family is practicing law so as I also decided to do and I have been practicing law since 2002."
|
|
Corporate Law
Simar Pannu
Corporate Lawyer | Clifford Chance OSC Services
Corporate Lawyer | Clifford Chance OSC Services
[ 0 years & 11 months Experience ]
Corporate law (also known as business law or enterprise law or company law) is the body of law that applies to the rights, relations, and conduct of persons, companies, organizations and businesses.
"I am a professionally qualified corporate lawyer. I went to the Army Institute of Law and did BA LLB from there. After that, I worked with an international law firm called Clifford Chance OSC Services which is based out of London and worked there for a year."
|
|
Civil Law
Ashish Chakravarty
Advocate and Consultant | District Court, Dehradun
Advocate and Consultant | District Court, Dehradun
[ 11 years Experience ]
Civil Law is the system of law concerned with private relations between members of a community rather than criminal, military, or religious affairs.
"After completing LLM from Kurukshetra University, I started practicing at District Court, Dehradun since 2006."
|
|
Law is a system of rules that are created and enforced through social or governmental institutions to regulate behavior. Law is a system that regulates and ensures that individuals or a community adhere to the will of the state. State-enforced laws can be made by a collective legislature or by a single legislator, resulting in statutes, by the executive through decrees and regulations, or established by judges through precedent, normally in common law jurisdictions. Private individuals can create legally binding contracts, including arbitration agreements that may elect to accept alternative arbitration to the normal court process. The formation of laws themselves may be influenced by a constitution, written or tacit, and the rights encoded therein. A lawyer's responsibilities as a representative of clients, an officer of the legal system and a public citizen are usually harmonious. Thus, when an opposing party is well represented, a lawyer can be a zealous advocate on behalf of a client and at the same time assume that justice is being done.
"After doing my schooling from Govt Model School Chandigarh, I did my LLB from Symbiosis Law School, Pune. I started my practice at the Trial Port of Gurugram & Faridabad and later, started practicing at Supreme Court & Delhi High court, New Delhi. My core interest took me to Civil & Commercial Litigation along with other areas of Law. I was a Central Government Counsel for the High Court of Delhi from 1997 to 2002."
|
|
Civil law is a body of rules that defines and protects the private rights of citizens, offers legal remedies that may be sought in a dispute, and covers areas of law such as contracts, torts, property and family law. It is the system of law concerned with private relations between members of community rather than criminal, military or religious affairs.
"After doing my schooling from Presentation Convent Delhi, I did my BA in Political science from IP College and LLB from Faculty of Law, Delhi University. I am practicing as a Lawyer at Delhi High Court since 1985."
|
|
Juvenile Justice
Dr Kiran Purohit
Juvenile Judge | Janpad, Chamoli
Juvenile Judge | Janpad, Chamoli
[ 7 years & 9 months Experience ]
Juvenile justice is the area of criminal law applicable to persons not old enough to be held responsible for criminal acts. In most states, the age for criminal culpability is set at 18 years. Juvenile law is mainly governed by state law and most states have enacted a juvenile code.
"I did my MSC, Mass Communication and LLB from HNGBU. After which I established my own NGO called SNDMS. I have been a Juvenile Judge in Chamoli District since 2011"
|
|
Law
Akhil Prasad
Director, Country Counsil India & Company Secretary | Boeing India
Director, Country Counsil India & Company Secretary | Boeing India
[ 25 years & 10 months Experience ]
Law is a system of rules that are created and enforced through social or governmental institutions to regulate behavior. Law is a system that regulates and ensures that individuals or a community adhere to the will of the state. State-enforced laws can be made by a collective legislature or by a single legislator, resulting in statutes, by the executive through decrees and regulations, or established by judges through precedent, normally in common law jurisdictions. Private individuals can create legally binding contracts, including arbitration agreements that may elect to accept alternative arbitration to the normal court process. The formation of laws themselves may be influenced by a constitution, written or tacit, and the rights encoded therein. The law shapes politics, economics, history and society in various ways and serves as a mediator of relations between people.
"I did Company Secretary Course in India and UK and Certification in Business Administration from IE University, Madrid. I started my career as a Company Secretary with Modi Xerox in 1995 and later I have worked with several organizations Walt Disney, General Motors, Fidelity, Electrolux Kelvinator Limited and International Bar Association. I am also a qualified Solicitor in England & Wales. I have two Ph Ds one in Investor Protection and other in Media Piracy. I have been working with Boeing India as Director, Country Council India and Company Secretary since 2013. . I have joined Boeing to provide legal, regulatory, compliance and corporate affairs services to Boeing and its subsidiaries in India."
|
|
Judging
Mara Teresa Torres
Civil Judge | Judiciary Power, Concepción, Tucumán
Civil Judge | Judiciary Power, Concepción, Tucumán
[ 15 years & 2 months Experience ]
Being a judge is one of the most important functions that human beings can have, why? Because being a judge implies giving each person his own, as the Romans used to say, specifically Ulpiano. The judge is the director of the process, modernly is no longer an arbitrator and neither has a neutral position, is no longer the stone judge who was in antiquity but instead the judge has to have empathy, has to put him or herself in place of each part and try to solve their problems. The solution of the problems is the first function of the judge because we take into account that justice is the last step to which citizens arrive to solve their problems, then the importance of the function of the judge.
"I graduated from the University Santo Tomas de Aquino, a catholic university in Tucumn. I practiced law for 19 years, as an independent consultant. I also worked as an advisor for diferent companies and state agencies. This is one of the posibilities one gets by having a law degree. I also practiced teaching for 30 years. After 17 years of practicing law i was designated judge of Collections and constraints in the Judiciary Power of Tucumn, especificly in the Judial Center in Concepcin. In my profession as a lawyer and then as a Judge i was able to represent the Magistracy, by being a member of the advisory council of the Magistracy, which is the agency whose main function is to select the judges who are going to join the judiciary. I was also a member of the judicial school that allows lawyers to prepare for the judicial function. I have integrated the association of magistrates among other functions that I have had."
|
Intellectual Property Rights
Surbhi Kapoor
Lawyer | Delhi High Court
Lawyer | Delhi High Court
[ 4 years & 4 months Experience ]
Intellectual property (IP) is a category of property that includes intangible creations of the human intellect, and primarily encompasses copyrights, patents, and trademarks. It also includes other types of rights, such as trade secrets, publicity rights, moral rights, and rights against unfair competition.
"I graduated in Geography Honours and did masters in English Literature. I decided to pursue Law and did LLB from HNB Garhwal University followed by an LLM from UTU, Dehradun. I have been practising law since 2014 and am a Lawyer with Delhi High Court."
|
|
Criminal Law is a system of law concerned with the punishment of offenders. Immigration law refers to the rules established by the federal government for determining who is allowed to enter the country, and for how long. It also governs the naturalization process for those who desire to become U.S. citizens.
"I did my schooling from SRA Public School. After that did my BA in LLB from GNDU, Jalandhar. After graduation I started working as a CEO in Majha Legal Services. I have been working there since 2013 and have been practicing Criminal & Immigration law in Amritsar, Chandigarh and Delhi."
|
|
Law is a system of rules that are created and enforced through social or governmental institutions to regulate behavior. Law as a system helps regulate and ensure that a community show respect, and equality amongst themselves.
"After completing my Schooling from DPS Noida, I did my BBA from Symbiosis and did my LLB from there as well. I am the Founding and Managing Partner at LPJ & Partners."
|
|
Law is a system of rules that are created and enforced through social or governmental institutions to regulate behavior. Law is a system that regulates and ensures that individuals or a community adhere to the will of the state.
"I have done LLB from Symbiosis Law School, Pune. I started practicing in Pune itself. I also used to practice in vacations with my father who is also a Lawyer in Patiala. I am practising law since 2000. I am an Advocate with Chaman Lal & Associates."
|
Intellectual Property Law
Pranav Khanna
Patent Attorney | K & S Partners
Patent Attorney | K & S Partners
[ 4 years & 6 months Experience ]
Intellectual property refers to creations of the intellect for which a monopoly is assigned to designated owners by law. Intellectual property rights are the rights granted to the creators of IP, and include trademarks, copyright, patents, industrial design rights, and in some jurisdictions trade secrets.
"I have done my schooling from St Josephs Academy, Dehradun. I then did B Tech in Mechanical from College of Engineering, Roorkee. I have qualified Indian Patent Agent examination and I am a registered Patent Agent. I am Patent Attorney at K & S Partners."
|
|
Banking law is the broad term for laws that govern how banks and other financial institutions conduct business. Lawyers perform a wide variety of functions that relate to creating, following and enforcing regulations.
"I did BA LLB from Amity Law College after which I started working at High Court, Delhi. After working for 2 years I came to Dehradun and since 2012, I am working as an advocate in Dehradun Court"
|
Law is a system of rules that are created and enforced through social or governmental institutions to regulate behavior.
"My name is Pedro Macias, I am a lawyer, I am 36 years old. I graduated from law school in 2007, I practice the profession as a free lancer working in a studio and I also teach in an institution as a professor. As a lawyer, I work in different branches of law, but what I especially like is the right for the consumer, which is a branch that is growing and it is innovating to put into practice and apply the new legislation to protect consumers and users of goods and services. They can be very vulnerable and for that it is necessary to defend them."
|
Litigation law refers to the rules and practices involved in resolving disputes in the court system. The term is often associated with tort cases, but litigation can come about in all kinds of cases, from contested divorces, to eviction proceedings.
"After completing my Schooling from St Joseph's Academy, Dehradun, I did my Graduation in BMS from Mithibai College, Mumbai. I did Law from Faculty of Law, Delhi. I have been working as a Freelance Lawyer since 2013."
|
|
The Penal Judge is the one who has to make decisions in order to pacify a society that has been injured by a crime. What is being pursued by the penalty or the sanction is precisely to pacify the society. After the commission of a crime are always injured parts and the decision of a judge tends to resolve this conflict.
"I am Argentine, I studied and graduated a lawyer in the National University of Tucumán (UNT) in my native province and I have a specialization in criminal law, among other specialization. I practiced the profession independently, later I entered the Judicial Power of my province, the Judicial Power of Tucumán, and since entering, more than 20 years ago, I have occupied different positions. I have been a criminal prosecutor, always in the criminal forum, and for many years I was a correctional judge, the judge who judges misdemeanors (traffic accidents, robberies, etc) and for more than ten years I have held a position in a criminal chamber as judge of criminal chamber to judge serious crimes."
|
A paralegal is an individual, qualified by education, training or work experience, who is employed or retained by a lawyer, law office, corporation, governmental agency, or other entity and who performs specifically delegated substantive legal work for which a lawyer is responsible.
"I did BA in Humanities from Delhi University. I worked with UN for 3 years. I am working as a Legal Secretary with R S Gill & Associates since last 17 years."
|
|
Corporate Law
Dev Aditya
Legal Consultant | Various London Law Firms
Legal Consultant | Various London Law Firms
[ 8 years & 2 months Experience ]
Corporate law (also known as business law or enterprise law or sometimes company law) is the body of law governing the rights, relations, and conduct of persons, companies, organizations and businesses. The term refers to the legal practice of law relating to corporations, or to the theory of corporations. Corporate law often describes the law relating to matters which derive directly from the life-cycle of a corporation. It thus encompasses the formation, funding, governance, and death of a corporation.
"I have worked for two magic circle firms the highest law firms in UK namely Mayer Brown LLP and BLP LLP before I joined University and continued working in my early University days. At that time Mayer Brown LLP was also the seventh largest law firm in the world. Following this I also worked for Field Fisher Waterhouse LLP. a golden circle firm. I then completed my law degrees and worked for Solacexis now CHESS solicitors and continue to consult for them today on a selective case by case basis. My main areas of proficiency are in corporate and immigration laws of the United Kingdom."
|
|
Consumer Law
Noopur Gupta
Senior Advocate | District Consumer Forum & State Commission for Consumer Disputes
Senior Advocate | District Consumer Forum & State Commission for Consumer Disputes
[ 19 years Experience ]
Consumer protection law or consumer law is considered as an area of law that regulates private law relationships between individual consumers and the businesses that sell those goods and services. It is a way of preventing frauds and scams from service and sales contracts, eligible fraud, bill collector regulation, pricing, utility turnoffs, consolidation, personal loans that may lead to bankruptcy.
"After doing BA from AMU, I did LLB from HNB Garhwal University. I am a writer & poet. I am the Director of Noopur Dance Academy and teach dance. I am a Senior Advocate with District Consumer Form and State Commission for Consumer Disputes."
|
|
In-House Counsel are hired by a corporation's law department to handle a range of legal issues affecting the company, among them employment, policy, tax and regulatory matters. More prevalently, they play a managerial role, overseeing work that's been outsourced to attorneys at independent firms. Depending on the size of the corporation and the nature of its work, in-house attorneys may be either specialists in a certain field or general commercial practitioners.
"I did my schooling from St Joseph Academy, Dehradun. After that, I did my BA LLB (Hons) from Vivekananda Institute of Professional Studies, IP University, New Delhi. I started my Career at Jus Juris Law Firm in Delhi as a Junior Associate Lawyer. I spent about two years there and learnt the basics of litigation from drafting briefs, appearing in courts to dealing with clients. Post that, I worked with Sanjeev Goyal and Associates in Delhi for 7 months. Presently, I m working as an In-House Counsel for DHFL since 2019."
|
|
General law means territorial law of a country. It consists of all persons, things, acts and events within the territory of a country which are governed by it.
"After graduating in Law, I went on to do Masters in Law from Hidayatullah National Law University. I am a Judo Player and also teach Judo. I am a Member of Amity University Sports Selection Board. I have worked as an Advocate at District Bar Association, Dehradun. I am Assistant Professor at ICFAI University."
|
|
[Install the LifePage App to access all Talks]
