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Ask the Experts: Landing a Job in Energy Law

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Ask the Experts.jpgWith so much recent attention directed to petroleum prices and climate change, many lawyers and lawyers-in-training have developed an interest in energy law as a possible career path. This article aims to lend some advice to those attempting to land a lateral energy position or otherwise start a career in energy. As a non-energy lawyer, the chances of a successful re-tool into energy largely depend on whether your interests lie in regulatory or transactional energy work. If you are currently a transactional lawyer with project development experience, you may find it easier to transfer to a transactional/project development energy practice. This is largely due to the fact that you can adapt your pre-existing project development expertise to a new industry more easily that you can learn an entirely new regulatory regime.

In contrast, switching to an energy regulatory practice with no relevant experience is more difficult and, in this market, is next to impossible. It’s a buyer’s market for law firms, and the firms (for the most part) can sit back and wait for candidates with actual energy regulatory experience to come along.

The most sought after candidates at both the entry and lateral levels are those who have prior experience at FERC or state utility commissions. Those in law school interested in an energy regulatory path should strongly consider interning at the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) or a state utility commission; and those practicing attorneys interested in switching to energy may consider working for a year or two in an entry level or junior capacity at a commission, in order to transition to a law firm later.

Additional options after the jump.


Other potential pathways to an energy career include environmental practices that focus on the Clean Air Act, greenhouse gas emission regulations, and carbon cap and trade programs. Another potential alternative would be to develop an interest and expertise in new clean energy technologies, such as solar, biomass, and wind; this area is relatively new and gives non-energy attorneys a chance to “catch up” to practicing energy attorneys by attending conferences, reading industry publications, etc. This area is also expected to grow as states enact renewable portfolio standards which require utilities to generate a certain percentage of their electricity from renewable sources.

One exciting new area of energy practice that may also be on the rise is that of a comprehensive, strategic counseling practice that draws from regulatory, transactional, environmental, as well as federal, state, and local public affairs expertise to assist energy clients in crafting legal, policy, and business strategies. One such practice was recently started at McGuire Woods by Jim Kerr, former Member of the North Carolina Utilities Commission and past President of NARUC.

Kerr has seen that a number of clients, not just utilities, have a keen interest in what is happening with energy policy at the local, state, and federal level. He believes that firms can best serve clients’ needs by pulling together existing expertise in various practices areas, including energy and environmental. According to Kerr, “Clients will need comprehensive strategic planning advice from teams that understand the project development side of proposed plant additions, but who can also navigate relevant energy and environmental regulations, and work to shape legislation, policy and public opinion. This creates opportunities not only for folks who are interested in working in discrete practice areas, but also folks who have a desire, and the talent, to focus on the bigger picture of how the pieces fit together.”

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This article was written by Jordan Abshire. Jordan is a graduate of Harvard Law School and a former associate in Troutman Sanders’ Energy Practice. Jordan is currently a Director in Lateral Link’s Charlotte office.

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