With 2023 “virtually certain” to be the warmest year on record, climate change is top of mind for many people around the globe. It is easy to despair when reading how record high temperatures are unleashing extreme weather across our planet, but it is preferable to take action. Experts recommend steps that we can all take to attempt to slow climate change. Additionally, attorneys and legal professionals can use their unique skills to benefit the planet through climate pro bono.
The PBEye has explored the intersection of climate and pro bono in recent years, including the impact of race in climate change, the dramatic increase in climate-related natural disasters, and how to advance environmental justice through pro bono. Many of these past blogs highlight organizations that are working on climate-related pro bono opportunities.
One of the most common perceived obstacles to doing pro bono is lack of expertise in a particular subject matter of pro bono practice. After all, attorneys have an ethical duty to provide competent representation, including in their pro bono matters. Luckily, many organizations offer trainings to mitigate this concern. And for those interested in climate pro bono, there is an upcoming opportunity focused on a variety of skills needed to provide pro bono support to benefit the planet.
Offit Kurman, Green Pro Bono, and The Planetary Lawyer Project have organized a Climate Pro Bono Bootcamp, a Complimentary Virtual CLE Conference on January 17-18, 2024. This program is open to attorneys and legal staff across the country and will focus on topics such as helping formation of climate-friendly small businesses, regulatory changes to benefit the climate, renewable energy implementation, intellectual property-related climate pro bono, and more. Learn more about this opportunity here.