By Jennifer Pei, PBI intern
Change can happen at all levels of society – from countries to civil society, and even to individuals. To address the ongoing climate crisis, nonprofit organizations are key actors that are taking action.
Individuals can participate in climate activism in many ways, and the legal sector has unique skills to contribute. Pro bono legal aid is invaluable in supporting nonprofit organizations that work on environmental law and climate. This form of pro bono aid weaves environmental objectives and personal values.
How to Get Involved
Whether you are a litigator or a transactional attorney, there are many opportunities to do pro bono, representing clients with the ultimate goal of improving the environment. As nonprofits continue to take on a larger role in the global effort to mitigate climate change, supporting civil society through pro bono is a worthwhile contribution.
For example, the Climate Change and Environmental Justice Program of Lawyers for Good Government (L4GG) engages in environmental justice litigation against federal, state, and local governments for communities; this nonprofit maintains the goals of achieving clean energy, federal funding for communities, and access to clean water. Currently, L4GG is looking for volunteer attorneys to represent nonprofit grantees who have faced federal grant funding disruptions for their environmental programs.
Similarly, the Environmental Law Institute (ELI) also has a robust pro bono litigation program. The ELI Pro Bono Clearinghouse assigns volunteer attorneys with community cases concerning environmental issues. Pro bono attorneys may find themselves representing individuals to whole communities or providing consultation and legal advice. The Pro Bono Clearinghouse works closely with local clinics and other nonprofits, serving as a resource for those looking for pro bono aid.
In addition to working on environmental or climate litigation, pro bono lawyers can take on corporate and transactional matters to support nonprofits and small businesses that are doing climate work. Nonprofits often seek pro bono legal services for operational purposes. These may include but aren’t limited to contracts, regulations, tax-related issues, and employment laws.
PILnet is a global organization that partners private legal professionals with public civil society organizations (CSO). Dedicating to aiding the public interest sector, the PILnet pro bono work focuses on maximizing legal resources and opportunities. Pro bono volunteers assist CSOs with operational and transactional legal aid. The Climate and Environment project, in particular, equips CSOs with attorneys to address the greatest threats to the environment. Initiatives such as the Climate Action Portal streamline stories of pro bono opportunities and successes.
Additionally, Green Pro Bono is a nonprofit organization that connects attorneys with other climate focused organizations and businesses. Partnership projects fostered by Green Pro Bono have been crucial in helping companies create environment conscious strategies and reducing climate change impact. In addition to forming partnerships, Green Pro Bono frequently hosts educational webinars and events on environmental issues and pro bono.
Don’t know where to start looking for ways to get involved? The Planetary Lawyer Project, started by Matthew Karmel at Offit Kurman, is a bi-weekly newsletter that updates attorneys with environmental pro bono opportunities and other pro bono education material. The Planetary Lawyer Project acts as a community resource for attorneys who want to make a change at the individual level. Matthew Karmel is a leading advocate for and prominent figure in environmental and sustainability law.
Takeaways on Climate and Pro Bono from the PBI Annual Conference
At the PBI 2026 Annual Conference on March 4-6 in Washington, D.C., Conference attendees had the opportunity to hear from some of the above organizations at the session, “Scaling Legal Pro Bono for Impact: Lessons from Climate and Beyond.” The session featured climate pro bono leaders Matthew Karmel from the Planetary Lawyer Project, Anastissya Miller from PILnet, and Stephanie Demetry from Green Pro Bono. At the session, the speakers shared what climate pro bono looks like, identified hurdles for individual attorneys who are trying to get involved, and offered scalable models and strategies.
Attendees took away that climate pro bono doesn’t necessarily have to directly relate to climate issues. Rather, assisting climate-focused nonprofits in transactional matters and supporting advocacy by organizations affected by climate change are all ways to participate. Not only do these avenues open more opportunities to get involved, but they also tap into expertise that interested lawyers may already have.
The session highlighted the Climate Pro Bono Bootcamp that brings together lawyers who receive training on addressing climate pro bono issues. Additionally, the Climate Pro Bono Impact Group is a monthly virtual community that regularly meets to discuss ideas, resources, and team projects. These models emphasized teamwork and carving out spaces for networking.
Upcoming Climate Pro Bono Training
Join lawyers at the Climate Pro Bono Bootcamp on April 28 to learn more about climate pro bono opportunities and how to expand your pro bono toolbox. Visit the registration site for more information on this free virtual conference.