Sustainability Essentials
A Leadership Guide for Lawyers
Published on 12. September 2023
148 pages
978-1-63905-170-0 (ISBN)
Description
Sustainability Essentials: A Leadership Guide for Lawyers is for you if you went to law school or are going to law school to help move society and the law profession in a more environmentally, socially, and economically sustainable direction, to protect life on the planet, and to make life better for present and future generations. It is also for you if you did not have this goal in law school, but you now want to incorporate sustainable development in your practice.
Sustainable development is a relatively new legal perspective, one that demands practice, patience, persistence, and great attention to what clients actually want and need. Best practices for sustainable development in law practice are a work in progress, and leadership matters. This Guide aims to help you on your journey, and to help you succeed in making your goals a reality.
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John C. Dernbach | Irma S. Russell | Matt Bogoshian
Sustainability Essentials
A Leadership Guide for Lawyers
Book
09/2023
American Bar Association
€81.00
Article not available for order
Persons
John C. Dernbach is Commonwealth Professor of Environmental Law and Sustainability at Widener University Commonwealth Law School in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, and is director of the school's Environmental Law and Sustainability Center. Professor Dernbach has written extensively on sustainable development, climate change, and environmental law. He has chaired or cochaired the ABA Section of Environment, Energy, and Resources (SEER) Climate Change, Sustainable Development, and Ecosystems Committee and is a member of the ABA SEER Climate Change Task Force. He helps lead the Model Laws for Deep Decarbonization Project, a pro bono legal drafting project endorsed by the ABA Section of Environment, Energy, and Resources. He is an elected member of the American Law Institute and the American College of Environmental Lawyers. He currently lives in Harrisburg, PA.
Content
- Intro
- Title Page
- Copyright Page
- Praise for Sustainability Essentials
- Dedication
- Contents
- About the Authors
- Acknowledgments
- Introduction
- Foundation
- 1 A Brief History of Sustainable Development
- 1. Old Model for Human Progress: Development
- 2. New Model for Human Progress: Sustainable Development
- 3. Answers to Common Misconceptions and Criticisms of Sustainable Development
- 2 Basic Principles for Applying Sustainable Development
- 1. The Objective of Sustainable Development Is to Improve the Lives of Each Person in Present and Future Generations
- 2. Sustainable Development Requires the Practice of Integrated Decision-Making
- 3. Sustainable Development Requires Supportive Governance
- 3 Lawyers' Responsibilities to Clients and the Public Good
- 1. Obey and Respect the Law
- 2. Serve Each Client's Legitimate Interests Competently and within the Bounds of the Law
- 3. Advance Justice, Law Reform, and the Public Interest
- 4 How Lawyers Use Sustainable Development in Law Practice
- 1. Lawyers Are Using the Sustainable Development Decision-Making Framework
- a. Process: They Urge Their Clients to Consider a Legal Issue's Environmental, Social, Economic, and (When Relevant) Peace and Security Aspects
- b. Results: They Urge Their Clients to Achieve Positive Environmental, Social, Economic, and (When Relevant) Peace and Security Outcomes to the Greatest Extent Possible
- 2. Lawyers Use the Sustainable Development Framework in Every Field of Law
- 3. Lawyers Use the Sustainable Development Framework in Nearly Every Type of Legal Work
- a. Client Counseling
- b. Transactions
- c. Litigation
- d. Advocacy
- e. Drafting
- f. Negotiation
- g. Pro Bono
- h. Other Types of Legal Work
- Making A Difference
- 5 Getting Started on Sustainable Development Leadership
- 1. The Importance of Leadership by Lawyers
- 2. Build Your Sustainable Development Expertise and Own It
- 3. Find the Right Workplace
- 4. Build Sustainable Development Expertise in Fields That Are Relevant to Your Clients
- 5. Build Special Skills That Are Essential for Sustainable Development Work
- a. Ability to Listen Well
- b. Open-Mindedness, Curiosity, and Creativity
- c. Patience and Persistence
- 6. Learn, Engage, and Network
- 6 Giving Effective Advice on Sustainable Development
- 1. Before Giving Any Advice, Understand Your Client's Goals, Orientation, and Business
- 2. Explain Sustainable Development Options in Terms of Significant or Material Risks and Opportunities
- 3. Be Prudent in Your Explanations
- 4. Consider Preparation of Special Sustainable Development Templates for Particular Contexts
- 7 Sustainable Development Lawyers as Systems Leaders in Legal Work
- 1. Legal Work: Convene and Commit
- 2. Legal Work: Look and Learn
- 3. Legal Work: Engage and Energize
- 4. Legal Work: Act with Accountability
- 5. Legal Work: Review and Revise
- 8 Sustainable Development Lawyers as Systems Leaders in the Workplace
- 1. Workplace: Convene and Commit
- 2. Workplace: Look and Learn
- 3. Workplace: Engage and Energize
- 4. Workplace: Act with Accountability
- 5. Workplace: Review and Revise
- 9 Sustainable Development Lawyers as Systems Leaders in Communities
- 1. Community: Convene and Commit
- 2. Community: Look and Learn
- 3. Community: Engage and Energize
- 4. Community: Act with Accountability
- 5. Community: Review and Revise
- 10 The Rewards and Frustrations of Sustainable Development Work in Law Practice
- 1. Sustainable Development Legal Work Has Many Rewarding Aspects
- a. Making a Positive Difference
- b. Persuading Clients to Move in a More Sustainable Direction
- c. Intellectual Engagement
- d. Opportunity to Work with Great People
- 2. Sustainable Development Legal Work Also Has Frustrating or Less Enjoyable Aspects
- a. Narrow-Minded Clients
- b. Public Opposition
- c. Lack of Public Understanding
- d. Legal Barriers to Sustainability and Difficult Approval Processes
- 11 The Future of Sustainable Development in Law Practice
- 1. Clients Will Increasingly Demand Legal Assistance to Address Sustainable Development
- 2. More Lawyers Will Use Their Skills to Help Achieve a Sustainable Society
