The American Bar Association Section of Environment, Energy and Resources’ Sustainability Law Practice Task Force will host a free hourlong webinar, “Earth Day 2025: Lawyers Leading for a Sustainable Future Across Every Practice,” Tuesday, April 22, at 11 a.m. EDT.
“Earth Day reminds us that the health of our planet, people and economy are very closely connected and we need to consider these connections as legal professionals,” said panel moderator Kristi Disney Bruckner, co-chair of the ABA SEER Climate Change Committee and law and policy director for the Initiative for Responsible Mining Assurance.
The webinar is designed to encourage lawyers to lead in the area of sustainability. It will feature a discussion by environmental experts who will explore ways to stop thinking of sustainability as a job for someone else to fulfill, but part of the duties of lawyers.
Bruckner added that strategies related to sustainability must consider a “wide range of environmental, social and economic factors in a holistic way that takes into consideration the needs of both current and future generations.”
The program will encourage lawyers across practice areas to assess how they can make an impact toward a more sustainable future.
Participants will learn:
- How various legal practice areas intersect with sustainability
- How small shifts in your practice could lead to meaningful change
- Actual stories from lawyers who have made their firms more sustainable
- How lawyers can make sustainability part of their daily work and focus
- Perspectives on professional responsibility
- Next steps for lawyers
Bruckner said that the ABA Resolution 513 emphasizes the importance of incorporating sustainability into the practice of law. It urges lawyers to learn about sustainable development and counsel their clients on related risks and opportunities.
Each panelist will reflect on how sustainability shows up in their legal work and share one small shift they have made that might inspire others.
Speakers for the program are:
- Jonathan Nwagbaraocha, section chair, ABA SEER and corporate counsel for Environmental Sustainability, ESG & Corporate Compliance, Cisco
- John Dernbach, professor emeritus, Environmental Law and Sustainability, Widner University Commonwealth Law School
- Susan Maslow, partner, Antheil Maslow & MacMinn LLP; senior adviser to the Responsible Contracting Project; co-chair of the ABA Corporate Sustainability Law Committee, Business Law Section
- Richard M. Juang, senior manager for Environmental Justice Policy, Ceres
- Haley Czarnek, national director, Law Students for Climate Accountability
- Amy L. Edwards, partner, Holland & Knight LLP; chair ABA SEER Climate Task Force
Beyond Earth Day, lawyers and the general public can gather ways to “Celebrate Earth Day Every Day” on SEER’s website which is dedicated to resources, service projects, pro bono assignments and educational programs dedicated to improving the environment.