Environmental Law questions

<li><p>If I were to go to law school for enviromental law, what career options would be available other than to become an actual lawyer? I don’t feel that I’m outgoing or assertive enough to be a successful lawyer, but I am highly interested in this field. </p></li>
<li><p>Would a political science degree (with no environmental studies focus or minor) still be fine for applying to such a program?</p></li>
<li><p>Would it look better to go to a nationally top-ranked program at a lesser-known school (such as Lewis and Clark, for example) or to a program at a big name school (Harvard, Georgetown) that is not ranked as high?</p></li>
<li><p>How would I need to prepare for applying to such a program? Should I start studying for the LSAT, or…?</p></li>
<li><p>Does anyone have a website that has figures on the costs for different law schools? </p></li>
</ol>

<p>Some of these might be basic “duh” type questions, but I’m pretty clueless here. If you can answer even just one of these, your response is worth typing! Thanks to all.</p>

<p>Quick hits: Overall law school brand more important than specific program; law school admissions is LSAT/GPA dominated rather than major dominated; most environmental jobs that pay well are jobs working for companies that are seeking to toe the line on compliance; USN should have tuition figures.</p>

<p>Hopefully somebody will come on with more details, but I figured it had been a little while already so I'd pop in.</p>

<p>Not meaning to throw a wet blanket on your list of questions, but in my opinion at this point you should stop with number 1.</p>

<p>IMO one should not attend law school, or prepare to apply, unless one wants to be a lawyer, and you're not sure that you do. This point has been hashed out a number of times on this board; see
<a href="http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/law-school/528886-what-can-you-do-law-degree-other-than-become-lawyer.html%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/law-school/528886-what-can-you-do-law-degree-other-than-become-lawyer.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>If you are interested in a career related to enviornmental subjects, the first thing you should do is think about what sort of career - lawyer, scientist, journalist, businessman/woman, political position (aide, staffer, etc.). Then look at what's required to get into that sort of position (what education/degree, what if any experience, what connections, etc.). Then see whether taking that path would suit you.<br>
One doesn't have to be especially assertive, comative or outgoing to be a successul lawyer, but in most environmental fields you often will find yourself in a position of having to argue successfully to get your opinion or position accepted by others. You can be quiet, but you'll have to learn how to be convincing, and that isn't necessarily limited to legal training.</p>