Work
Experiences of William S. Richardson Environmental Law Students
For other years click here.
Summer of 2008:
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Leslie Cole-Brooks, Class of 2010
“In the short time I worked at NOAA, I gained lots of real
world experience. I wrote eight “NOVAs” (Notice of Violation and
Assessment of civil penalty) for violations of both the Magnuson-Stevens
Fishery Conservation and Management Act and the Endangered Species
Act. The cases involved “takes” of an endangered Hawaiian monk
seal, a threatened green sea turtle, an approach violation of
a humpback whale, a shark finning case, and several violations
involving lapsed fishing permits and failure to turn in fishing
logs. I also compiled two PPIPs (Preliminary Position on Issues
and Procedures—a sort of mini discovery document), and drafted
direct examination questions for two witnesses for a trial scheduled
for next week. I also had the chance to listen in on a pre-trial
conference with an administrative law judge, the prosecutor, and
the respondent, and have also heard two settlement negotiations.
I attended several meetings, ranging in topics from administration
and organization of the VMS program (vessel monitoring system)
to monk seal volunteer trainings. I highly recommend intern/externing
for NOAA office of general counsel for any student interested
in environmental law.”
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Noah Gibson, Class of 2010
“This summer I worked with HECO, thanks to the Linnel Nishioka
Environmental Law Summer Fellowship in memory of a prominent Honolulu
attorney who served Hawaii's environmental bar with excellence,
warmth, and dedication for many years. I worked with the environmental
compliance division of HECO's Legal Department, on issues such
as air and water quality permits, hazardous waste regulations,
habitat conservation, bio-fuels, renewable energy credits and
renewable energy sources in general. It was a wonderful opportunity
to work with Steve Oppenhiemer, who teaches a hazardous waste
course at WSRSL, and see what he does on a daily basis. Being
exposed to so many different aspects of energy production and
its connection and interaction with the environment was amazing.” |
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L to R: Camille Kalama,
Alan Murakami, Andrew Sprenger, me, Moses Haia. Missing: TJ Quon,
David Kimo Frankel, and Joaquin Manibusan III.
Sunny Greer, Class of 2009
“I am very grateful to have been the recipient of the 2008
Diversity Fellowship in Environmental Law, which was generously
funded by the ABA Section of Environment, Energy, & Resources
and the Natural Resources Section of the Hawaii State Bar Association.
My summer fellowship at the Native Hawaiian Legal Corporation
involved extensive legal research on issues affecting controversial
development projects from Kauai to the Big Island. By the end
of my fellowship, I completed six memos, attended four administrative
and community meetings, and worked with a legal team that just
took my analytical and writing skills to a higher level. My summer
was awesome!”
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L to R: Ted Bohlen and Jodi
Higuchi
Jodi Higuchi, Class of 2009
”During the summer of 2008, I wanted to experience a day in
the life of an environmental attorney and explore the opportunities
in environmental law. These goals were certainly fulfilled while
working for a Deputy Attorney General at the State Attorney General’s
Office. Because the Deputy Attorney General serves as legal counsel
for the Hawai’i Environmental Council and Office of Environmental
Quality Control, I spent most of the summer researching HEPA and
other states’ “little NEPA laws”, and shadowed him during his
daily duties like at Environmental Council meetings. I also had
the opportunity to meet many other deputies from other divisions,
enjoy the pleasant atmosphere of the State Attorney General’s
Office, and even pretended I was a Deputy Attorney General while
I sat in vacant offices belonging to deputies on vacation. The
State Attorney General’s Office was a wonderful experience that
provided me valuable practical skills and insight into the life
of an environmental attorney.” |
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David Sakoda, Class of 2010
“This summer I worked part time as a research assistant for
Professor Antolini. My primary task was to research legislative
session testimonies to analyze the intersection of local and Native
Hawaiian fishing rights and state fishing regulations. I also
did pro bono work with Community Conservation Network, an organization
that helps communities to develop and implement community-based
resource management strategies.”
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L to R: Lea Hong TPL Hawaiian
Islands Program Director, Sinclair Salas-Ferguson, and Kevin Chang,
TPL Hawaiian Islands Program Field Representative
Sinclair Salas-Ferguson, Class of 2010
"At The Trust for Public Land I was able to participate
in the the process of conserving land for people. I really enjoyed
working with and learning from TPL and their unique partnerships
with state, federal, and local governments/agencies, the community,
other non-profits, and everyone else involved in conserving land
in Hawaii."
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Evan Silberstein, Class of 2009
“This summer I worked at KAHEA: The Hawaiian Environmental
Alliance on a fellowship with the Center for Excellence in Native
Hawaiian Law. The primary focus of the summer was researching
and commenting on the draft management plan for Papahanaumokuakea,
the Marine National Monument in the NWHI. Additionally, I attended
DLNR hearings and public meetings on the Monument including providing
testimony at the Department of the Interior in Washington DC.
I also did legal and factual research on environmental justice
issues on Oahu and followed the ongoing legal and cultural issues
being raised regarding the treatment of burials in Hawai`i. Other
tasks included blogging on kahea.org, writing an op.ed for the
Honolulu Advertiser and collaborating with the amazing staff of
KAHEA on the day to day meetings and to do’s of this inspiring
and important non profit.” |
Summer of 2001:
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