Work Experiences of William S. Richardson Environmental Law Students
For other years click here.

Summer of 2008:

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.”

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.”


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!”

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.”

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.”

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."

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:

During the Summer of 2001, John (Jed) Davis '02 and Jill Raznov '03 helped the Clean Water Branch of the State Department of Health ("DOH") catch up on a backlog of administrative enforcement actions. DOH Deputy Director Gary Gill commented, "Both U.H. law school students got rave reviews from my programs. Enforcement cases that have been stalled are now moving forward. The environment is better protected because of the law students' work. The Department will definitely continue our intern program in years to come."


Pictured L-R: Michael Tsuji, Director, Clean Water Branch, Enforcement Section; Larry Lau, Office of the Attorney General; Jed Davis, '02; Jill Raznov, '03; Dennis Tulang, Director, Wastewater Branch; Lee Ann N.M. Brewer, Office of the Attorney General.

Also during the summer of 2001, Shirley Garcia '02 worked with Linnel Nishioka, Deputy Director for the State Commission on Water Resources Management, focusing on Hawai'i water law and policy. Ms. Garcia reported that "Working with Linnel was a fantastic experience! Especially after having worked for several non-profit environmental organizations in Washington, D.C. and Hawai'i, seeing the inner workings of a state agency made me really appreciate the constraints facing government and the importance of looking at issues from all sides. The experience definitely strengthened my interest in public service after I graduate."

 


Pictured L-R: Linnel Nishioka and Shirley Garcia, '02.

Robert Harris, '02 worked during the Summer of 2001 with the EarthJustice Honolulu office. Previously as the first grantee of the Environmental Law Society's summer grant program, No Ke Ola o ka 'Aina ("For the Life of the Land"), Robert worked in the Environmental Division of the Attorney General's Office in the summer of 2000. Mr. Harris commented that "working with Larry Lau, Jessica Wooley, Kathy Ho, and Madeleine Austin gave me the unparalleled opportunity to dig into pollution cases with statewide significance and exposed me to the unique benefits of a career with the public sector."

 


Pictured L-R: Robert Harris, '02 and Kapua Sproat.

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