Also called: Water Law Attorney
Represents farmers, cities, and tribes in fights over who gets to use scarce water in the West.
In states like Colorado and California, water is owned and traded like property. Water lawyers trace water rights back to the 1800s, argue in special water courts, and negotiate deals during droughts. Climate change is making this field busier.
Approximate: anchored on Bureau of Labor Statistics data for a broader job group.
Professional degree (MD, JD, DVM…), about 7 years after high school. Bachelor's degree, 3-year JD, and passing the bar exam.
Ways in: 4-year college, Professional school. Training cost: Over $150k.
Majors to look at: Environmental Science, Geology, Agricultural Economics, Natural Resources.
Growing about average (about 4% over 10 years). BLS projection for all lawyers (2024-34); niche areas vary.
Low risk for 10 years. AI helps trace old water records; fights among farmers, cities and tribes over scarce water need local, human expertise.
Classes: AP Environmental Science, Geography, AP U.S. History, Speech and debate.
Official data: O*NET occupation 23-1011.
Career Universe is an early version. Pay, training and AI-risk figures are estimates to start your own research, not verified facts. The research was written with AI research assistants, checked by validation scripts and spot-checked by hand. Check anything important with schools, employers and official sources. How the numbers work.