Interview w/ Sangeet Kaur (insights from an ESG-focused legal recruiter)

Did you know that there are ESG-focused legal recruiters?

Well there are!

You’ll have to read our interview with Sangeet Kaur of Pro Lawyers ESG to see her perspectives on ESG-opportunities for lawyers.

We cover her journey to becoming an ESG-focused legal recruiter, trends in the ESG recruiting space, what makes candidates for ESG positions stand out, as well as her advice for new lawyers!

Plus, if you want more insights like this, you need to sign up for our upcoming webinar on ESG-focused opportunities and careers for lawyers.? Click here for more details!

We’ll answer your burning questions and help you to move towards a more climate-friendly career, no matter your role or experience.

But now for the interview!

Hi! I’m?Matthew Karmel, chair of the Environmental and Sustainability Law Group at?Offit Kurman, P.A., a full-service AMLaw 200 law firm, and the founder of the planetary lawyer project.

Please subscribe to our newsletter?here, we share tips and job opportunities every other week to help lawyers build climate careers.

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Any views expressed are my own. Nothing here is legal advice.

Matthew: Can you tell me about your background and how you became an ESG-focused legal recruiter??I understand it was a winding path.

Sangeet: My journey started when I received a scholarship to study law, which led me to pursue a master's degree in the UK and then enter academia. I am originally from Singapore and returned home for personal reasons. While there, I applied for a job as the Director of Training at the Law Society of Singapore, and I got it.

Afterwards, I was headhunted to join a Magic Circle firm, which was based in Singapore. The economic crisis happened in the early 2000s, a couple of the offices started closing, and there was talk about Singapore’s closing. Eventually, I moved to a local law firm doing knowledge management and business development.

As my son started growing up, I wanted to spend more time with him. I had peers who were setting up their law firms, and they would ask me if I could help them with a business development project or a newsletter. I couldn't do it while I was working full-time, so that led me to set up a business to do it. After a year at that, I felt that the Singapore market was too small. My partner was traveling between Singapore and the UK for work, which helped us decide to move to the UK in 2014.

This leads me to how I got into recruitment. I had a lot of legacy consulting clients from Singapore, Malaysia, and India, but I needed to find a network in the UK. I felt like a stranger coming back after 14 or 15 years; it was hard to know where to start. Eventually, I came across a lovely consulting company, and a couple of their clients had been asking for recruitment help, and the company asked whether I wanted to do it. I had no experience in recruitment, so I did some searching online, got myself trained as a recruiter, and learned how to set up a recruitment business. At first, I plugged it into the other services I already provided.

?After years of doing all legal roles, I woke up one day and realized I wanted to specialize in ESG sustainability, business, and human rights. This was fired by my KM and BD work for my clients that I was still doing as a consultant. I did substantial research on these topics. I’m a passionate believer that lawyers have the skills, tools, and experiences to make an impact in these spaces. Many young lawyers are keen on climate issues and addressing business practices involving labor abuse, supply chain issues, and the use of forced child labor within those supply chains. I launched the new brand slightly over a year ago. It's been an amazing ride.

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Matthew: That’s fantastic!?We’ve been running this newsletter for about a year, and I think this is a moment where ESG and climate are really integrating into the legal field.?What trends do you see in the ESG recruiting space?

Sangeet: Initially, my task was to find lawyers with ESG or sustainability skills or who had done a master's in environmental law. Now it's not just outward looking or finding lawyers for a firm’s clients, but more about, “Hey, we need to start our own ESG department.” As a result, there’s a need for operational leaders. Some law firms here in the UK are starting to look out of the box in the sense that they are not just recruiting lawyers but recruiting sustainability professionals, DEI, well-being and even data professionals.

Even knowledge managers are in ESG, which is lovely to see. Previously, I could only imagine it being given to the Operational Knowledge Management team or others who handle corporate mergers. But now, there are dedicated ESG knowledge management roles.

Additionally, I've seen paralegal roles emerging. One role gaining a lot of attention in the market is litigation roles in the environmental sector. This is not only due to public interest or climate and environmental litigation but also because of greenwashing. The regulatory authorities, such as the Advertising Standards Authority, are now clamping down on misleading claims. There’s a growing interest in these roles requiring specific experiences and expertise.

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Matthew: Can you speak to what makes a candidate for an ESG-focused position stand out amongst others??I have found in my practice that ESG and climate certifications are not necessary but is this still true for ESG-focused legal positions?

Sangeet: I find that the most attractive candidates are the ones that have not just done their traditional law degree and then spent ten years as a corporate lawyer. They've invested their time and passion into the area and pursued a master's in environmental law or in sustainability or even in understanding the 17 sustainable development goals. A couple of popular courses are available, one at Oxford and another at Cambridge. These courses and certifications are out there, and candidates who have completed them are often seen as stronger.

Law firms are now actively considering non-traditional candidates and candidates who have unique backgrounds. I'm not sure if that term is officially used, but they are genuinely seeking candidates with "The X Factor," so to speak. It's not just about academic excellence or having a few years of experience. They are also interested in candidates passionate about specific causes. They want to know about your contributions to the environment or to communities personally. They are curious about the volunteer organizations you have been involved with.

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Matthew: I totally agree about finding and highlighting your “X Factor.”?But what about new lawyers that are just starting out??Is there advice you would give to someone coming out of law school and wanting to work in ESG?

Sangeet: I spoke to a candidate just a couple of days ago, and she was worried because she thought she had to specialize, even though she had only been in practice for one year. I assured her that it's not possible to specialize after just one year, and it's good to have a broad understanding. Specialization can come later.

Moreover, there's no such thing as being an 'ESG lawyer.' If you are a tax or IP lawyer, you can incorporate ESG elements into your subject area. Being climate-conscious is possible in any practice area, not just environmental law. For example, property or construction lawyers can contribute to impactful work.

My advice is not to worry too much about specializing in your early years. Instead, try to gain experience in a range of work types and develop your specialization along the way. Keep educating yourself by participating in courses, webinars, and other informative events. Plenty of free resources are currently available, including events organized by environmental law agencies or podcasts. I encourage people to sign up and listen to these valuable insights. This continuous learning will enhance your knowledge and skills.

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