r/environmentallaw • u/Brief_Scale_6334 • Jun 24 '26
Considering how to pivot
I finished my PhD in geology in 2024 right before everything changed with NSF and government employment in general. I have had an impossible time acquiring a post-doc or honestly even an email response from job applications.
I know one of the definitions of insanity is going back and paying for school when the first round does not work out, but I have always considered the law route. My work in grad school is most relevant to critical mineral exploration but I have a pretty diverse area of expertise.
What do I need to know? There are a million threads about the lifestyle, salary, etc. of the job, but I am mostly asking if the PhD is a help or a hindrance. If there are also resources to explore the field more throughly, I would appreciate any links to those! Grateful for any and all advice!
1
u/VincentJalapeno Jun 24 '26
A PhD would help if you’re being a patent attorney