The nation’s top law firms have slightly reduced their fossil fuel work and boosted their renewable practices, according to a new report by a group of climate-conscious law students.
The report from Law Students for Climate Accountability grades the 100 most prestigious U.S. firms — known as the “Vault 100” — based on litigation, lobbying efforts and other legal transactions for the oil and gas industry from 2019 to 2023.
For the first time, the report shows that firms are making “marginal progress,” with a new record of seven firms receiving an A grade for 2024, up from five last year. The report is the fifth annual accounting by the law students’ group.
“As regulations evolve to address the climate crisis, the legal industry must also change with the times for the betterment of our future,” said Sean Torres, a third-year student at CUNY School of Law.
