People

Eric has worked as a Research Assistant for the Environmental and Energy Law Program, as a Research Assistant for multiple professors, and as an editor for the Harvard Environmental Law Review and Journal on Legislation. He spent his 1L summer at the Environmental Protection Bureau of the New York State Attorney General’s Office and at the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York. Eric graduated with a Bachelor’s in economics and anthropology from Yale University, where he wrote his senior thesis about the closure of New York’s Indian Point nuclear power plant. After college, he worked for two years as a policy researcher. He is from Queens, New York and is a first-generation college graduate.

Esther is steadfast in the advancement and growth of Vanua Pasifika, the land, the sea, and the people of the South Pacific. Climate change exacerbates the underlying socio-economic woes plaguing the community. The Emmett Environmental Law & Policy Clinic, under the leadership of Andy Mergen, offered her support and hope in her advocacy. Esther’s Harvard Law School-inspired nonprofit organization, the Climate Defense & Development Charity (CDDC), largely engages collaborative philanthropy to drive tangible results across the South Pacific. Because climate change is contentious her work benefits from a strong litigation acumen. The clinic empowered her with these new tools. She clerked at the United States Department of Justice, Environment and Natural Resources Division, and the Office of United States Senator Brian Schatz of Hawai’i. Each opportunity sharpened her understanding of environmental legislation and litigation, forces simultaneously constrained and stretched under the pressures of climate change.

Working with EELP was one of the best experiences during my time at HLS. I worked on tribal governance and tribal law projects. As a citizen of the Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma, I am passionate about federal Indian law and tribal law. I transferred to HLS from a law school that had a fairly developed federal Indian law and tribal law program. However, it can be difficult to find these types of opportunities at HLS and this is what drew me to work with EELP. This opportunity allowed me to sharpen my legal skills as well as collaborate with tribal leaders, practicing attorneys, and individuals employed by other universities in the area of law I’m most passionate about. The work strengthened by my skill sets immensely and gave me a sense of confidence and accomplishment. The other aspect that drew me to EELP and the clinic was the faculty and staff. Professor Mergen is a fantastic mentor, always at the ready to inspire, support, and guide students. He recommended EELP to me and cheered me on every step of the way. My supervisor at EELP, Hannah Perls, is dedicated not only to her important work, but also to the students. She is passionate and driven no matter what difficulties arise. I learned so much from her during my time with EELP and I sincerely hope I will get to work with her in the future. I had a wonderful experience working with both EELP and the clinic and I simply cannot recommend it enough.

Eric came to law school to work on challenges at the intersection of environmental harm, climate change, and racial justice. From the start of 1L, he worked as a research assistant for the Environmental & Energy Law Program to learn about emerging and complex environmental legal issues. As an RA, he collaborated with EELP’s incredible staff attorneys on projects relating to the Clean Air Act, global emissions disclosure regimes, and corporate accountability laws. In 2L, Eric joined the Emmett Environmental Law & Policy Clinic to gain hands-on experience in public interest environmental litigation. Supervised by the Clinic’s highly experienced and supportive instructors, he researched litigation strategies for communities of color impacted by factory farming pollution. Through the various environmental programs at HLS, he explored opportunities to participate in moot courts, learn about local environmental justice initiatives, and work with organizations such as Our Children’s Trust and EarthRights International. After graduating in 2025, Eric will join Ecojustice, Canada’s largest environmental law charity.