James Gao

James Gao is an Associate Attorney at ELPC. Before joining ELPC, James was an associate at Reed Smith LLP in Chicago. James received his law degree from the University of Chicago Law School and a bachelor’s degree in Economics and Mathematics from the University of Chicago. During law school, James interned at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (Region 5) and participated in the Abrams Environmental Law Clinic.

What’s a place you love in the Midwest?

Jasper-Pulaski Fish & Wildlife Area in Indiana. Thousands of sandhill cranes landing in the fields at dusk is a sight to remember.

What drives you to do this work?

Clean air and clean water are vital to our livelihoods and wellbeing. Just imagine a day when the winds have blown in wildfire smoke from afar – I wouldn’t want to go outside! But it’s not too late to rescue our natural resources, for the sake of our own health and that of the ecosystem. We must be willing to do our part to protect our environment.