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Alumni
Samuel Carvalho's Journey: A Legal Path Toward A Sustainable Planet
Growing up, Samuel Carvalho ŮٱƵ25 LLM dreamed of being a diplomat, an ambition that led him to pursue a law degree at the Universidade Federal do Ceará in Fortaleza, Brazil. However, during his time pursuing an LLB, he had the opportunity to work alongside environmental organizations serving under-resourced communities. This experience was the beginning of a new passion for Samuel.
A turning point came when he participated in a workshop with children in one such community. During this workshop, the children were asked to draw their ideal community. They drew pictures of lush landscapes with an abundance of trees, flowing streams, and green open spaces. The contrast between these visions and the environmental reality surrounding them was stark. This difference lit a fire for Samuel and he became impassioned to be an advocate for people to have access to healthy environments and ecosystems.
SamuelŮٱƵs growing commitment to studying environmental law in law school continued when he decided to dedicate his thesis to the study of mangrove ecosystems and the REDD+ initiative, a global program aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions through forest conservation. After earning his LLB at Universidade Federal do Ceará, Samuel accepted a position as an associate for a tax law firm. Although he found the work interesting, he was still passionate about pursuing a career in environmental law. Samuel decided the next best step for him would be to pursue an LLM in Environmental Law, which led him to the Elisabeth Haub School of Law at ŮٱƵ.
Samuel was drawn to Pace Haub LawŮٱƵs LLM in Environmental Law because of its top national ranking and the depth of its curriculum. He was particularly interested in the courses and opportunities in International Environmental Law, Sustainable Business, and Environmental Law in Commercial Transactions. ŮٱƵWhen I arrived, I was so impressed by the small class sizes and how the faculty showed genuine care for their students,ŮٱƵ recalls Samuel. He is particularly grateful for the mentorship he received from Professor Achinthi Vithanage, who he notes took a meaningful interest in helping him refine his focus within environmental law.
While he was at the Law School, Samuel took every opportunity to be engaged in the law school experience. ŮٱƵI wanted to be involved and learn everything I could,ŮٱƵ he shared. Samuel served as the LLM liaison for the Law SchoolŮٱƵs Environmental Law Society and was selected as a Sustainable Business Law Hub Student Scholar. He also proudly represented Pace Haub Law as a student ambassador at the American Bar AssociationŮٱƵs Section of Environment, Energy, and Resources (ABA SEER) conferences and NY Climate Exchange events.
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It was during his final year at the Law School that Samuel learned of an opportunity to enter the SUAD YOUTH COP, a prestigious global mock negotiation competition. Samuel entered the competition with an exchange student from Paris, Séverine Ginot, who studied at Pace Haub Law the previous year. The SUAD YOUTH COP competition brought together teams from around the world for an intense 3-day competition. Samuel and SeverineŮٱƵs ability to navigate complex issues set them apart and helped them secure a spot at COP29, the 29th United Nations Climate Change Conference, which was held in Baku, Azerbaijan. At COP29, Samuel, along with other students, was selected to present an official panel, entitled ŮٱƵYouth Voices for a Sustainable Future: Oceans, Biodiversity, and Energy at COP29.ŮٱƵ Samuel attributes his success at COP29 in large part to the preparation he received through his coursework at the Law School. With a strong and diverse academic foundation, he felt confident navigating the high-level conversations and complex issues presented during the competition. ŮٱƵI knew I had a great current knowledge across a wide range of environmental law topics,ŮٱƵ he said.
When asked his hope for the future within environmental law, Samuel doesnŮٱƵt hesitate, ŮٱƵMy dream is that weŮٱƵre able to meet the goals of the Paris Agreement goals and be within 1.5 degrees Celsius,ŮٱƵ he shared. ŮٱƵAnd that people can enjoy the environment and respect the laws that protect it.ŮٱƵ Most recently, Samuel was honored as the LLM recipient of the 2025 DeanŮٱƵs Award, the Law SchoolŮٱƵs highest honor for academic excellence, service, and leadership. Currently, Samuel is preparing for the bar exam this July and contemplating if he will pursue a Doctor of Juridical Science (SJD) or begin his professional career. ŮٱƵWhether I pursue an additional educational degree or start my professional career, I will be using the tools I gained at Pace Haub Law to advocate for a more just and sustainable planet,ŮٱƵ said Samuel.
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