Alumni Alyssa Umberger ’24

Associate, Wright & Talisman

Location: University Park

Expertise: Energy and Environmental Law

Tell us about your work.

I primarily practice federal regulatory energy law in front of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. I regularly interpret and advise clients concerning issues related to the Natural Gas Act, the Natural Gas Policy Act, the Federal Power Act, the National Environmental Policy Act, and their associated regulations. Previous to private practice, I worked as an attorney-advisor in the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission’s Office of General Counsel, advising the Office of Energy Projects, regarding applications for natural gas certificates under the Natural Gas Act and Natural Gas Policy Act, and applications for hydroelectric licenses under the Federal Power Act.

I represent regional transmission operators and independent system operators and oil and gas pipelines in regulatory proceedings in front of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. I assist these clients in filing applications for natural gas certificates, ensuring that they meet all regulatory—economic and environmental—requirements to construct and operate pipelines under the Natural Gas Act. Additionally, I prepare compliance filings in response to Federal Energy Regulatory Commission Orders as well as motions in response to complaints filed against my clients at FERC.

I plan on spending my career in the energy and environmental fields. While I’m not sure exactly what the future holds, I have enjoyed working for both the federal and state governments and in private practice in these areas.

How did Penn State Dickinson Law prepare you for your career?

Penn State Dickinson Law’s certificate in energy and environmental law and their emphasis on experiential learning greatly prepared me for my career in energy and environmental law. In the classroom, Penn State offered the opportunity for me to explore environmental and energy law classes; to this day, administrative law, water law, environmental mediation, energy law, and environmental law courses prepared me to think critically and have a basic understanding of the energy and environmental regulatory fields.

Outside of the classroom, I participated in the Environmental Law Society and was a research assistant for Hannah Wiseman, assisting her research of carbon sequestration regulations. Additionally, I created my own writing seminar, sponsored by Professor Hannah Wiseman, to research and draft an article, "(Environmental) Justice for All: Rethinking Environmental Disaster Remedies," that was published in the Washington Journal for Social and Environmental Justice.

During law school, I externed with the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General’s Environmental Crimes Division; the Assistant Secretary to the Navy for Energy, Installations, and Environment; and the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission’s Office of Enforcement.

Professors Hannah Wiseman, Lara Fowler, and Jamie Colburn were amazing professors and mentors in the energy and environmental field. Professor Wiseman sponsored my independent learning experience and ushered me through the journal publication process. Professors Colburn and Fowler provided many career resources and advice as to potential careers. All three taught meaningful classes—I still use some of my outlines from their classes as a starting point for legal research to this day.