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Rachel James

Staff Attorney

Rachel’s work centers on equipping communities and encouraging decision-makers to advance environmental and energy justice. She practices primarily before the Virginia State Corporation Commission and also advocates at the Commonwealth’s Energy and Environmental Quality departments. Rachel participates in case development, conducts legal research and writing, and applies her expertise in utility policy across cases from long-term planning for generation to transportation electrification.

In 2024, she was honored by the Chesterfield Branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) “Foot Soldier in the Sand” Award.

“SELC’s people-anchored approach to addressing environmental challenges is what drew me to SELC. It’s what draws me to environmental work generally, people. The locally based solutions developed here in the South will no doubt benefit those across the nation. I’m inspired by this worthy mission, and thrilled to be part of the SELC team.”

During law school, Rachel worked full-time as a project manager for converting vehicles’ internal combustion engines to hydrogen fuel cells. She then worked for a small solar developer after law school and later joined the Hawai‘i Public Utilities Commission as a staff attorney, where in 2021 Rachel was honored as one of Hawaii Business Magazine’s 20 for the Next 20. While in Hawai‘i Rachel taught legal writing at her alma mater, the William S. Richardson School of Law and now enjoys guest lecturing in law school and undergraduate forums.

In Virginia, Rachel and her family enjoy living a short drive from Virginia’s largest state park, Pocahontas State Park, which she regularly visits. Rachel enjoys her volunteer service with local and national bar associations and is having a blast making her way down the list of Virginia State Parks, checking them off as she goes. She hopes to visit them all.

  • Hawaii Public Utilities Commission, staff attorney 
  • J.D., University of Hawai‘i William S. Richardson School of Law; certificates in Native Hawaiian law and environmental law; Hawaii State Bar Association Environment, Energy, and Resources Section Award 
  • M.A., Hawai‘i Pacific University, with honors, global leadership and sustainable development  
  • B.S.B., University of Phoenix 
  • A.A., Cochise College