Five years into their law careers, most associates are worried about how to make partner at their firm or, in this economy, how to hold on to their jobs. Not Loni Gardner.

She’s leaving behind her environmental practice at Murtha Cullina in New Haven to spend about 15 months in Germany studying global environmental policy. And by the way, she doesn’t yet know how to speak German and she’s bringing her husband and their 18-month-old son along for the adventure.