In the past two decades, there has been a noticeable increase in the interest of undergraduates in environmental studies and environmental science. One result has been the growth in the development of interdisciplinary undergraduate programs requiring course work in the natural and social sciences, and field experiences and internships. Pitt-Johnstown has such a program - a Bachelor of Arts program in Environmental Studies. A second result has been an expanded interest on the part of undergraduates in graduate opportunities to study environmental law and policy - either in law school and in graduate school. The information below is designed to give undergraduates, particularly undergraduates in prelaw and in the sciences, an idea of the range of legal study possible in the field of environmental law, and law school programs that may be of interest to them and they may wish to explore further.
The Top Law Schools in Environmental Law
The listing below has been compiled recently from U.S. News & World Report and Top-Law-Schools.com based on established specializations in law. You should not consider it inclusive however. Each law school provides a range of opportunities for law school students interested in environmental law, but few have a full range, and only some may offer course work focused in that aspect (or aspects) of environmental law in which you might have an interest. Most law schools offer a general course in environmental law, and many of those listed below have certificate programs with courses focused on a select area of environmental law and/or provide clinical experience. Some provide opportunities to assist in legal research in the field via an active Center or Institute, and/or student participation in the publication of a journal on environmental law. So examine each law school carefully, and scrutinize other law schools not listed here that may offer aspects of environmental law you seek. The law schools considered highly ranked in environmental law are listed below:
- Vermont Law School/Environmental Law Center
- Lewis & Clark College/Northwestern School of Law
- Pace University
- University of Maryland School of Law
- Tulane University
- University of Colorado-Boulder
- University of California-Berkeley
- Georgetown University
- George Washington University
- Stanford University
- New York University
- University of Oregon/Ocean and Coastal Law Center
- University of Denver/Earthjustice
- University of Washington
- University of Texas
- University of Utah/Wallace Stegner Center for Land, Resources, and the Environment
- Yale University
- Duke University
- Illinois Institute of Technology (Chicago-Kent)
- University of Michigan
- Golden Gate University
- Boston College
- University of California-Davis
- American University/Washington College of Law
- Harvard University
- Florida State University
- University of Hawaii
Environmental Law Clinics
Many law schools maintain environmental law clinics that provide opportunities involving students in various stages of litigation. Because they have initiated, supported, and/or litigated claims against industries whose planned actions are seen as threatening the environment and/or the health and well-being of poor, minority communities, environmental law clinics and the law schools they represent, especially at state-supported or state-related universities, have come under significant state legislative pressure to not engage or be involved in such activities [summarized nicely in "Why Environmental Law Clinics?" 43 No. 1 Environ. Law Reporter (2013) available online in the ELR articles archive]. While most clinics have some level of private (endowment, nonprofit organization, and donation) support, many law schools at universities receiving a significant proportion of their operating budgets from state appropriations have moved the litigation sections of their environmental law clinics off-campus and established them as non-profit organizations. Law schools with environmental law clinics include:
- Berkeley
- Chicago-Kent
- Denver
- Emory
- Florida
- Georgetown
- Golden Gate
- Lewis and Clark
- Maryland
- Michigan (in conjunction with the Great Lakes Natural Resource Center)
- New York University
- Oregon
- Pace
- Pittsburgh
- Tulane
- San Diego
- Valparaiso
- Vermont
- Washington
- Widener
- Yale
In addition clinical internships and/or externships are offered at the following:
- California-Davis
- Cleveland State
- CUNY
- Lewis and Clark
- Loyola Marymount
- Maine
- Richmond
- San Francisco
- SUNY - University of Buffalo
- Vermont
- Washington and Lee
Elements of a Diversified Program in Environmental Law
With expanded interest in environmental law, many law schools have developed curriculum offerings in the environmental law field, and it is often difficult for a prelaw student to know what to ask - to identify the range of opportunities various law schools offer for the study of environmental law. Here are some questions that the interested prelaw student should research before making applications to a law school:
- What is the range of courses it offers in the field of environmental law?
- Are all of the environmental law courses taught in the law school, by law school faculty, or are some offered by faculty outside the law school (e.g. in the sciences or in public policy)?
- When during your three-year law school career can you actually take these courses?
- Does the law school have a distinct Center or Institute that conducts research, field work, and conferences/symposia in the field of environmental law?
- Does the law school publish a journal on some aspect of environmental law, edited by law school students?
- Does the law school offer clinical experience in environmental law, allowing law school students the opportunity to work directly with clients, federal, state and local public agencies, private advocacy and/or public service groups?
- Does the law school have a discrete environmental law program that offers its own certificate that can be completed during one's law school career, or a graduate degree that can be earned after completion of the JD?
- What types of environmental law career paths do graduates of the law school usually follow?
Your Undergraduate Background - What Do You Need?
When you are exploring environmental law as a potential career path, it may be wise to explore also what kind of undergraduate background would be the best preparation for the study of environmental law. Specifically, you might want to include in your undergraduate study course work in one or more of the following fields:
- biology (with laboratory)
- ecology/terrestrial ecology
- environmental science (often in biology)
- wildlife management
- chemistry (with laboratory)
- analytical chemistry (with laboratory)
- environmental studies
- micro- and macro-economics
- resource management (usually in geography)
- environmental policy (usually in political science or public affairs/administration)
- the legislative process (usually in political science)
- government regulation (in economics, political science, or public affairs/administration)
- physical geology/geology of soils
- oceanography (usually in geology)
- hydrology (usually in geology or civil engineering)
- methodology courses such as surveying, photogrammetry, CAD, GIS, and statistics
You should not however make the assumption that only students with biology and chemistry undergraduate degrees can move into environmental law. This not the case at all. Some law school program require a minimum background in the sciences and other fields for entry into certain courses in environmental law, but some aspects of environmental law would be best served by a background in political science, or geology, or economics. Furthermore, do not overlook that fact that your environmental law credentials are built through summer experiences as well, undergraduate internships and/or legal internships after first year is completed. Finally, your credentials in the field will expand as you enter the practice in the field, placing some importance on the type of firm or agency you accept your first position with and the types of work they want you to be engaged in.
Interesting Links
Vermont Journal of Environmental Law
Water Law Review (Denver)
Gretches-Wilkinson Center for Natural Resources (Colorado)
Global Center for Environmental Legal Studies (Pace)
Environmental Law Institute
Georgia Coastal Initiative
Center for Marine and Environmental Studies (Virgin Islands)