About Environmental Law

Modern environmental law is a relatively new legal specialty that developed in the 1970s with the passage of the country's first federal environmental statutes and the establishment of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). A wide range of federal environmental statutes have followed, including the Clean Air Act, the Clean Water Act, and the Comprehensive Environmental Response Compensation and Liability Act (the Superfund Program).  Modern environmental law, however, has a long history in earlier conservation programs creating national and state forests, parks, and wildlife reserves.

Environmental law practitioners work in a variety of settings. In government, environmental lawyers work for federal, state, and local agencies. These jobs primarily deal with the enforcement and development of environmental regulations. Litigation is sometimes, though not always, involved. For instance, a lawyer at the EPA might draft a regulation to establish pollution control protocols for power plants. Or a lawyer at the U.S. Department of Justice in the Environment and Natural Resources Division might have to defend the agency in a case brought by an industry group accusing that EPA regulation of being too burdensome. Environmental lawyers may also work as public interest lawyers or as attorneys for environmental advocacy organizations in a litigation, lobbying, or transactional capacity. Organizations of this sort include the Environmental Defense Fund (EDF), the Sierra Club, Midwest Environmental Advocates, and Clean Wisconsin (formerly Wisconsin's Environmental Decade).

In the private sector, environmental lawyers find jobs in law firms or as in-house attorneys for corporations. A large amount of work in this area concerns the necessary environmental permits that businesses need when they build or expand and involves the application of administrative law to obtain, challenge, or defend permits. Corporate environmental lawyers also counsel their clients on the environmental liabilities associated with purchasing existing real estate. Private practice may also involve efforts to develop or modify agency rules and legislation relating to environmental issues and defending private or municipal parties in enforcement proceedings.

Law students with a strong interest in environmental law can earn a dual degree in environmental studies through the Nelson Institute for Environmental Studies.

Courses

Note: Whether a particular course is scheduled depends on faculty availability and student demand. View the Course Descriptions for more information about each course and when it's offered.

These are the basic courses offered at the UW that — at a minimum — employers expect a student interested in this specialty to have.

Curriculum Questions

For particular Environmental Law Curriculum questions, contact:

Clinical Programs, Internships & Externships

Student Organizations & Related Activities

Students involved in student activities and organizations are often strong job candidates. Employers look for students who show leadership, public service, and community involvement. 

For a full list of student organizations at UW Law, view the Student Organizations, Journals, & Activities.

Faculty

Here are some of the faculty who teach or have an interest in this subject area:

In addition to our full-time faculty, the Law School's adjunct faculty members — prominent practicing lawyers and judges — bring their specialized knowledge and experience to the classroom. Filter by "Adjunct" in the Law School Directory for a full list.

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