Berman Environmental Law Clinic

The Kathy and Steve Berman Environmental Law Clinic has been made possible by a substantial gift from the Berman family in 2003 that prepares students to become knowledgeable legal advocates for the Pacific Northwest’s unique environmental concerns.

The clinic's caseload covers all aspects of environmental law from issues of air and water pollution, nuclear power plant sites, wildlife and marine protection, fisheries, toxics, to the Federal Advisory Committee Act and NEPA.

Berman Clinic in the News

• Clinic Provides Practical Experience on the Waterfront - UW Law Spring '08
  From experiences like Julie Schaffer’s summer work with Friends of the San Juans to confronting the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on behalf of environmental groups, the clinic offers students hands-on, practical legal experience.
• U.S. Supreme Court expected to make decision on Teck Cominco case soon - The Canadian Press
  The U.S. Supreme Court is expected to decide this week if it wants to hear the case of a pollution lawsuit against Teck Cominco Ltd., a case legal experts say could make it easier for U.S. environmentalists to sue other Canadian companies. Michael Robinson-Dorn, director of the UW Berman Environmental Law Clinic, said allowing the case to go ahead could help the environment.
• UW Clinic Students Making a Difference - KCBA Bar Bulletin
  For students in the University of Washington’s Berman Environmental Law Clinic, being in law school may be a walk in the park, but only if it’s to gather data for an environmental impact statement (EIS).
• High Court, U.N. Weigh In on Climate Change - NPR Talk of the Nation
  Michael Robinson-Dorn weighs in on the Supreme Court ruling that the EPA can regulate auto emissions of greenhouse gases.
  
• UW Law School clinic files suit against EPA - UW Daily
  The Berman Environmental Law Clinic at the UW law school filed a lawsuit against the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency on behalf of Friends of the Earth, a non-profit organization.
• Lawsuit Seeks EPA Action on Cruise Ship Pollution - Environmental News Service
  "The lawsuit only asks the court to require the EPA to do what the law says it must - respond to Friends of the Earth's petition," said professor Michael Robinson-Dorn of the Berman Environmental Law Clinic at the UW, who prepared the case on behalf of Friends of the Earth.