Environmental Law Concentration Track

Environmental Law is a complex and often highly contentious area of law that responds to science, economics and ethics as they relate to the world’s natural resources. Issues surrounding the use, ownership and stewardship of our natural resources and surrounding environment prompt intense legal and public policy debates. The University of Washington School of Law offers a J.D. concentration track in Environmental Law. Students are taught about the importance of statutory and administrative sources of environmental law, as well as the agency rulings and court opinions that interpret them.

Our faculty members are at the forefront of many new developments in environmental law, so students have early and complete access to changes in the law as they occur. In addition, researchers in other departments within the University of Washington contribute significantly toward much of the scientific study that ultimately prompts change in environmental law. School of Law faculty present these developments in context with other substantive areas of the law to provide practical training in applying environmental theories and ideals in all areas of legal practice.

Faculty Advisors

• Craig Allen
• Robert Anderson
• William Andersen
• Gregory Hicks
• Roy Prosterman
• Michael Robinson-Dorn
• William H. Rodgers, Jr.

Related Links

1. Environmental Law at the UW
2. Environmental Law Courses (Course Catalog)

Program Requirements

Students must take a minimum of 33 credits in environmental law courses as follows:

1. Students must take:
   1. A509 Administrative Law (4 credits)
   2. A527 Environmental Law: Pollution Control (4 credits)
   3. Advanced Writing Project (Law E500) or a seminar (4-6 credits) on an environmental law subject approved by the Environmental Law Track advisor.
   4. B567 General Externship Perspective Seminar (2 credits), or equivalent.
2. Students must earn at least 9 credits in courses from the following list:
   1. A525 Water Law (3 credits)
   2. A529 Public Land Law (3 credits)
   3. A540 Land Use Planning (3 credits)
   4. A545 International Environmental Law (3 credits)
   5. A565 American Indian Law (3 credits)
   6. B529 Advanced Environmental Law and Practice Seminar(4 credits)
   7. B565 U.S. Coastal and Ocean Law (4 credits)
   8. E556 Washington Systems of Environmental Regulation (3 credits)
   9. E581 Environmental Ethics and Philosophy (3 credits)
      
3. Students must earn at least 10 credits in either the Environmental Law Clinic or an externship in an organization approved by the law school public service program and the Environmental Law Track advisor, (such as American Rivers, Center for Environmental Law & Policy, Pacific Legal Foundation, Environmental Protection Agency, Department of Natural Resources). The Environmental Law Track advisor may waive this requirement for students who document equivalent practical experience in the area. To the extent that a student who has equivalent experience, he or she must still take sufficient additional credits of approved environmental courses in order to meet the 33 credit hour minimum for the concentration.
4. With approval of the Environmental Law Track advisor, students may take courses from outside the law school related to environmental issues.