Clinic - Environmental Litigation LAW 767A/767B

Course Number: LAW 767A and 767B, ULSR

Course Credits: 6 Credits (4 clinical, 2 academic) each semester

May be taken for one or two semesters. The Environmental Litigation Clinic represents public interest environmental groups bringing citizen enforcement actions in state and federal courts on a variety of environmental issues. The primary client of the Clinic is Riverkeeper, Inc., a non-profit dedicated to protecting the Hudson River and its tributaries. Student interns will practice under the JJLS student practice order, representing our clients in litigation against polluters seeking to enforce environmental laws, or against the EPA or New York DEC seeking to force the agencies to comply with their obligations under the law.

In addition to the case work, two weekly seminars focus on substantive environmental law and on lawyering skills encountered in major civil litigation. Skill areas include: pretrial and trial advocacy, case planning, integration of facts and law, client counseling, negotiation, and drafting legal documents. The Environmental Litigation Clinic requires a time commitment outside of class work of approximately 20 hours per week, although that work need not be done at the clinic. We work with students to avoid and minimize conflicts, but please note that clinical students may need to continue client responsibilities where necessary during exams and holidays.

Students must be available for clinic work and classes during the day and must be a second, third, or fourth year student. LLM students are also eligible to apply, but JD candidates are given priority. Though grades are important for selection into the Clinic, other factors are:

  1. Balance in the program of students’ skills, needs, interests and background;
  2. The demands of the anticipated caseload;
  3. Interest in the environment and litigation as a career.

Permission of the professors, based upon application and interview, is required. Prerequisites either Environmental Skills or Environmental Survey. Co-requisite Evidence. This seminar MUST be taken concurrently with its accompanying clinic: Law 767A.