Environmental

In the core classes, students are introduced to different theoretical perspectives on environmental regulation and get a foundational education about how environmental law works. They learn the law governing the regulation of clean air, clean water, energy, and endangered species. During their second and third year, many students will take one or more of several introductory survey courses, such as Environmental Law or Natural Resources Law or get first-hand experience through specialized clinics. Students can also choose from a range of seminars focusing on topics such as food and agricultural law and policy, animal law, and international environmental law and the issues currently shaping it, including global warming, declining fish stocks, and the loss of biological diversity.  The Frank J. Guarini Center on Environmental, Energy, and Land Use Law and the Institute for Policy Integrity also provide students opportunities to meet practitioners and engage with high-level issues.

In keeping with its tradition of leadership in this area of study, the Law School now offers the Environmental and Energy Law LLM, a master’s program for students with a strong future professional or academic interest in environmental and land use law.

The environmental course offerings at NYU Law are complemented by a vibrant intellectual life. Our environmental centers engage with issues through research and discussion, regularly inviting highly regarded speakers to campus to address the community.

Frank J. Guarini Center on Environmental, Energy, and Land Use Law

The Frank J. Guarini Center on Environmental, Energy, and Land Use Law focuses on environmental and energy challenges that range from global climate change to regional energy policy.

Institute for Policy Integrity

The Institute for Policy Integrity is a nonpartisan think tank dedicated to improving the quality of government decisionmaking. It produces original scholarly research in the fields of economics, law, and regulatory policy and advocates for reform before courts, legislatures, and executive agencies.

State Energy & Environmental Impact Center

The State Energy & Environmental Impact Center ("State Impact Center") supports state attorneys general in defending and promoting clean energy, climate and environmental laws and policies. 

Center for Human Rights and Global Justice

The Center for Human Rights and Global Justice is a leading action-research hub that contributes to the global human rights project through scholarship, education, field building, advocacy, and legal practice.

Furman Center for Real Estate and Urban Policy 

The Furman Center for Real Estate and Urban Policy advances research and debate on housing, neighborhoods, and urban policy. 

Tax Law Center

The Tax Law Center seeks to protect and strengthen the tax system through rigorous, high-impact legal work in the public interest. 

Climate Litigation Accelerator

The Climate Litigation Accelerator (CLX) is a global collaborative hub for research, advocacy, and strategic litigation on the climate emergency. Working with scholars, activists, and litigants from around the world, CLX initiates and supports efforts that build the speed and scale necessary to spur action on the climate emergency within the limited timeframe left to avoid triggering extreme scenarios of global warming. CLX helps fill gaps in existing practice, connects litigants and experts in different fields (from climate science to strategic communications to ecology to climate economics), and spearheads and supports climate lawsuits and other forms of advocacy.

Environmental Law Journal

Environmental Law Journal, a student-run publication, is one of the leading environmental law journals in the nation. It publishes pieces that reveal and analyze the expanding links between environmental and land use policy as well as administrative, corporate, constitutional, criminal, energy, insurance, international, property, tax, and tort law. Annual symposia also address crucial themes for the evolving world, such as renewable energy, the future of the utility industry, and American gas exports.

At NYU Law, students are encouraged to take advantage of all the Law School has to offer, from working directly with faculty on their research, to getting involved with our centers, to participating in clinics and student organizations. Our centers give environmental law students robust opportunities to flesh out their experiences, and graduates can take the next step in their education through our specialized LLM program or our fellowships. In addition to forging relationships with faculty and alumni, students should also connect with the Office of Career Services and the Public Interest Law Center (PILC) to explore other options for enhancing their journeys. Here are some opportunities for those specifically interested in environmental law:

Student Groups and Journals

The Environmental Law Society sponsors issue-focused panels featuring prominent environmental lawyers and scholars; legal projects in which it partners with both local and national environmental organizations to provide research assistance; and community service events. Each fall, the organization also hosts a hike on Bear Mountain.

 

The Student Animal Legal Defense Fund engages in legal research involving questions surrounding animal rights and animal welfare, working to educate the community about the intersection between animal rights and the law.

 

The Environmental Law Journal, a student-run publication, is one of the top environmental law journals in the nation.

Clinical Work

The UN Diplomacy Clinic places students in the Permanent Missions of member states at the United Nations to act as legal advisors. In this role, students will assist the Permanent Missions in their engagement in international diplomacy, with a specific focus on international and environmental law. 

 

The Environmental Law Clinic emphasizes environmental litigation and advocacy from the public interest point of view. Clinic participants work under the supervision of attorneys at the Natural Resources Defense Council(NRDC).

 

The Regulatory Policy Clinic, sponsored by the Institute for Policy Integrity, focuses on practice before federal agencies and courts to help students develop a set of core administrative lawyering skills. Students look at environmental rule makings in particular.

Postgraduate Options

The Environmental and Energy Law LLM welcomes foreign-trained and US lawyers interested in careers in environmental, land use, and energy law. Individuals who aim to work for governments, international organizations, or NGOs; who aspire to cutting-edge private practice with law firms; or who will pursue academic careers study with leading experts in these areas.

 

The Institute for Policy Integrity is a nonpartisan think tank dedicated to improving the quality of government decision-making. It produces original scholarly research in the fields of economics, law, and regulatory policy and advocates for reform before courts, legislatures, and executive agencies. The institute regularly hires legal and economic fellows.

 

Postgraduate Fellowships for Academic Careers, sponsored by the Guarini Center, help promising young scholars, including qualified NYU Law alumni, embark on academic and public service careers.

 

Postgraduate Research Fellowships, sponsored by the Guarini Center, support law graduates to undertake research and other activities in support of current center projects.