Environmental Law Schools

Environmental lawyers will specialize in cases that involve the conservation and protection of nature, and the living conditions of its inhabitants. These lawyers will have expertise and experience in dealing with a variety of environmental law issues. These cases will generally involve air, water, or land pollution, cleanup of a contaminated site, or injuries resulting from some kind of environmental violation. If a person has been affected by a pollutant, they are able to take action in court against the person responsible for the injuries. In order for plaintiffs to obtain damages, they must obtain the services of an environmental lawyer. It is beneficial for these lawyers to be specially trained at one of the accredited environmental law schools. Of course, as all other lawyers, these professionals must obtain a law degree from an ABA accredited institution. They must also pass the bar examination in the state in which they wish to practice. Further training in environmental law schools will provide for more experienced and competent environmental lawyers.

Courses in environmental law are generally offered as electives during the second or third year when attending law school. However, a person may choose to obtain a graduate degree from one of the environmental law schools that are specialized in this area of study. There are certain environmental law schools that are considered to be the best at preparing someone to enter the field of environmental law. As of 2010, US News and World Report have listed the top environmental law schools:

·      Vermont Law School

·      Lewis & Clark College

·      University of California at Berkeley

·      Pace University

·      Florida State University

·      Georgetown University

·      Stanford University

·      University of Oregon

·      New York University

·      University of Maryland

The Environmental Law Institute is a research facility that promotes education and awareness on environmental issues concerning citizens. The services of the Environmental Law Institute will generally be used by lawyers, students, land owners, and environmentalists to stay up to date on this constantly developing are of the legal system. This organization will hold meetings and conferences for professionals in order to inform them on new policies and technological advancement. The Environmental Law Institute is mainly focused on helping people protect the environment. There are four main areas of focus within the Environmental Law Institute: international policy, new ways to govern and enforce biodiversity, and protecting water resources.