Concentration in Urban Development, Land Use and Environmental Law

The Concentration in Urban Development, Land Use and Environmental Law has an interdisciplinary flavor. Students are encouraged to take courses in the graduate programs of the Department of Public Policy under the School’s policy of permitting six hours of graduate level work to count towards the law degree. In addition, the law course, Urban Issues Symposium, is an interdisciplinary course that is open to graduate students in architecture, business, public administration, public policy, social work and urban planning. Finally, the graduate course, Social Responsibility and the Professional (CMH C 542 or PPS I 593), is an interdisciplinary course that is open to law students.

The Concentration requires certain courses, then requires 3 additional courses or seminars, for a total of at least 7 credit hours, from a list of electives. There is an additional requirement of a clinical opportunity, which serves as the capstone course for the Concentration. It is anticipated that students attending the full-time program will be able to complete the concentration requirements within the existing scheduling schema, including the registration priority system; and that students attending the part-time program who are able to take an occasional day/afternoon course will also be able to complete the concentration requirements.

CONCENTRATION REQUIREMENTS

Course and Clinical Components

Note: Students must meet all current prerequisite requirements which otherwise would apply to these courses, seminars and clinics.

1. Substantive Courses
   
   
   1. Administrative Law
      
   2. State and Local Government
      
   3. Land Use Control
      
      
2. Clinical Experience (one of the two combinations below)
   
   
   • Housing and Development Transactional Clinic: enroll in Civil Advocacy Clinic I and Civil Advocacy
   • Externship Clinic I and Lawyering Practice (Development or Environment Based)
     
     
3. Electives - Students will select at least 3 of the following electives for a total of at least 7 credit hours:
   • Environmental Law
   • Real Estate Transactions
   • Housing and Urban Development
   • Natural Resources Law
   • Courses in the Department of Public Policy (check with adviser for available courses)
   • Social Responsibility and the Professional
   • State and Local Taxation
   • Urban Issues Symposium
   • Advanced Real Estate Transactions
   • Environmental Law Seminars as approved by adviser

Additional courses and seminars may meet the elective requirement with approval of the program adviser.

Written Work Component:

Students seeking the Concentration must complete at least one course with a significant writing requirement related to the fields of development, land use or environmental law. A seminar or course from the electives above may satisfy the requirement. Additionally, writing for the Public Law Review may also meet this requirement. The program adviser will determine whether a certain written work component meets this requirement.

Capstone Course

The requirement that each student participate in a clinical offering shall be treated as the capstone course for the Concentration. The clinical experience will integrate the students’ coursework into actual legal work.

Public Service Component

Students seeking this Concentration will be strongly encouraged to participate in pro bono legal service prior to graduation. Such pro bono work may be on behalf of a governmental agency, a non-profit organization, or indigent individuals. The program adviser will advise students of available activities and placements.