Environmental/Land Use Regulation

General Advice

The curriculum offers a series of courses and seminars in the environmental/land use area. These offerings should be useful to students who anticipate working in the public sector as elected officials or in staff or agency positions. They are also interesting for those who expect to represent clients whose operations are subject to environmental and land use regulation, and to those who look forward to engaging in environmental and land use public interest representation. Much environmental and land use law is regulatory in nature, is implemented pursuant to complex statutes, and involves a mix of federal, state, and local decision making. Thus, it is particularly important for students interested in the area to develop a solid foundation in constitutional and administrative law. Additionally, courses from other public law curricular areas which expose students to issues and problems raised by complex institutional structures and alternative regulatory methodologies are highly useful.

Students should also consider pursuing a concentration in Urban Development, Land Use and Environmental Law.

Specific Courses/Frequency of Offering

• Administrative Law (3 hrs.) (every spring semester/day; alternating years/evening)
  
• Environmental Law (3 hrs.) (every year/day; occasionally/evening)
  
• Land Use Control (3 hrs.) (every year/day or evening)
  
• Natural Resources Law (3 hrs.) (alternating years/day or evening)
  
• State and Local Government Law (3 hrs.) (usually ever year/day or evening)
  
• Legislation (3 hrs.) (alternating years/day or evening)
  
• Law and Economics (2 hrs.) (usually every other year/evening)

Seminars (usually offered in late afternoon)

• Various seminars offered occasionally
  
• Environmental Litigation

Sequencing of Courses

Students should enroll in Administrative Law in their second year. Students should note that environmental and land use law has become particularly relevant to real estate development, financing and management.

Extracurricular Program

Students are encouraged to join the Environmental Law Society and to engage in its programs and activities. Students interested in the environmental/land use area are also encouraged to become active in the school's Public Interest Law Group.