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Environmental and Natural Resources Law Clinic

The White River.

Overview

Teaching Students to Become Effective Advocates


Vermont Law School's Environmental and Natural Resources Law Clinic (ENRLC) faculty are respected attorneys and instructors. Professors Teresa Clemmer, Patrick Parenteau, Laura Murphy, and Sheryl Dickey have years of experience in environmental and natural resources litigation and advocacy. Their passion for preserving the earth as well as its inhabitants excites students to become committed to the ENRLC's cases. During their semester in the clinic, students have opportunities to work with some of the leading public interest lawyers in New England and throughout the country.

The clinic's powerful and effective advocacy has produced significant accomplishments and raised visibility of environmental issues, including winning a major victory for the endangered gray wolf; protecting wetlands and tributaries; standing up for the health of individuals threatened by the mining operations of a major, multi-national company; and defending a sacred tribal site.

Qualified students seeking to sharpen their research, advocacy and litigation skills, while advancing the goals of environmental protection, may enroll in the ENRLC. The clinic builds on its expertise in environmental and natural resources law and extensive connections throughout the local, regional, national, and international conservation communities. Student clinicians work on behalf of public interest, environmental, and conservation organizations, and learn how to find their way through the complex maze of laws and procedures that regulate economic development and resource extraction activities.

 

Projects
Support for projects is provided to public interest organizations and community groups in need of competent, creative legal assistance on significant environmental problems. While learning the craft of lawyering, students are also encouraged to explore the ethical aspects of practicing law, and evaluate alternative approaches to resolving environmental conflicts. The goal of the clinical experience is to develop well-rounded professionals with a high degree of skill and judgment grounded in respect for the environment and the rule of law.

Structure
The clinic provides six credits for part-time enrollment, nine credits for three-quarter time enrollment or thirteen credits for full-time enrollment during the fall and spring semesters. In the summer, students can enroll in the clinic for nine credits toward their JD or MELP, and summer clerkships are also available. Projects are developed by the clinic faculty. Every effort will be made to match student interests with available projects. Work plans and schedules are developed for each project. Weekly meetings are used to discuss case progress, substantive issues, research strategies, professional and ethical considerations, client relations, media relations and other issues.

 

The clinic's collegial atmosphere provides ample opportunity for interaction and feedback among students and faculty, including during weekly Strategy Sessions and Seminars.

For more information, please contact Professor Clemmer, Professor Murphy , or Professor Dickey.

For information about the LLM Clinical Fellowship, visit our Fellowships pages.

Download the Environmental and Natural Resources Law Clinic Five Year Report (.pdf).