Biography
Christophe Courchesne is the Director of the Environmental Advocacy Clinic and an Assistant Professor of Law. He has litigated environmental cases for nearly two decades. Before joining Vermont Law and Graduate School in 2022, he was Deputy Chief of the Energy and Environment Bureau and Assistant Attorney General at the Massachusetts Attorney General’s Office, leading work on the climate crisis, federal policy, environmental and racial justice, and clean energy. Prior to his bureau leadership, Professor Courchesne was Chief of the Environmental Protection Division at the AG’s Office, with oversight of the division’s civil enforcement docket, federal litigation and advocacy challenging Trump-era regulatory rollbacks, and defense of Massachusetts environmental agencies. Professor Courchesne was previously a Senior Attorney at Conservation Law Foundation, an associate in the environmental, energy, and land use practices at Goodwin Procter LLP, and a law clerk for the Honorable Robert Cordy at the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court. He has been admitted to practice in Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Vermont and various federal courts.
Professor Courchesne received his Juris Doctor cum laude from Harvard Law School. He earned a Bachelor of Arts in English, summa cum laude, from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst.
Presentations
“Environmental Justice: The National Context,” presenter and panelist, Webinar on “Environmental Justice: What Is It and Why You Should I Care,” Environmental Business Council of New England, Rhode Island Chapter (June 2023).
“Engaging and Motivating Clinic Students, Externs, and Aspiring Public Interest Advocates in the Wake of West Virginia v. EPA et al.,” moderator, New England Clinical Conference, Vermont Law and Graduate School (March 2023).
“Engaging and Motivating Clinic Students, Externs, and Aspiring Public Interest Advocates in the Wake of West Virginia v. EPA et al.,” moderator, New England Clinical Conference, Vermont Law and Graduate School (March 2023).
“Current Climate & Political Determinants of Health Trends,” panelist, 43rd Annual Conference of the Northern New England CO-OP Practice and Community Based Research Network (January 2023).
“Climate Action, Resilience, and Environmental Justice: What Matters for New England Public Health,” presenter, 43rd Annual Conference of the Northern New England CO-OP Practice and Community Based Research Network (January 2023).
“Current Climate & Political Determinants of Health Trends,” panelist, 43rd Annual Conference of the Northern New England CO-OP Practice and Community Based Research Network (January 2023).
“Climate Action, Resilience, and Environmental Justice: What Matters for New England Public Health,” presenter, 43rd Annual Conference of the Northern New England CO-OP Practice and Community Based Research Network (January 2023).