Environmental Law

We offer one of the most extensive range of courses available worldwide. Our curriculum covers core and advanced topics in domestic and international environmental law, as well as energy, natural resources, land use, historic preservation, and food law. The program melds rigorous pedagogy with practical, real-world opportunities available only in Washington, D.C.

As scholars and practitioners, our environmental faculty provide critical legal knowledge and real-world experience to prepare our students for success. A snapshot of our faculty’s influence includes authoring winning briefs in landmark Supreme Court cases, such as Massachusetts v. EPA, serving on international bodies including UNEP’s International Advisory Council on Environmental Justice and the World Bank’s Inspection Panel, serving in senior policy posts at the U.S. EPA and state agencies, and advising the National Science Foundation. In addition to several committed full-time faculty members, Georgetown Law’s exceptional adjunct faculty are among the nation’s leading practitioners of environmental and energy law. From these experts, such as a former FERC Commissioner and Deputy Assistant Attorney General of the Environment & Natural Resources Division, our students gain first-hand insights into today’s most compelling issues.

Further, our students learn practical skills through an array of experiential learning opportunities: environmental litigation and policy clinics; an unparalleled range of internships; and practicum courses covering climate change, animal law, and more. Internship opportunities abound in every aspect of environmental and energy law. Our students work for Congress, courts and administrative law judges, governmental agencies, international organizations, non-profit environmental organizations, energy companies, and trade associations. Finally, the Georgetown Climate Center (GCC) gives students the chance to work on cutting edge climate and energy policy issues. The GCC is a leading resource for state and federal government officials, academics and stakeholders. Students working with the GCC collaborate with faculty, staff attorneys and outside clients on questions of climate change, energy, transportation and adaptation.

Georgetown Law also provides a one-year specialized LL.M. degree in environmental and energy law. Georgetown J.D. candidates can obtain the LL.M. by completing 12 additional credit hours. As part of this LL.M. degree program, we recently established the UNEP- Georgetown Global Environment & Sustainability Law Fellowship which aims to strengthen the environmental capacity of lawyers worldwide. It is the only scholarship program of its kind around the globe.