Scroll Top

Join thousands of law students - it's free

UCLA adds environmental certificate

Related Articles

UCLA School of Law, already one of the top environmental law programs in the nation, added a certificate so that students can receive recognition upon graduation that they have completed a rigorous course of study in environmental law and policy.

“This new specialization formalizes what has already been a robust and extensive training program for future lawyers seeking to work on environmental issues,” said Sean Hecht, co-executive director of the Emmett Institute on Climate Change and the Environment. 

To earn the certificate, students must complete five courses in environmental law and produce a supervised research paper. Externships and clinical courses count toward the certificate. Students who fulfill the requirements receive notations on their diplomas and transcripts reflecting that they completed the specialization.

UCLA Law’s environmental programs have grown significantly in the last decade. In 2008, UCLA Law launched the Emmett Institute on Climate Change and the Environment, which focuses in issues like climate change policy, federal regulation, state policy, urban sustainability, chemical safety, land use, and climate engineering.

Students pursuing environmental law also benefit from clinical programs, scholarships and opportunities for student leadership. The student-run Environmental Law Society was recognized as the UCLA Law Student Organization of the Year in 2017-18. That academic year students participated in the California State Bar’s Environmental Law Conference in Yosemite and international climate talks in Bonn, Germany.

“UCLA Law has long been a magnet for ambitious students who are serious about careers in environmental law. The environmental law specialization will provide students more opportunities for education, research and career guidance,” said Cara Horowitz, who serves as the Andrew Sabin Family Foundation co-executive director of the Emmett Institute on Climate Change and the Environment. 

The environmental law specialization joins six other specializations at UCLA Law. 

Jack Crittenden

Jack Crittenden

Digital Magazine
Newsletter Signup

Get unlimited access

Get a premium subscription to the National Jurist for less than $2 a month.