Environmental Advocacy Clinic

Since 2003, the Environmental Advocacy Clinic has provided hands-on learning opportunities for law students, achieving environmental protection goals and often representing clients who otherwise would not have the resources for legal representation. The clinic provides a structured, supportive setting in which students develop skills in environmental advocacy, litigation, administrative processes, as well as client interaction. A faculty of experienced environmental attorneys and professionals works closely with the student teams on each case or project. The students have worked on an impressive array of matters in various federal and state courts, including the Vermont and United States Supreme Courts.

Clinic Projects

■ Partnering with Earthjustice to advocate for an environmental justice community in Newark, New

Jersey, surrounded by polluting facilities ■ Addressing the restoration of key environmental and wildlife protections that were weakened under the previous administration ■ Advancing responsible renewable energy projects on public lands and public waters ■ Protecting at-risk bats in Vermont from pesticide spraying ■ Pushing for a 21st century regulatory scheme to protect surface waters in Vermont ■ Advancing legal tools to protect communities and resources from the pollution of factory farms

“Learning by doing is key to becoming a successful lawyer. My clinical experience set me up with the tools necessary to become a true advocate for the wild creatures and wild places that I—and my clients—hold most dear.”

—KELLY NOKES JD’15, Shared Earth Wildlife Attorney,

Western Environmental Law Center