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. In 2019, the clinic partnered with the National Wildlife Federation and now represents the Federation on high impact legal and other matters to protect the resources that wildlife and people rely on. A faculty of experienced environmental attorneys and professionals works closely with the student teams on each case or project, including Jim Murphy LLM’06, Director; Abigail André, Associate Director and Senior Attorney; Mason Overstreet LLM’19, Staff Attorney; Rachel Stevens LLM’16, Staff Attorney; Patrick Parenteau, Senior Counsel; and Joe Anderson, Office Manager. 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