Environmental & Energy Law Courses

Foundational courses survey the range of statutes, regulatory practices, and judicial decisions in the environment and energy field. Advanced courses and seminars provide in-depth coverage of several environmental statutes as well as a number of environment and energy practice areas.

JD candidates may earn Recognition of a JD Concentration in Environmental Law by successfully completing 14 credits of coursework in Environmental Law, including three required courses—Environmental Law (6430), Natural Resources Law (6440) and Administrative Law (6400)—two credits of experiential learning related to environmental or energy law (Field Placement 6668 or any Environmental or Energy law class that is designated as an “E” or “Skills/E” course) and two credits graded on the basis of a research paper that meets the standards for the law school’s upper level writing requirement, either written in conjunction with one of the courses below or, with advance approval of the program director, written for a journal, independent legal writing, or a course that is not included in the list below on an environmental law topic.

JD candidates may earn Recognition of a JD Concentration in Energy Law by successfully completing 14 credits of coursework in Energy Law and Environmental Law, which must include Energy Law and Regulation (6438) and Administrative Law (6400). In addition, students are required to take at least four credits from among the following courses: Energy Law Seminar (6441),** Oil and Gas Law (6443), Atomic Energy Law (6459); and Air Pollution Control (6432). Finally, students must have two credits of experiential learning related to environmental or energy law (Field Placement 6668 or any Environmental or Energy law class that is designated as an “E” or “Skills/E” course) and two credits graded on the basis of a research paper that meets the standards for the law school’s upper level writing requirement, either written in conjunction with one of the courses below or, with advance approval of the program director, written for a journal, independent legal writing, or a course that is not included in the list below on an energy law topic.

Courses

Foundation Courses

  • Administrative Law (6400)
  • Environmental Law (6430)
  • Energy Law and Regulation (6438)
  • Natural Resources Law (6440)

Advanced Courses

  • Regulated Industries (6406)
  • Animal Law Seminar (6424)
  • Wildlife and Ecosystems Law (6431)
  • Air Pollution Control (6432)
  • Water Pollution Control (6434)
  • Trade and Sustainable Development (6435)
  • Coastal, Navigation, and Wetlands Resource Law (6437)
  • Energy Law Seminar (6441)**
  • Control of Solid and Hazardous Wastes (RCRA & CERCLA) (6442)
  • Oil and Gas Law (6443)
  • Regulation of Toxic Substances Risk (6444)
  • Environmental and Toxic Torts (6449)
  • Federal Facilities Environmental Law Issues (6450)
  • Environmental Issues in Business Transactions (6452)
  • International Environmental Law (6454)
  • International Climate Change Law (6455)
  • Environmental Negotiations (6458)
  • Atomic Energy Law (6459)
  • Selected Topics in Environmental Law (6461)**
  • Environmental Crimes (6464)
  • Environmental Law Seminar (6466)**
  • Graduate Environmental Placement (6468)
  • Environmental Lawyering (6469)
  • International Trade Law (6526)
  • Advanced International Trade Law (6527)
  • International Project Finance (6545)

**For 2020-2021 Environmental Law Seminar may include Food and Agriculture. Energy Law Seminar may include Electric and Natural Gas Regulation. Selected Topics in Environmental Law may include US Electric Industry in Transition and Global and Comparative Environmental Law Policy.

For students interested in the practice of energy law, the GW Law-University of Groningen Student Exchange
Program provides a unique opportunity for students to study European Union law and international law, with an emphasis on environmental and energy law at the University of Groningen. For more information, see the Spring, Summer, and Exchange Program section in this Bulletin.

Cross-cutting courses with elements of environmental or energy law

  • International Project Finance (6545)1
  • Law and Regulation of Science (6607)2
  • Law of the European Union (6534)3
  • Local Government Law (6422)4
  • Scientific Evidence Seminar (6248)5
  • Space Law (6548)6

Field Placement

  • Environmental Law Field Placement (6668)
  • Advanced Environmental Law Field Placement (6667)

Journal

  • The George Washington Journal of Energy and Environmental Law (6664)

Moot Courts

Moot Court: National Energy & Sustainability Moot Court Competition, Robert R. Merhige National Environmental Negotiation Competition, Pace National Environmental Moot Court Competition (6644)7

 

1Includes electric generation facilities

2Includes difficulties of causation in toxic torts, hazardous substances, public health, debate over evolution, human genome mapping

3Covers the Common Agricultural Policy

4Includes land use planning

5For students without science background who want to go into regulation, pollution control, etc.

6Includes pollution and contamination of outer space, earth observations, remote sensing

7Can be offered in years when moot court board members field a team in this subject area, depending on student interest

For students interested in the practice of energy law, the GW Law-University of Groningen Energy Law Program provides a unique opportunity for GW students to conduct joint research projects with students from the University of Groningen that includes travel to the University of Groningen. 


COURSE DESCRIPTIONS