Environmental & Energy Law Courses

This practice area begins with foundational courses that introduce the statutes, regulatory frameworks, and judicial decisions governing environmental protection, natural resources, and energy regulation. Advanced courses and seminars provide in-depth analysis of major environmental and energy laws, exploring specialized topics such as climate change, renewable energy development, sustainability, and energy markets.

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. 

JD Concentration in Environmental Law

JD candidates may earn a JD Concentration in Environmental Law by successfully completing 14 credits of coursework in Environmental Law with a grade of B- or higher in each course, including:

1. two required courses: Environmental Law (6430) and Administrative Law (6400);  
2. at least four credits from the list of advanced courses: Natural Resources Law (6440), International Environmental Law (6454), Wildlife and Ecosystems Law (6431), and Climate Change Law and Policy: Mitigation, Adaptation, and Finance (6741);
3. at least two credits from the list of additional courses; and
4. 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. Students may use the same paper to fulfill the writing requirement for both the concentration and the JD upper-level graduation writing requirement. 

Foundational Courses

• Environmental Law (6430)  
• Administrative Law (6400)

Advanced Courses

• Wildlife and Ecosystems Law (6431)  
• Natural Resources Law (6440)  
• International Environmental Law (6454)  
• Climate Change Law and Policy: Mitigation, Adaptation, and Finance (6741)  

Additional Courses

• Air Pollution Control (6432)  
• Environmental Compliance and Enforcement (6433)  
• Water Pollution Control (6434)  
• Trade and Sustainable Development (6435)  
• Coastal, Navigation, and Wetlands Resource Law (6437)  
• Control of Solid and Hazardous Waste (6442)  
• Environmental Impact Assessment (6445)  
• Federal Facilities Environmental Law Issues (6450)  
• Environmental Issues in Business Transactions (6452)  
• Sustainable Communities Law and Policy Seminar (6457)  
• Environmental Negotiations (6458)  
• Selected Topics in Environmental Law (6461)  
• Environmental Crimes (6464)  
• Environmental Law Seminar: Food and Agriculture (6466)  
• Environmental Law Seminar: Ocean Law and Policy (6466)  
• Environmental Lawyering (6469)
• Human Rights and Environmental Protection (6571)  
• The Law of Emergencies: Natural Disasters, Climate Crises, Pandemics, and Beyond (6880) 

 JD Concentration in Energy Law & Sustainability

JD candidates may earn a JD Concentration in Energy Law & Sustainability by success­fully completing 14 credits of coursework in Energy Law & Sustainability, with a grade of B- or higher in each course, including:

1. two required courses — Energy Law and Regulation (6438) and Ethics in the Energy Transition (6743); 
2. at least two credits from the list of industry courses: Oil and Gas Law (6443); Atomic Energy Law (6459); and Offshore Wind Law (6441);
3. at least four credits from the list of additional courses; and
4. 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. Students may use the same paper to fulfill the writing requirement for both the concentration and the JD upper-level graduation writing requirement. 

Foundational Courses

• Energy Law and Regulation (6438)  
• Ethics in the Energy Transition (6743)

Industry Courses

• Offshore Wind Law (6441)
• Oil and Gas Law (6443)
• Atomic Energy Law (6459) 

Additional Courses

• Reading Group: Energy Justice (6351)  
• Regulated Industries (6406)
• Environmental Law (6430)  
• Natural Resources Law (6440)
• Energy Law Seminar: Electricity Grid of the Future (6441)  
• Energy Law Seminar: Energy, Climate & Derivatives (6447)
• Selected Topics in Energy Law: State Regulation of the US Power Sector: Distributed Generation, Microgrids, and Emerging Technologies (6451)  
• Selected Topics in Energy Law: How to Practice in Electric and Natural Gas Regulation (Regulatory Practice) (6451)
• International Project Finance (6545)¹

Declare Your Concentration

For JDs who would like to formally declare Environmental Law or Energy Law concentrations, please visit the GW Law Forms webpage and fill out the JD Concentration Declare/Withdraw Form for the Records Office.