Introduction to Environmental Law

Catalog description

This course offers students an introduction to the major approaches to environmental protection policy in the United States. The first two weeks will provide the student with a basic introduction to the legal process, sources of law, and the anatomy of a case brief. Students will be presented with an overview of how the United States legal system works at the local, state and national level. The majority of the semester will be focused on the foundations for environmental law. The history of the environmental movement will be discussed as well as development of laws that affect environmental issues. Throughout the course, we will consider the roles of individuals and nonprofit organizations in the administrative and litigation processes. Students will become acquainted with specific environmental laws, enforcement and methods for compliance. Toward semester's end, students will have an understanding of legal analysis and the function of legal advocacy in the determination of environmental policy.