Environment, Energy and Natural Resources Law Certificate

Overview

The Environment, Energy and Natural Resources Law Certificate exposes students to the basics of a constantly changing area of practice. At the end of the program, students can address environmental and natural resources law issues wherever they arise.

Certificate Requirements

Students who intend to pursue a certificate program should complete the Declaration Form. The form deadline for your intention to pursue a certificate is November 1st of your 3L year, though you may certainly do so at an earlier point. If you fail to meet the requirements of the certificate by the time you graduate, you will not earn the certificate.

In addition to all other J.D. degree requirements, students must complete the requirements below to earn the Environment, Energy and Natural Resources Law Certificate.

Core Courses

Complete:

• Administrative Law
• Environmental Law

Elective Courses

Any of the following field placement or writing experiences:

• Field Placement focused on environmental, energy or natural resources law, such as with the U.S. EPA, Kansas Department of Health and Environment, a nonprofit organization, or other appropriate agency or organization (arranged by faculty and under faculty supervision, with approval by the certificate director)
• Kansas Law Review or Kansas Journal of Law & Public Policy (with a note or comment on an environmental, energy, or natural resources law topic)
• Preparation of a 2-credit Independent Research paper on an environmental, energy or natural resources law topic
• National Environmental Moot Court Competition, or other moot court competition focused on environmental, energy or natural resources law approved by the certificate director

Four courses in the subject area. Choose all four from among the following electives, or combine three from this list with one from the secondary list below:

• Energy Law and Policy
• Environmental Law Seminar - rotating topics (recent offerings include Environmental Justice; Climate Change Law and Policy)
• Global Challenges in Law, Agriculture, Development, and Ecology
• Renewable Energy Law Practice
• Oil and Gas
• Special Topics courses directly related to environment, energy, and/or natural resources (with approval of the certificate director)
• Water Law

Up to one course of the required four may come from among the following electives: 

• Federal Indian Law
• Legislation & Statutory Interpretation
• Local Government Law
• Public International Law
• Social Justice Lawyering
• Other Special Topics courses (with approval of the certificate director)

Course descriptions