College of Law
Summer 2014
Natural Resources and Environmental Law In this fourth annual newsletter, we are proud to introduce new opportunities in our expanding capacity in the area of natural resources and environmental law (NREL) at the University of Idaho College of Law. Over the next year, to broaden our focus on the integration of law and science, we will add a field course and peer-reviewed NREL edition of the Idaho Law Review. This expansion builds on an already vibrant community of students working with seven law faculty and numerous other natural resources and environmental science faculty across campus committed to furthering their knowledge and skills in solving the difficult NREL problems facing us in the coming years. Together, with the strong emphasis on public service and pro bono activity at the UI College of Law, we are committed to promoting the knowledge and skills students need to contribute to sustainable and equitable stewardship of the environment. For more information, please visit the College of Law’s NREL website: uidaho.edu/nrel.
NREL Programs The Pacific and Inland Northwest are rich in natural resources, and the issues involving natural resources have figured prominently in the region’s legal history. The University of Idaho’s location—combined with its nationally recognized natural resources academic and research programs—make this an ideal place to study how humans interact with land, resources, and the natural environment. At the College of Law, students will find several options for developing their interests and expertise in natural resources and environmental law. The College of Law’s emphasis in natural resources and environmental law provides a coherent program of study for students who wish to develop expertise in the legal regimes that address land, water, the natural environment, and human interactions with those systems. Students complete at least 19 hours of designated course work in the area and a major writing
assignment. In developing their own written work, students participate in a special writing seminar where they present their own work and critique, and edit the work of other students. This writing project allows a more in-depth focus on a topic as well as increased interactions with colleagues and the faculty who lead the seminar. The College of Law also provides the opportunity to combine the J.D. degree with M.S. or Ph.D. degrees in related fields. The location of the law school on the campus of a major university known for its research and outreach in natural resources and environmental fields has made possible the development of concurrent degree options in water resources and environmental science, the recent addition of opportunities in bioregional planning and community design, and in a professional science masters in natural resources and environmental science.
These programs expose students to the interface among law, science, policy, engineering, social science and planning, and enable students to take courses and conduct research outside the law school while concurrently pursuing a J.D. degree. Concurrency builds in efficiencies that allow students to complete a J.D./M.S. in four years and a J.D./Ph.D. in six years. We have seven graduates with J.D./M.S. degrees in water resources, five with J.D./M.S. degrees in environmental science, and have enrolled our first concurrent degree students in bioregional planning and community design and in the professional science masters. We find that our concurrent degree graduates are highly competitive in the job market with placement in both governmental and private positions. Our NREL emphasis graduates are employed in jobs ranging from nonprofits to firms and to government and corporate counsel.