By Robert J. Goldstein, Director of Environmental Programs
Pace Law School

Environmental law is one of the most exciting and important fields that one can imagine. These are the very laws that have been enacted to handle both the problems of pollution and degradation of our environment, as well as to protect nature and biological diversity. Because of the global importance of environmental issues, these laws must transcend national boundaries, and are therefore international in scope. Environmental law encompasses every aspect of the practical application of environmental policy.

If you are interested in studying in this field, there is some good news and some bad news. The good news is that there are now many fine institutions that have significant environmental law programs. Specialties include Environmental Justice, Historic Preservation, Animal Law, and Coastal & Marine Law, to name but a few. These courses are taught by experts in the field, and can prepare you for a career specializing in a particular area of environmental law that interests you.

Now for the bad news. Environmental law is a graduate-level subject, that is studied in law school. While many undergraduate programs offer courses in environmental law and policy, these are surveys that are unable to include the depth and focus that the law school course offers. So the first obstacle to studying environmental law is getting into a law school. More bad news: Law schools traditionally devote the first year of legal education to preparing you to "think like a lawyer." This means that coursework in environmental law begins in earnest, in your second year of law school.

Don't let this discourage you, environmental law is worth the hurdles that you may be facing. In that second year of law school, you will be exposed to the rewards of practicing environmental law. For example, at Pace Law School, students can participate in our Environmental Litigation Clinic under the supervision of Professors Robert F. Kennedy Jr., and Karl Coplan. In that clinic, students act as lawyers, stopping polluters by using the mechanisms of environmental law.

There are also unique opportunities to do international environmental work at Pace through the Pace Center for Environmental Legal Studies. Professor Nicholas Robinson, is currently the Chair of the Commission on Environmental Law of the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN), that organization is the world's leading conservation organization, and is a permanent observer at the United Nations. Through the work of Prof. Robinson, Pace is truly a global law school, with cooperative agreements with environmental law programs throughout the world. Opportunities to work on global environmental issues in countries such as Brazil, Kuwait, China are available, as well as the possibility of participating in UN proceedings with the IUCN delegation.

If your interests are focused on cyberspace, Pace has pioneered the use of the Internet to further the development of environmental law throughout the world. The Pace Virtual Environmental Law Library written by the author, is an award-winning site used by thousands. Global Warming Central is another important site focusing on climate change issues. The Journal of the Pace Center for Environmental Legal Studies, Environmentally Friendly is also on the web.

On balance, I think you will find that the study of environmental law to be well worth it. If you have any questions about the field of environmental law, or the programs at Pace, please visit our website at law.pace.edu/environment, or e-mail me at rgoldstein@law.pace.edu.