Environmental and natural resources law is one of the most rapidly changing fields in the legal profession. Decades ago, there was very little formal environmental regulation in this area. But today, there are myriad state, federal, and international laws seeking to curb environmental pollution and protect resources.

Uniquely situated in the heart of Silicon Valley and part of one of the world’s preeminent research universities, Stanford’s award-winning Environmental and Natural Resources Law & Policy Program has earned its reputation as a leading program for education and research in this dynamic field. Indeed, with a nationally renowned faculty praised for its cutting-edge research and practice, the program has revolutionized environmental education.

Our students develop their skills in analyzing and solving problems through situational case studies, learn effective teamwork through Stanford’s Environmental Law Clinic, and master mediation and multiparty negotiation techniques through in-class simulations. Our clinical programs and courses foster collaborative solutions to real-world problems. Many of our courses involve other Stanford departments, and all integrate multidisciplinary materials. The program also provides access to a broad spectrum of practitioners, regulators, and academics in Silicon Valley and beyond, and to hands-on involvement in research, environmental advocacy, and collaborative dialogues. Beyond the classroom, our students pursue a wide array of extracurricular activities, such as membership in the Stanford Environmental Law Journal and the Environmental Law Society.

Stanford Law School graduates pursue a variety of distinguished careers in environmental and natural resources law. Our alumni currently hold positions—covering the spectrum from staff attorney to executive leadership—at national environmental organizations, federal and state agencies, the White House, major corporations, law firms with strong environmental practices, and academia.

Students interested in environmental law will find Stanford, a relatively small school of about 550 students and a faculty of more than 40 permanent members, to be a warm and congenial place with an emphasis on mutual respect, civility, and the open exchange of ideas. Committed to being a “community of discourse,” Stanford is diverse in backgrounds, outlooks, and aspirations—a diversity essential to a first-rate legal education.