Environmental Law and Policy Clinic
An Interdisciplinary Clinic at Duke
The Environmental Law and Policy Clinic is a joint venture of the Law School and the Nicholas School of the Environment whose mission is to train the next generation of environmental leaders. The Clinic enrolls up to 12 students each semester -- six from the Law School and six from the Nicholas School. The students work in teams on cases and projects with local and regional nonprofit groups involved in environmental conflicts relating to water quality, air quality, natural resources conservation, sustainable development, public trust resources, and environmental justice.
Environmental Law and Policy Clinic Director Ryke Longest discusses the interdisciplinary nature of the clinic, and the involvement of clinic students in a variety of cases across the state.
Working under the supervision of clinical faculty Ryke Longest and Michelle Nowlin, these students rely on a broad array of tools and insights from their various disciplines -- law, policy, and science -- to inform the development of policies and litigation strategies. Through the experience, students develop skills in mediation, negotiation, and conflict resolution and often are able to contribute their own entrepreneurial solutions to environmental dilemmas. Practical skills training emphasizes the skills needed to counsel clients, work with experts, examine witnesses, and advocate effectively in rule-making and litigation settings.