Environmental law is a rapidly growing field as global concerns about climate change, biodiversity loss, pollution, and sustainability continue to rise. Students interested in this area need law schools that not only provide a solid legal education but also specialize in environmental law. Here is an in-depth look at the top environmental law schools in the United States, their unique offerings, and what makes them stand out.
1. Vermont Law School
A Leader in Environmental Law
Vermont Law School (VLS) consistently ranks as one of the top law schools for environmental law in the United States. The school has been dedicated to this field for decades and offers one of the most comprehensive environmental law programs in the country.
Key Highlights:
- Environmental Law Center (ELC): The ELC at VLS offers more than 60 courses related to environmental law, including climate change law, water law, energy policy, and more.
- Master’s Degrees and Certificates: VLS offers specialized degrees like a Master of Environmental Law and Policy (MELP) and a Master of Energy Regulation and Law (MERL).
- Clinics and Externships: The school offers hands-on learning through its Environmental and Natural Resources Law Clinic, where students work on real-world environmental issues.
Why Vermont Law School?
Vermont Law School stands out because of its specialized focus, diverse course offerings, and commitment to public interest environmental law. The school’s rural location also fosters a close-knit learning environment focused on natural resources and environmental issues.
2. University of California, Berkeley, School of Law
A Hub for Environmental Legal Thought
UC Berkeley School of Law (Berkeley Law) is another top institution for students pursuing careers in environmental law. Located in the heart of California, a state that leads the nation in environmental policy and innovation, Berkeley Law leverages its proximity to environmental regulatory bodies and environmental advocacy organizations.
Key Highlights:
- Center for Law, Energy & the Environment (CLEE): This center focuses on critical issues such as water policy, renewable energy, climate change, and environmental justice.
- Environmental Law Clinic: Students gain real-world experience through the Environmental Law Clinic, which involves advocacy and policy work on pressing environmental challenges.
- Interdisciplinary Approach: UC Berkeley offers numerous joint degrees, including JD/MA and JD/MS degrees, combining legal studies with environmental science, policy, or energy studies.
Why UC Berkeley Law?
UC Berkeley stands out for its focus on interdisciplinary studies and policy impact. Students at Berkeley have the opportunity to engage with top environmental scholars, work with cutting-edge policy initiatives, and engage in California’s environmental lawmaking.
3. Lewis & Clark Law School
A Longstanding Commitment to Environmental Law
Lewis & Clark Law School, located in Portland, Oregon, is renowned for its comprehensive environmental law program. The law school’s deep connection to the Pacific Northwest’s rich natural resources makes it an ideal environment for students interested in natural resource law and policy.
Key Highlights:
- Environmental Law Program: Lewis & Clark offers the most extensive environmental law curriculum in the nation, with courses covering topics like wildlife law, ocean and coastal law, public lands law, and climate change law.
- Environmental Law Clinic: The Earthrise Law Center, one of the largest environmental law clinics in the U.S., allows students to work on actual cases involving environmental protection.
- Environmental Law Review: The school publishes the Environmental Law Review, one of the nation’s leading journals focused on environmental issues.
Why Lewis & Clark Law School?
Lewis & Clark is one of the premier law schools for environmental law, providing both theoretical and practical legal training. Its longstanding commitment to sustainability and environmental advocacy, combined with its location in the environmentally conscious Pacific Northwest, makes it a top choice for students.
4. Harvard Law School
Pioneering Environmental Law and Policy
As one of the most prestigious law schools in the world, Harvard Law School offers an exceptional program in environmental law. While not specialized solely in environmental law like some other schools, Harvard’s resources and faculty expertise make it a top choice for students aiming for leadership roles in environmental policy, academia, and government.
Key Highlights:
- Emmett Environmental Law and Policy Clinic: This clinic gives students opportunities to work on cutting-edge environmental issues, from litigation to policy-making.
- Harvard Environmental Law Review: The school publishes one of the leading academic journals in environmental law, providing students with opportunities to contribute to scholarship.
- Program on Law and Sustainability: Harvard Law integrates sustainability topics across different fields, including international law, corporate law, and constitutional law.
Why Harvard Law School?
Harvard Law’s global reputation, vast alumni network, and access to interdisciplinary courses across Harvard University make it an attractive option for students pursuing environmental law at the highest levels of influence.
5. Stanford Law School
Innovative Environmental Law Program
Stanford Law School, located in California’s Silicon Valley, is a top choice for students interested in the intersection of environmental law, technology, and innovation. Stanford Law’s proximity to cutting-edge technology companies and environmental organizations makes it a leader in addressing complex environmental challenges through innovation.
Key Highlights:
- Environmental and Natural Resources Law and Policy Program (ENRLP): This program offers students interdisciplinary education on environmental law, economics, and policy, with an emphasis on sustainability and climate change.
- Stanford Environmental Law Clinic: Students work on real cases involving environmental protection, with opportunities to engage in high-level litigation and policy work.
- Joint Degrees and Interdisciplinary Studies: Stanford offers joint JD/MA and JD/MS degrees, allowing students to combine law with environmental science, economics, or engineering.
Why Stanford Law School?
Stanford Law’s emphasis on innovation and its close ties to Silicon Valley give students a unique opportunity to work on the future of environmental law, with a focus on cutting-edge solutions for sustainability and climate change.
6. New York University School of Law
Urban Environmental Law Expertise
New York University School of Law (NYU Law) has one of the strongest programs in urban environmental law. As environmental issues increasingly intersect with urban planning, infrastructure, and public health, NYU Law’s location in one of the world’s largest metropolitan areas provides a unique perspective.
Key Highlights:
- Frank J. Guarini Center on Environmental, Energy, and Land Use Law: This center focuses on urban environmental issues such as sustainable development, energy policy, and land use.
- Environmental Law Clinic: NYU’s Environmental Law Clinic partners with organizations like the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) to give students practical experience.
- Interdisciplinary Opportunities: NYU Law allows students to take courses in conjunction with NYU’s Wagner School of Public Service and the Stern School of Business for a more comprehensive understanding of environmental law in an urban setting.
Why NYU Law?
NYU’s urban setting and emphasis on the integration of environmental law with city planning and policy issues make it a top choice for students looking to specialize in the environmental challenges facing urban areas.
7. University of Oregon School of Law
Deep Focus on Environmental and Natural Resources Law
The University of Oregon School of Law is another excellent choice for students interested in environmental and natural resources law. Located in the environmentally conscious Pacific Northwest, Oregon Law has a strong focus on public lands, water law, and environmental justice.
Key Highlights:
- Environmental and Natural Resources Law Center (ENR): The ENR Center at Oregon Law is known for its emphasis on environmental sustainability, climate change, and Indigenous land rights.
- Environmental Law Clinic: The school’s Environmental Law Clinic offers students hands-on experience, particularly in environmental justice and natural resource issues.
- Public Interest Focus: Many graduates from Oregon Law pursue careers in public interest environmental law, government agencies, or non-profit organizations.
Why University of Oregon Law?
Oregon Law’s location, along with its focus on public lands and environmental justice, make it an ideal school for students interested in environmental policy at the intersection of law, conservation, and community rights.
8. Columbia Law School
A Global Perspective on Environmental Law
According to lawschoolsinusa, Columbia Law School in New York City is well known for its global approach to environmental law. With an emphasis on climate change, energy policy, and international environmental law, Columbia offers a comprehensive program for students looking to work at the intersection of law, policy, and global governance.
Key Highlights:
- Sabin Center for Climate Change Law: The Sabin Center is a leading think tank on climate change law, and students have the opportunity to work on cutting-edge policy and litigation in this critical field.
- Global Programs: Columbia Law’s focus on international environmental law allows students to engage with global organizations, including the United Nations and international NGOs.
- Interdisciplinary Research Opportunities: Students at Columbia Law can take courses in conjunction with Columbia’s School of International and Public Affairs (SIPA) and the Earth Institute.
Why Columbia Law School?
Columbia Law is ideal for students who want to work on global environmental issues, particularly climate change and international law. The school’s resources, faculty, and proximity to global institutions provide unique opportunities for students to engage with high-level environmental law and policy.
9. University of Michigan Law School
A Midwest Leader in Environmental Law
The University of Michigan Law School offers a strong environmental law program with a focus on the Great Lakes region, making it a leader in water law and natural resource management.
Key Highlights:
- Environmental Law and Policy Program: Michigan Law’s program covers key areas such as water law, public lands, environmental regulation, and energy law.
- Environmental Law Clinic: The clinic provides students with hands-on experience in environmental litigation and policy-making, with a focus on regional and national environmental issues.
- Interdisciplinary Opportunities: Students can take courses through the University of Michigan’s School for Environment and Sustainability (SEAS), allowing them to combine legal education with environmental science.
Why University of Michigan Law School?
Michigan Law’s focus on water law and natural resource management, along with its interdisciplinary opportunities, make it an excellent choice for students interested in environmental law in the Midwest and beyond.
10. Georgetown University Law Center
Washington, D.C., Access to Environmental Law
Georgetown University Law Center, located in Washington, D.C., offers unparalleled access to environmental policy-making institutions, including federal agencies, courts, and advocacy groups.
Key Highlights:
- Environmental Law & Policy Program: Georgetown’s program focuses on national environmental policy, energy law, and public health.
- Environmental Law Clinic: The clinic gives students hands-on experience working on environmental law cases and policy issues in the heart of the nation’s capital.
- Policy-Oriented Curriculum: Georgetown emphasizes the relationship between environmental law and government, making it ideal for students interested in working in policy, advocacy, or regulatory agencies.
Why Georgetown Law?
Georgetown Law’s location in Washington, D.C., its connections to federal agencies, and its focus on national environmental policy make it a top choice for students pursuing careers in government, policy, or advocacy.
Top Environmental Law Schools in the U.S.
| Ranking | School and Information |
| 1 | Vermont Law School (South Royalton, VT) Tuition & Fees: Full-time: $43,468 per year Enrollment (full-time): 566 LSAT scores (25th-75th percentile): 151-159 GPA(25th-75th percentile): 3-3.54 Acceptance rate: 69.0% Assessment score by lawyers/judges (out of 5): 2.8 Graduates known to be employed nine months after graduation: 77.2% |
| 2 | Lewis & Clark College (Northwestern) (Portland, OR) Tuition & Fees: Full-time: $36,362 per year Enrollment (full-time): 493 LSAT scores (25th-75th percentile): 157-163 GPA(25th-75th percentile): 3.2-3.68 Acceptance rate: 39.3% Assessment score by lawyers/judges (out of 5): 3.2 Graduates known to be employed nine months after graduation: 89.4% |
| 3 | Pace University (White Plains, NY) Tuition & Fees: Full-time: $40,730 per year Enrollment (full-time): 644 LSAT scores (25th-75th percentile): 151-156 GPA(25th-75th percentile): 3.12-3.75 Acceptance rate: 40.3% Assessment score by lawyers/judges (out of 5): 2.3 Graduates known to be employed nine months after graduation: 72.6% |
| 4 | University of California: Berkeley (Berkeley, CA) Tuition & Fees: In-state, full-time: $50,163 per year, Out-of-state, full-time: $54,370 per year Enrollment (full-time): 869 LSAT scores (25th-75th percentile): 164-169 GPA(25th-75th percentile): 3.62-3.88 Acceptance rate: 12.7% Assessment score by lawyers/judges (out of 5): 4.4 Graduates known to be employed nine months after graduation: 93.6% |
| 5 | University of Colorado at Boulder (Boulder, CO) Tuition & Fees: In-state, full-time: $31,044 per year, Out-of-state, full-time: $37,452 per year Enrollment (full-time): 540 LSAT scores (25th-75th percentile): 158-165 GPA(25th-75th percentile): 3.33-3.8 Acceptance rate: 30.1% Assessment score by lawyers/judges (out of 5): 3.4 Graduates known to be employed nine months after graduation: 82.5% |
| 6 | University of Oregon (Eugene, OR) Tuition & Fees: In-state, full-time: $26,061 per year, Out-of-state, full-time: $32,505 per year Enrollment (full-time): 505 LSAT scores (25th-75th percentile): 157-160 GPA(25th-75th percentile): 3.17-3.6 Acceptance rate: 40.7% Assessment score by lawyers/judges (out of 5): 3.3 Graduates known to be employed nine months after graduation: 78.0% |
| 7 | Tulane University (New Orleans, LA) Tuition & Fees: Full-time: $43,684 per year Enrollment (full-time): 775 LSAT scores (25th-75th percentile): 158-163 GPA(25th-75th percentile): 3.31-3.68 Acceptance rate: 37.8% Assessment score by lawyers/judges (out of 5): 3.6 Graduates known to be employed nine months after graduation: 85.3% |
| 8 | Florida State University (Tallahassee, FL) Tuition & Fees: In-state, full-time: $18,343 per year, Out-of-state, full-time: $37,905 per year Enrollment (full-time): 729 LSAT scores (25th-75th percentile): 160-163 GPA(25th-75th percentile): 3.18-3.68 Acceptance rate: 27.0% Assessment score by lawyers/judges (out of 5): 2.9 Graduates known to be employed nine months after graduation: 91.4% |
| 9 | Duke University (Durham, NC) Tuition & Fees: Full-time: $49,617 per year Enrollment (full-time): 644 LSAT scores (25th-75th percentile): 167-171 GPA(25th-75th percentile): 3.62-3.84 Acceptance rate: 15.3% Assessment score by lawyers/judges (out of 5): 4.4 Graduates known to be employed nine months after graduation: 94.8% |
| 10 | University of Florida (Levin) (Gainesville, FL) Tuition & Fees: In-state, full-time: $18,710 per year, Out-of-state, full-time: $38,075 per year Enrollment (full-time): 976 LSAT scores (25th-75th percentile): 160-164 GPA(25th-75th percentile): 3.43-3.82 Acceptance rate: 28.9% Assessment score by lawyers/judges (out of 5): 3.6 Graduates known to be employed nine months after graduation: 85.4% |
| 11 | Georgetown University (Washington, DC) Tuition & Fees: Full-time: $46,865 per year Enrollment (full-time): 1,671 LSAT scores (25th-75th percentile): 167-171 GPA(25th-75th percentile): 3.44-3.8 Acceptance rate: 26.6% Assessment score by lawyers/judges (out of 5): 4.5 Graduates known to be employed nine months after graduation: 96.0% |
| 12 | University of Maryland (Carey) (Baltimore, MD) Tuition & Fees: In-state, full-time: $25,405 per year, Out-of-state, full-time: $36,684 per year Enrollment (full-time): 735 LSAT scores (25th-75th percentile): 156-163 GPA(25th-75th percentile): 3.31-3.75 Acceptance rate: 19.7% Assessment score by lawyers/judges (out of 5): 3.1 Graduates known to be employed nine months after graduation: 93.3% |
| 13 | New York University (New York, NY) Tuition & Fees: Full-time: $48,950 per year Enrollment (full-time): 1,464 LSAT scores (25th-75th percentile): 170-174 GPA(25th-75th percentile): 3.57-3.85 Acceptance rate: 24.2% Assessment score by lawyers/judges (out of 5): 4.5 Graduates known to be employed nine months after graduation: 96.6% |
| 14 | Stanford University (Stanford, CA) Tuition & Fees: Full-time: $49,179 per year Enrollment (full-time): 571 LSAT scores (25th-75th percentile): 167-172 GPA(25th-75th percentile): 3.72-3.93 Acceptance rate: 9.8% Assessment score by lawyers/judges (out of 5): 4.7 Graduates known to be employed nine months after graduation: 97.1% |
| 15 | University of California: Los Angeles (Los Angeles, CA) Tuition & Fees: In-state, full-time: $44,922 per year, Out-of-state, full-time: $54,767 per year Enrollment (full-time): 987 LSAT scores (25th-75th percentile): 164-169 GPA(25th-75th percentile): 3.55-3.88 Acceptance rate: 20.1% Assessment score by lawyers/judges (out of 5): 4.1 Graduates known to be employed nine months after graduation: 93.1% |
| 16 | George Washington University (Washington, DC) Tuition & Fees: Full-time: $45,750 per year Enrollment (full-time): 1,430 LSAT scores (25th-75th percentile): 161-168 GPA(25th-75th percentile): 3.43-3.9 Acceptance rate: 27.2% Assessment score by lawyers/judges (out of 5): 3.9 Graduates known to be employed nine months after graduation: 94.3% |
| 17 | University of Denver (Sturm) (Denver, CO) Tuition & Fees: Full-time: $38,502 per year Enrollment (full-time): 769 LSAT scores (25th-75th percentile): 155-161 GPA(25th-75th percentile): 3.17-3.64 Acceptance rate: 40.7% Assessment score by lawyers/judges (out of 5): 3.1 Graduates known to be employed nine months after graduation: 82.4% |
| 18 | University of Utah (Quinney) (Salt Lake City, UT) Tuition & Fees: In-state, full-time: $19,846 per year, Out-of-state, full-time: $38,496 per year Enrollment (full-time): 398 LSAT scores (25th-75th percentile): 157-163 GPA(25th-75th percentile): 3.41-3.72 Acceptance rate: 30.7% Assessment score by lawyers/judges (out of 5): 3.4 Graduates known to be employed nine months after graduation: 91.3% |
| 19 | Columbia University (New York, NY) Tuition & Fees: Full-time: $52,902 per year Enrollment (full-time): 1,331 LSAT scores (25th-75th percentile): 170-175 GPA(25th-75th percentile): 3.6-3.82 Acceptance rate: 15.8% Assessment score by lawyers/judges (out of 5): 4.6 Graduates known to be employed nine months after graduation: 96.5% |
| 20 | Harvard University (Cambridge, MA) Tuition & Fees: Full-time: $48,786 per year Enrollment (full-time): 1,679 LSAT scores (25th-75th percentile): 171-176 GPA(25th-75th percentile): 3.78-3.97 Acceptance rate: 13.3% Assessment score by lawyers/judges (out of 5): 4.8 Graduates known to be employed nine months after graduation: 94.6% |
| 21 | University of Washington (Seattle, WA) Tuition & Fees: In-state, full-time: $25,780 per year, Out-of-state, full-time: $39,850 per year Enrollment (full-time): 545 LSAT scores (25th-75th percentile): 161-166 GPA(25th-75th percentile): 3.44-3.82 Acceptance rate: 22.1% Assessment score by lawyers/judges (out of 5): 3.9 Graduates known to be employed nine months after graduation: 96.0% |
| 22 | Golden Gate University (San Francisco, CA) Tuition & Fees: Full-time: $40,515 per year Enrollment (full-time): 568 LSAT scores (25th-75th percentile): 150-155 GPA(25th-75th percentile): 2.73-3.41 Acceptance rate: 59.8% Assessment score by lawyers/judges (out of 5): 1.9 Graduates known to be employed nine months after graduation: 67.2% |
| 23 | University of Hawaii at Manoa (Richardson) (Honolulu, HI) Tuition & Fees: In-state, full-time: $17,378 per year, Out-of-state, full-time: $32,522 per year Enrollment (full-time): 276 LSAT scores (25th-75th percentile): 153-160 GPA(25th-75th percentile): 3.11-3.55 Acceptance rate: 20.9% Assessment score by lawyers/judges (out of 5): 2.6 Graduates known to be employed nine months after graduation: 80.5% |
| 24 | University of Minnesota: Twin Cities (Minneapolis, MN) Tuition & Fees: In-state, full-time: $34,817 per year, Out-of-state, full-time: $43,385 per year Enrollment (full-time): 752 LSAT scores (25th-75th percentile): 157-167 GPA(25th-75th percentile): 3.41-3.9 Acceptance rate: 24.8% Assessment score by lawyers/judges (out of 5): 4.0 Graduates known to be employed nine months after graduation: 91.9% |