Environmental Law

Environmental law courses at BU Law cover everything from climate change and land use to scientific controversies and energy law and policy. An introductory course provides students with the theoretical foundations and political dimensions of environmental law, with a particular focus on key statutes such as the Clean Air Act, the Clean Water Act, and the National Environmental Protection Act.  

BU Law faculty are at the leading edge of environmental law research and practice. In one course, Climate Risk and Financial Institutions: Submerging Markets, students explore the financial risks of a changing climate, including from overdevelopment in flood- and fire-prone areas. Several other classes explore the role corporations are playing in the response to climate change through their environmental, social, and governance (ESG) programs. In the Environmental Law Practicum, students work on legal projects for local and national environmental organizations under the guidance of supervising attorneys and faculty. LLM students in the LLM in American Law program can enroll in any of these courses. 

Massachusetts has long been at the forefront of environmental issues, including through litigation brought by the Attorney General’s Office where BU Law students regularly work as interns or externs. Students also have the opportunity to work for the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection and the US Environmental Protection Agency.