Expand mobile version menu

What To Learn

High School

What high school courses should you take if you're interested in this career? Get your answers from the Law, Public Safety, Corrections and Security cluster Legal Services pathway.

Insider Info

Additional Information

Environmental lawyers go through training just like any other lawyer. Aspiring lawyers have usually have a full four-year degree before starting law school -- it depends on the entrance requirements of the law school they want to attend.

Then, they must write an aptitude test (LSAT) to get into a three-year law degree program. At law school, they may attend specialized clinics or courses pertaining to environmental law.

Elizabeth Swanson is staff counsel for the Environmental Law Center. She recommends pursuing an undergraduate degree in biology or engineering and then completing your law degree. The complexity of the scientific data an environmental lawyer is confronted with can be overwhelming for those without a background in science.

Other experts in the field say it's good to have a diverse university background, studying everything from history to economics.

Universities across the United States offer law degree programs. Most of them include basic courses in environmental law. If you know what area of environmental law you want to concentrate in, it's worth checking out the faculty members' law backgrounds. You may find the foremost legal expert in your area of interest is teaching at a university you hadn't considered.

Professor Oliver Houck, of Tulane University in Louisiana, says undergraduates should consider which school offers the widest variety of environmental law courses. "You never know what's going to appeal to you."

However, Houck says there are some schools which specialize in environmental law and little else. "Over the long haul, that's less valuable than courses which have good academic standing across the board."

If you're lucky enough to live in a city that has an environmental law center, you can try to volunteer with them. If not, try contacting a local environmental group. Every issue has a legal background that needs researching, and you could end up with a lot of first-hand experience.

Contact

  • Email Support
  • 1-800-GO-TO-XAP (1-800-468-6927)
    From outside the U.S., please call +1 (424) 750-3900
  • North Dakota Career Resource Network
    ndcrn@nd.gov | (701) 328-9733

Support