Join the leading environmental and energy law program among top US law schools and equip yourself to take on some of the most pressing issues in the world today, from the urban to the international.
Watch: Milica Skaro LLM ‘22 on how this specialization elevated her work in sustainability.
Faculty
NYU has an exceptional core of academic faculty whose work is dedicated to environmental, energy and land use issues. They have established reputations for path-breaking research that drives policy formation on such issues as climate change, air pollution, housing and development, and contemporary urban environmental law. You can combine their classes with those taught by professors at the NYU Wagner Graduate School of Public Service, such as ones in climate or urban policy.
Experts in international law and global governance offer classes that examine environmental and energy issues through the lens of accountability, be it the rise of Environmental and Social Governance or the exercise of power by international organizations and NGOs.
Flexible Core Curriculum
You'll choose from an array of core classes across environmental, energy and land use law that will challenge you to consider these topics at urban, domestic and international levels. A selection of our classes cover food law and policy, animal law, and environmental justice, while others are taught by leading energy law practitioners who focus on deal-making and the transitional aspects of the industry. Related courses include ones in law and business, human rights, indigenous communities, innovation, and social enterprise.
Clinics
To gain exposure to fieldwork, LLMs can apply for clinics, such as the UN Diplomacy Clinic, the Environmental Law Clinic, and the Global Justice Clinic. For example, students have provided legal assistance to the Permanent Missions of small island developing states regarding resolutions at the General Assembly, litigated in the public interest under the supervision of attorneys at the National Resources Defense Council, and collaborated with local communities and human rights organizations on issues such as the right to health, the right to water, and accountability for corporate violations.
Novel Perspectives
The Law School's Institute for Policy Integrity uses a law and economics approach to evaluate the effectiveness of environmental regulations and support smart improvements to them. Climate and environmental advocacy at the Center for Human Rights and Global Justice includes the Climate Litigation Accelerator which supports rights-based research and litigation and serves as a collaborative hub for practitioners responding to the climate emergency at the scale and speed necessary to spur action.
Watch: Professor José Alvarez on how the increasing informality of law-making by international organizations may hinder the enforcement of global climate change agreements.
Intellectual Life
A number of centers and institutes at NYU Law organize conferences and workshops on environmental, energy, and land use topics at which you will engage actively with leading decision-makers, advocates and academics. You also will form close bonds with your classmates in the specialization, and connect with both JDs and LLMs through student groups and journals.
Centers and Institutes
Center for Human Rights and Global Justice
Frank J. Guarini Center on Environmental, Energy and Land Use Law
Furman Center for Real Estate and Urban Policy
Institute for Policy Integrity
State Energy & Environmental Impact Center
Student Groups and Journals
Environmental Law Journal
Environmental Law Society
Journal of International Law and Politics
Law and Government Society
Real Estate and Urban Policy Forum
Student Animal Legal Defense Fund
Career Resources
Get ready for your next career move as you prepare to join NYU Law's network of 40,000+ alumni:
- The Office of Career Services supports your private sector job search.
- The Public Interest Law Center assists with your future public service career.
- Apply for post-graduate fellowships for LLMs in human rights or international finance and development.
- Explore the fully-funded JSD program, research fellowships at some of our centers and institutes, and the Law School's academic career fellowships.
- Learn more about bar exams and admission to practice in the US.
Meet the 2024-25 Faculty Director
Katrina M. Wyman
Sarah Herring Sorin Professor of Law
Born and raised in Canada, Katrina Wyman has a BA, MA, and LLB from the University of Toronto and an LLM from Yale Law School. Professor Wyman’s research interests primarily relate to property and natural resources law and policy. Read more about Professor Wyman