About
The EJC offers students an opportunity to work on ground-breaking projects that tackle issues such as:
- Climate change
- Gentrification and displacement
- Contamination
- Environmental health
- Municipal equity, and more.
Depending on the project, students may conduct factual investigations and research; coordinate institutional reform initiatives through litigation, legislative, and transactional strategies; collaborate with nonprofit organizations and neighborhood associations; engage with elected officials and municipal actors; and co-counsel cases with law firms.
The Student Experience
The day-to-day project work is supplemented by weekly supervision meetings, practicums, and seminars. During supervision meetings, EJC fellows and faculty guide students at every step of the project so that students learn from observing and reflecting on the work of experienced attorneys. Practicums and seminars introduce students to various areas of law including community lawyering, civil rights, environmental, poverty, and public health law.
As part of their work, students interact with the community and government, attending, participating in, and presenting at meetings and workshops. EJC Interns are viewed as resources and experts who are able to support the community and the government by providing legal and policy research and solutions to the complex environmental and social justice issues that South Florida (and the world, more generally) is facing.
Comments and quotes from students
“In my role as an intern for the Environmental Justice Clinic, I’ve drawn into focus how different concepts of community take shape, how they evolve, and what they produce as a result of member engagement. Within the last week, I attended two events as part of my role with the clinic, which gave me the opportunity to witness how people respond in the wake of devastation to a community that is geographically distinct from their own, yet deeply woven into where they stand.”
Bethany Blakeman, 2L Environmental Justice Clinic Intern
“My experiences in the clinic thus far . . . have reignited my passion for the law.”
Alexandra Cimo, 2L Environmental Justice Clinic Intern
“Every day in the clinic classroom and through my clinic research, I take on challenges to improve myself as a community member and take strides to think about solutions that can positively affect our climate.”
Gabriela Falla, 2L Environmental Justice Clinic Intern
Guest Speaker Roster
The EJC brings guest speakers into the classroom to provide expert insights to the work that we do. The speaker list changes from year to year and is responsive to the projects the students are working on.
