Environmental Law Program

Miami Law’s Environmental Law Program is unique due to its South Florida location, enabling the focus on the prism of issues affecting the environment — from maritime to real estate to land use to the cruise industry to environmental law to law of the sea. The Program also offers a unique intersectionality with other University of Miami graduate programs in marine affairs, land use, architecture, and business. With a Concentration in Environmental Law and an Environmental Justice Clinic, the program trains students to become future attorneys, policy makers, and scholars in the field of environmental law locally, nationally, and internationally.

 

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Academics

The Environmental Law Program offers a wide array of opportunities both in and out of the classroom for students to pursue focused studies on environmental law.

Cards

Environmental Justice Clinic

The Environmental Justice Clinic (EJC) advocates for and seeks to empower low-and moderate-income communities who disproportionately bear the environmental, economic, and health burdens of the development, implementation, and enforcement of the law. It was launched in 2016 as Environmental Justice Project in Miami Law’s Center for Ethics and Public Service under Professor Tony Alfieri and later became full-fledged clinic.

Concentrations

For students who wish to focus on environmental law in their legal studies, Miami Law enables them to pursue an Environmental Law Concentration or Area of Focus. Students who meet all requirements receive a notation in their transcript.

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UN Climate Change Treaty Negotiations

Through the efforts of ELP Director Jessica Owley, the University of Miami has obtained official accredited observer status in the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) treaty-making meetings. UM students have participated in the UNFCCC Conference of Parties (COP) since 2019 as part of their coursework in UN Climate Change Negotiations. Attending the annual COP is an invaluable tool to learn about international negotiations and the treaty-making process.

Everglades Law & Policy Field Course

This compressed course will provide an overview of the law and policy of Everglades restoration through a blend of field visits and classroom learning. It covers state and federal environmental regulations and legal frameworks, and their implications. This class is held off-campus in the Everglades.

  • Applications for the 2026 Field Course are now closed. Please watch this space for further announcements.

Cards

Joint Degrees

For students who wish to pursue an in-depth specialization in the law and its intersection with related sciences, the Program builds on the University of Miami’s outstanding joint degree programs.

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Student Life

With the guidance of ELP faculty and partners in learning, our students have participated and won in renowned domestic and international competitions.

Competitions

Cards

National Environmental Moot Court Competition

Hosted by Pace Law School and well-known for its challenging problems, the event attracts teams from all over the United States.

International Environmental Moot Court Competition

The Stetson International Environmental Moot Court Competition is the world's largest moot court competition devoted exclusively to global environmental challenges. Regional rounds are held in Africa, East Asia, Eastern and Central Europe, Ireland, India, Latin America, North America, and Southeast Asia. The International Finals are held at Stetson University College of Law.

Environmental Law and Policy Hack Competition

The Law and Policy Hack is an exciting competition organized by Pace Law School. This year, it is co-organized by the Environmental Law Program. In the Law and Policy Hack, students are given a real life problem and work with an interdisciplinary team to propose a solution. Miami Law sent a team for the first time in 2021 and placed in the top three and qualified for the finals.

Student Organizations

Accordion Group

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  • Environmental Law Society

    Examines policy issues and career opportunities in environmental law and promotes the environmental interests of the school and students to the local and national community. It also hosts lectures and networking opportunities.

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  • Maritime Law Society

    The maritime law society educates its members in the field of maritime law and supports the area’s maritime community via lectures and events with the Admiralty Bar.

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  • Real Estate, Probate, and Trust Law Society

    The society focuses on several aspects of real estate law including real estate transactions, development, probate, trusts & estates, construction, finance, and hospitality.

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  • Student Animal Legal Defense Fund

    This program enhances the welfare and legal status of all nonhuman animals; its primary goals are to educate concerning the issues and laws that affect animals and to influence positive change.

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Help Us Make a Difference

The Environmental Law Program benefits from the generous charitable contributions to offer high-quality and timely instruction in environmental law and adjacent legal fields to the University of Miami’s law and graduate students.

If you're interested in contributing to our work, please contact Valerie Fajardo at rvfajardo@law.miami.edu. 

 

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