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What are the Different Types of Environmental Law Courses?

Misty Amber Brighton

Last Modified Date: January 21, 2024

Many environmental law courses deal with land and natural resource conservation. Others discuss pollution and the laws that attempt to prevent it. Some classes could go over many of the treaties, statutes, and regulations that have been passed to protect the earth. International law is an important aspect of many subjects, as the issues studied may affect people in more than one country.

Laws that protect development of land generally serve to help conserve natural resources, such as forests. They can also be passed to preserve habitats for wildlife. This can make environmental law courses that cover the protection of these natural assets very valuable for many who practice in specific areas of the law, like those that handle real estate or interstate commerce, for example.

Other environmental law courses cover statutes designed to protect the quality of air and water. This is normally done by regulating how energy is consumed or the ways in which waste can be disposed. These classes may discuss many of the common violations, how to remain in compliance with such regulations, and the penalties for not doing so.

As there are a number of treaties that have been passed concerning ecological issues, many courses may choose to cover these environmental agreements in some detail. Some of these treaties may cover wide issues, like the migration of birds from one country to the next. Others can deal with the use of weapons or explosives between countries at war, both on land and at sea.

Many environmental treaties involve several countries and may even include the United Nations (U.N.) in many cases. For this reason, a good understanding of international law is often necessary when studying environmental law. This means that many classes may integrate this topic into the coursework so students can become familiar with it.

Environmental law courses can sometimes include opinions from international tribunals. This can be the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (ITLOS), the International Court of Justice (ICJ), or a number of different regional tribunals. This is because many landmark cases have been used to develop new environmental laws by various countries.

Nearly every type of law is impacted by environmental regulations in some manner. This can mean that environmental law courses are a good idea for many people who would like a career as an attorney or paralegal. They can be good sources of information for business owners and land developers as well.

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Discussion Comments

umbra21

July 14, 2011

Remember, you might go into a law degree and study environmental law courses with good intentions, but you might eventually become sick of the compromise. There has been a lot of progress made on environmental issues in the last few decades, but so much more needs to be done.

I think it is wonderful if intelligent, passionate people go into this field, but just be aware that you aren't going to change the world overnight.

So many people end up getting burnt out when their expectations don't match reality, and I think it is a waste of so much potential.

irontoenail

July 13, 2011

While studying international law is a good idea for people who want to practice environmental law, you might also want to consider the local culturally based laws of the country you want to practice in.

In New Zealand, for example, the way the environment is treated has been greatly influenced by the local Maori and the original treaty they have between them and the queen has to be considered before most actions are taken with regard to the environment.

This is true of other countries or areas within countries where more than one cultural group resides. A lawyer who could understand and negotiate between these groups would be at an advantage in environmental law institutes.