Course Description
The legal foundations of private land conservation, as well as the policy and environmental basis for this work. Students will explore conservation easements, the role of land trusts, the ecological and public benefits of protected land, and ways to enhance the impact of private conservation.
Additional Requirements for Graduate Students:
Graduate law students will not be doing any extra work beyond that required of the Juris Doctor students. J.D. students are post-baccalaureate students and the workload expected of them is the same workload expected of post-baccalaureate graduate students. Law students are professional students, not undergraduate students. Graduate law students are primarily international lawyers seeking expertise in the American legal system. This expertise is gained through exposure to Juris Doctor courses.
Athena Title
Land Conservation Clinic
Non-Traditional Format
Practicum.
Semester Course Offered
Offered fall and spring
Grading System
A - F (Traditional)
Course Objectives
1. Provide students with a substantive course in private land conservation law and its environmental basis and benefits 2. Provide students an understanding of the legal, scientific, and policy framework for this work 3. Develop strategies for and experience in collaborating with scientists, experts, government agency personnel, nonprofit staff, and landowners to achieve conservation goals 4. Provide students with an overview of the role of land trusts, conservation easements, and enforcement and management challenges This is linked with JURI 4801S as a clinic.
Topical Outline
• Statutory and policy basis of land conservation • Key federal, state, and local conservation programs and strategies • Regulatory and incentive programs • Tax considerations • Nonprofit law considerations • Environmental impact of land conservation • Relevant environmental science • Public benefits of land conservation • Developing landowner relationships • Drafting and amending conservation easement • Monitoring easements • Enforcing conservation easements and assuring permanence • Interaction with other environmental goals and laws • Connection between protecting land and water quality/supply • Climate change considerations and connection • Environmental justice considerations • Students will also engage in traditional clinical reflection through periodic journals, group meetings, and focused interviews with the instructor