New Certificate in Energy, Innovation, and Sustainability

Lewis & Clark Law School will introduce a new certificate program in the fall of 2018: “Energy, Innovation, and Sustainability,” to prepare students for careers in energy law.

Many employers in the energy field are seeking law graduates with foundations in both environmental and business law. The new certificate responds to those needs.

Established by the Natural Resources Law and Business Law Committees for the law school, the certificate allows JD students to focus on both business and environmental law classes pertaining to energy law. The Energy, Innovation, and Sustainability certificate complements existing JD Certificate programs in Environmental Law, Business Law, Intellectual Property Law, Tax Law, Criminal Law and Justice, International Law, Public Interest Law and Animal Law .

“Students interested in energy law may not necessarily want to focus solely on environmental law classes. A separate certificate that includes business and environmental courses better reflects the expected competencies of a future energy law practitioner,” said Janice Weis, associate dean and director of Lewis & Clark Law School’s Environmental, Natural Resources & Energy Law Program.

JD students interested in pursuing the certificate must take the core courses of Administrative Law, Energy Law, and Business Associations I, along with eight additional credits of environmental and business law courses. They will complete one paper that combines the topics of energy and business law.

In addition, students are required to gain practical skills in energy law through a practical skills course, paid employment in the energy law field, or through pro bono work involving energy law.

Current students who are graduating in the spring of 2018 and would otherwise meet the certificate requirements can petition to receive the certificate. For more information, contact the Environmental, Natural Resources and Energy Law programs at 

elaw@lclark.edu or call 503-768-6649.