Environmental and Energy Law (J.D. Certificate)

Attracting students from a wide range of academic and professional backgrounds, this program takes an interdisciplinary approach to the scientific, economic, and ethical aspects of environmental and energy law.

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Environmental and energy issues permeate more and more areas of law amidst a profound transformation over the past 50 years in attitudes regarding the planet and its life support systems. Increasingly, air, soil, and water resources drive economic and public health issues, while public and private sectors focusing more attention on planning for the transition from fossil fuels to renewable forms of energy.

Chicago-Kent College of Law has been in the forefront of training legal professionals to deal with these critical, rapidly emerging issues. The J.D. Certificate in Environmental and Energy Law provides not only a firm grounding in the core legal principles of environmental law, but also an understanding of the underlying scientific, economic, and ethical concepts that inform environmental and energy policy.

This theoretical foundation is supplemented by practical application opportunities through externships or through supervised involvement in one of the nation's finest urban environmental justice clinics.

Program Overview

The J.D. Certificate in Environmental and Energy Law provides a firm grounding in the core legal principles of environmental law as well as an understanding of the underlying scientific, economic, and ethical concepts that inform environmental and energy policy.

Career Opportunities

The Environmental and Energy Law Program prepares students to join law firms that represent business entities subject to environmental and energy regulations, public interest groups that lobby for preventive and protective measures, public regulatory and enforcement agencies, corporations whose in-house counsel ensures operational compliance with regulations, and a host of related pursuits.

Possible jobs include:

  • Environmental law attorney
  • Land use and zoning attorney
  • Public interest attorney
  • U.S. Environmental Protection Agency attorney
  • U.S. Justice Department attorney
  • U.S. Department of the Interior attorney
Disclaimer for prospective students, please read.
The information provided is sourced from a third party, Lightcast, and is provided here for informational and educational purposes only. Please be advised that the inclusion of the Lightcast resource on this website does not imply endorsement by Illinois Institute of Technology (Illinois Tech), nor is it a guarantee of the accuracy of this information. Illinois Tech makes no representation, warranty or guarantee, express or implied, that the information presented herein is reflective of the outcomes you can expect if you enroll in or graduate from an Illinois Tech program. Illinois Tech expressly disclaims any liability regarding Lightcast, or in connection with any actual or potential employment opportunity stemming from information on this site and you hereby irrevocably waive any claim(s) against the Illinois Tech for the same. Your use of this web page is an acknowledgement of your understanding and acceptance of the terms and conditions set forth herein. You are encouraged to conduct your own thorough research into job opportunities and outcomes in your field of study.

Students must complete 14 credit hours of approved coursework that covers everything from national and international policy to land use regulation, the Clean Air Act, pollution controls, biodiversity conservation programs, and energy distribution.

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This program is open only to J.D. students at Chicago-Kent College of Law.