GW Law Environmental and Energy Law Program Guide 2026

GW Law Environmental and Energy Law Program Overview

The George Washington University Law School has been at the forefront of environmental and energy legal education since 1970, when it established one of the first dedicated environmental law programs in the nation. Located in the heart of Washington, D.C., GW Law’s Environmental and Energy Law Program operates at the intersection of two rapidly evolving fields that are increasingly shaping global policy, corporate strategy, and public health outcomes.

What distinguishes the GW Law environmental and energy law program from competitors is its unified approach. Rather than treating environmental law and energy law as separate disciplines, the program recognizes that modern challenges like climate change, grid modernization, and environmental justice require practitioners who understand both regulatory frameworks. This integrated philosophy runs through every aspect of the program, from its course offerings to its faculty research and externship placements.

The program serves a remarkably diverse student body, from first-year JD candidates exploring concentrations to experienced international attorneys seeking specialized LLM credentials, to working professionals in environmental fields who pursue the MSL degree without leaving their careers. With a network of over 32,000 alumni and partnerships with the most influential environmental and energy organizations in Washington, GW Law offers an academic experience that is deeply connected to the practice of law and policy.

Degree Paths: JD, LLM, and MSL Options

GW Law’s Environmental and Energy Law Program offers three distinct degree pathways, each designed to serve different professional goals and career stages. Understanding which path aligns with your background and objectives is essential for maximizing your investment in legal education.

Juris Doctor (JD) with Environmental and Energy Law Concentrations

The JD program provides the traditional law degree with the option to focus on environmental law or energy law through dedicated concentrations. First-year students benefit from GW Law’s groundbreaking Fundamentals of Lawyering course, which introduces nuanced analytical, research, and writing skills through an experiential approach to professional development. As students progress, they can select from the program’s extensive course catalog to build expertise in areas ranging from climate change law to offshore wind regulation.

Master of Laws (LLM) in Environmental and Energy Law

For U.S.-educated attorneys who have earned a JD and international students with a primary law degree, GW Law offers four specialized LLM tracks: Environmental Law, Energy and Environmental Law, Government Procurement and Environmental Law, and International Environmental Law. These tracks provide advanced training for both new and experienced attorneys seeking to deepen their specialization or pivot into environmental and energy practice areas.

Master of Studies in Law (MSL) in Environmental and Energy Studies

The MSL degree represents an innovative pathway for professionals who do not have or seek a JD but want to deepen their understanding of environmental and energy law. This degree is particularly valuable for environmental scientists, policy analysts, corporate sustainability officers, and engineers who regularly interact with legal and regulatory frameworks in their work. If you are exploring non-traditional legal education options, you may also find value in reviewing programs like Stanford’s sustainability programs for comparison.

Curriculum and Course Catalog at GW Law

One of the strongest selling points of GW Law’s Environmental and Energy Law Program is the breadth and depth of its curriculum. With over two dozen courses offered every academic year, the program maintains one of the largest course catalogs in environmental and energy law among U.S. law schools. All courses are open to JD, MSL, and LLM candidates, creating a rich interdisciplinary classroom environment.

Environmental Law Courses

The environmental law curriculum covers foundational and advanced topics including Air Pollution Control, Climate Change Law and Justice, Coastal Navigation and Wetlands Resource Law, Control of Solid and Hazardous Waste under RCRA and CERCLA, Environmental Crimes, Environmental Law, Environmental Negotiations, Environmental and Toxic Torts, Natural Resources Law, Regulation of Toxic Substances Risk, Water Pollution Control, and Wildlife and Ecosystems Law. Specialized seminars in Food and Agriculture Law, Environmental Justice, and Human Rights and Environmental Protection offer students the opportunity to explore emerging intersections.

Energy Law Courses

The energy law offerings address both traditional and emerging energy sectors. Students can enroll in Atomic Energy Law, Energy Commodities Climate Change and Derivatives, Energy Law and Regulation, Oil and Gas Law, and Regulated Industries. Forward-looking seminars on topics such as the Electricity Grid of the Future and Offshore Wind reflect the program’s commitment to preparing students for the energy transition. The course on How to Practice in Electric and Natural Gas Regulation provides practical skills for students planning to work in energy regulatory practice.

Cross-cutting courses like International Project Finance and Trade and Sustainable Development round out the catalog, ensuring that students understand the global dimensions of environmental and energy challenges. For students interested in how other leading universities structure their environmental curricula, Yale’s environmental law program offers an interesting point of comparison.

Faculty Expertise in Environmental and Energy Law

GW Law’s Environmental and Energy Law Program is led by nationally and internationally recognized scholars who are not only leading academics but also active participants in shaping environmental and energy policy. The program’s faculty includes authors of leading casebooks and treatises, congressional witnesses, and former government officials who bring real-world perspective to the classroom.

Randall S. Abate serves as Assistant Dean for Environmental Law Studies and is a leading authority on climate change law, ocean and coastal law, and climate justice. His published works include Climate Change and the Voiceless: Protecting Future Generations, Wildlife, and Natural Resources and several other influential books examining climate governance challenges. Donna M. Attanasio, Assistant Dean for Energy Law, brings extensive industry connections as former President of the Energy Bar Association, with expertise in microgrids, community solar, and energy law education.

Robert Glicksman, the J.B. and Maurice C. Shapiro Professor of Environmental Law, is co-author of several leading textbooks including Environmental Protection: Law and Policy and NEPA Law and Litigation, and has testified before Congress on endangered species and ozone pollution. Emily Hammond, who serves as GW’s Vice Provost for Faculty Affairs, previously served as a presidential appointee in the U.S. Department of Energy and co-authors leading textbooks in both energy and environmental law.

LeRoy Paddock brings twenty years of environmental law practice experience from the Minnesota Office of the Attorney General and has authored works on environmental compliance, enforcement, and innovation in energy law. The program also benefits from contributions by nationally renowned tenured faculty including Richard Pierce, Steven Schooner, and Steve Charnovitz, as well as adjunct professors who have held senior positions in government agencies, NGOs, and the private sector.

Externships and Field Placement Opportunities

Perhaps no aspect of GW Law’s Environmental and Energy Law Program better demonstrates the advantage of its Washington, D.C. location than its field placement program. Each year, more than 600 students receive course credit through dynamic, hands-on externships that provide practical experience under the supervision of leading legal practitioners. These placements are available year-round, spanning governmental agencies, nonprofit organizations, law firms, trade associations, and private companies.

Government placements include positions at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the U.S. Department of Justice Environmental Division, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, the U.S. Department of Interior, and the U.S. Department of Energy. International opportunities are available through organizations like the World Bank. On the nonprofit side, students can extern at the Environmental Defense Fund, Natural Resources Defense Council, World Wildlife Fund, and the American Clean Power Association.

These externships serve as powerful career accelerators. Students not only develop practical legal skills but also build professional networks that often lead to permanent employment after graduation. The combination of rigorous academic training with hands-on placement at organizations that are actively shaping environmental and energy policy is a differentiator that few law schools outside Washington, D.C. can match. Students interested in social impact careers may also want to explore Columbia’s Climate School programs for complementary perspectives.

Washington D.C. Location Advantage

GW Law’s position at 2000 H Street NW places students in the epicenter of American environmental and energy policymaking. Washington, D.C. is where federal environmental legislation is drafted, debated, and enacted. It is where agencies like the EPA promulgate regulations, where the Department of Energy sets national energy strategy, and where industry associations and environmental advocacy groups compete to influence policy outcomes.

For environmental and energy law students, this proximity translates into tangible academic and professional advantages. Students attend congressional hearings on environmental legislation, participate in events hosted by law firms and think tanks, and network with practitioners who are litigating the most consequential environmental cases in the country. Many of these opportunities are free and accessible, from bar association events to panel discussions at leading policy institutes.

The D.C. location also means that GW Law’s adjunct faculty are working practitioners—attorneys at federal agencies, partners at D.C.-based environmental law firms, and leaders at nonprofit organizations who bring current cases and policy debates directly into the classroom. This creates a learning environment where theoretical knowledge is constantly tested against real-world application, giving GW Law students an edge in understanding how environmental and energy law actually operates in practice.

Student Life and Professional Development

Beyond the classroom, GW Law offers a vibrant ecosystem of student organizations, publications, and events that enrich the academic experience and build professional connections in environmental and energy law.

Environmental and Energy Law Students Association (EELA)

EELA serves as the hub of student activity in the environmental and energy law space. The organization introduces students to a wide variety of career paths in both private and public sectors through coordinated panels addressing current events. These panels feature GW Law professors, deans, and visiting professionals, fostering academic debate and dialogue on pressing environmental issues. EELA hosts an annual Meet the Professors Night each fall to help students choose courses strategically, organizes Sustainability Week in the spring, and maintains a calendar of social events throughout the year.

Journal of Energy and Environment Law (JEEL)

GW Law publishes the Journal of Energy and Environment Law, which focuses on legal issues related to next-generation energy production and distribution, as well as environmental and climate law issues connected to energy production. The journal is produced in collaboration with the Environmental Law Institute, giving student editors exposure to leading scholars and practitioners in the field. Publication on JEEL is a significant credential for students pursuing careers in environmental and energy law.

Signature Events and Distinguished Lectures

The program hosts numerous events each year showcasing leading scholars, practitioners, and policymakers. The J.B. and Maurice C. Shapiro Distinguished Lecture on Global Climate Change and Energy Law draws prominent speakers each fall, while the Shapiro Symposium in the spring provides an intensive examination of current environmental and energy law topics. These events, combined with panel discussions and seminars throughout the year, create a continuous stream of intellectual engagement that extends well beyond formal coursework.

Career Outcomes and Alumni Network

GW Law’s Center for Professional Development and Career Strategy operates one of the largest legal career counseling teams in the country. Staffed entirely by former practicing attorneys with extensive experience in both public and private sectors, the center hosts nearly 100 programs annually including networking events, panels, fall and spring recruitment programs, and a dedicated public sector recruitment program.

The career center supports diverse career paths including judicial clerkships, positions at environmental law firms, government roles at federal and state agencies, and international opportunities. GW Law’s alumni network of over 32,000 graduates provides a powerful professional resource, with alumni holding senior positions across the environmental and energy law landscape—from partnership at major law firms to leadership roles in federal agencies, international organizations, and Fortune 500 companies.

Graduates of the Environmental and Energy Law Program are particularly well-positioned for careers in climate change litigation, energy regulatory practice, environmental compliance and enforcement, sustainable finance and ESG advisory, and international environmental governance. The combination of rigorous academic preparation, hands-on externship experience, and D.C.-based professional networks creates a career trajectory that begins well before graduation. Explore how similar programs at Harvard Law School prepare students for environmental law careers.

Admissions and How to Apply

GW Law maintains separate admissions processes for each degree path in the Environmental and Energy Law Program. Prospective JD students apply through the general admissions office at admissions@law.gwu.edu or 202-994-1010. The JD application process follows standard law school requirements, with environmental and energy law concentrations selected after enrollment.

LLM applicants—both U.S.-educated JD holders and international law graduates—should contact llmadmissions@law.gwu.edu for application requirements and deadlines. The four specialized LLM tracks each have specific prerequisites and focus areas, so prospective students should consult with the Graduate and International Programs office at 202-994-7242 to determine the best fit for their professional goals.

MSL applicants, who are non-lawyer professionals seeking to deepen their environmental and energy law knowledge, can reach out to msladmissions@law.gwu.edu. The MSL program is designed to accommodate working professionals, making it an accessible option for environmental scientists, engineers, policy analysts, and corporate sustainability leaders who want to enhance their legal literacy without pursuing a full JD.

For all degree paths, prospective students are encouraged to connect directly with program leadership. Randall S. Abate, Assistant Dean for Environmental Law Studies, can be reached at randall.abate@law.gwu.edu, and Donna M. Attanasio, Assistant Dean for Energy Law, is available at dattanasio@law.gwu.edu. These faculty leaders can provide personalized guidance on choosing the right degree path and navigating the application process.

How GW Law Compares to Other Environmental Law Programs

When evaluating environmental and energy law programs, prospective students should consider several factors where GW Law excels relative to peer institutions. The program’s 1970 founding date makes it one of the oldest in the country, providing a depth of institutional knowledge and alumni connections that newer programs cannot replicate. Its location in Washington, D.C. is a structural advantage that provides daily access to the agencies, organizations, and practitioners at the center of environmental and energy law.

The breadth of the course catalog—over two dozen courses annually—surpasses most competitors and allows students to develop both generalist knowledge and deep specialization. The three-degree-path structure (JD, LLM, MSL) serves a wider range of students than programs offering only JD concentrations, and the four specialized LLM tracks provide a level of granularity in specialization that is rare among environmental law programs.

The field placement program’s scale—over 600 students placed annually—reflects both the demand for GW Law externs and the depth of relationships the program maintains with partner organizations. Faculty who have served in presidential appointments, testified before Congress, and authored leading textbooks bring a level of practical authority that enhances classroom instruction.

For students weighing GW Law against other top programs, the key differentiator is the integration of academic excellence with professional access. While other schools may offer strong environmental law coursework, few can match the combination of curriculum depth, faculty credentials, externship scale, and geographic advantage that defines GW Law’s Environmental and Energy Law Program. Visit GW Law’s official program page for the latest information, consult U.S. News environmental law rankings for comparative data, and review ABA accreditation resources to verify institutional standards.