Study

The Duke Environmental Law and Policy Clinic is an interdisciplinary clinic that represents non-profit community-based and environmental organizations throughout the region to address a wide variety of environmental concerns in a variety of different venues. Students work in interdisciplinary teams and engage directly with clients to develop legal and advocacy strategies, conduct site-based assessments, develop legislative and regulatory proposals, and participate in community outreach and education efforts. Students also may engage in litigation, regulatory, and policy proceedings as case needs dictate. Skills training is conducted in weekly seminars and case management meetings and emphasizes client counseling, legal and policy advocacy, networking and working with experts. Although the mix of topics addressed varies among semesters, common themes include environmental justice, climate change, water quality, natural resources conservation, endangered species protection, sustainable agriculture, public trust resources, and environmental health. Clinic faculty make an effort to honor student preferences for case assignments, consistent with case needs and each student’s objectives for professional growth and development.

Enrollment Policy 

Students are required to attend the clinic intensive training session (check the Academic Calendar for the date). Students may not drop the clinic after the first meeting. To enroll, law students must have completed their 1L year; Nicholas School students may enroll after their first semester with permission from the clinic’s directors. 

International LLM students may enroll during their second semester with permission from the clinic's directors.

Enrollment Pre-/Co- Requisite Information

Any course fulfilling the JD Ethics graduation requirement. Although not a prerequisite, students are encouraged to have completed Environmental Law, Ocean and Coastal Law and Policy, and/or Administrative Law prior to enrollment.

Fall 2026

Course Number	Course Credits	Evaluation Method	Instructor
443.01	4	Group project(s) Practical exercises Live-client representation and case management Class participation	Ryke Longest, Michelle Benedict Nowlin