Join the Environmental Law Summer Session

The 2021 Session will run from

June 1 to June 18

Register Now!

Launched in 2005, the Summer Session provides law students and practitioners from around the world an opportunity to engage in intensive environmental law training over a three-week period. The Summer Session offers a diversity of dynamic courses taught by leading practitioners from government, business, and non-governmental organizations.

Due to the COVID-19 emergency,  the programs will be offered online. 

Our online classrooms allow for face-to-face collaboration with classmates and faculty in real time using a variety of features including small group break-out rooms and live chats. In addition, participants will complete self-paced, engaging coursework that you can access 24/7 on our convenient online platform.

Seminars in this Summer Session on Environmental Law can be taken for law school credit or a Certificate of Attendance. The Certificate will be presented to those who do not wish to take them for academic credit. The credits can also be used toward an LL.M. degree from Washington College of Law.

More information to come. Please direct all questions to summerenvironment@wcl.american.edu

Course Name: Global Toxics Law
Academic Credits: 1
Course Description: Chemicals have reconfigured the material fulcrum around which our economies revolve.  An unintended consequence, however, has been the toxification of the planet and the increasing chemical burden on our bodies.  Exposure to hazardous substances presents serious risks and harms to human and environmental health.  The international community has developed international law instruments for the sound management of chemicals and wastes.  This course will explore the legal landscape of this chemicals and waste cluster, including the main international treaties, non-binding instruments, and ongoing international negotiations on plastics and highly hazardous pesticides.  The course will also look into the human rights dimensions of the international law on toxics. This course is taught by AU WCL Professor Marcos Orellana, who is the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Toxics and Human Rights as well as the Director of the Global Toxics and Human Rights Project at the American University Washington College of Law. 

Course Dates: May 30 to June 2 from 9 am to 12:20 pm 

For more information about this course:  Please contact Ingrid Lesemann at lesemann@wcl.american.edu 

2021 Courses

Environmental & Social Standards for Development Finance

Professor DiLeva
June 1 to 4 from 6 PM to 9 PM        
Academic Credits: 1

Law & Nature

Professors Hunter & Lesemann
June 7 to 11 from 2:30 PM to 5:00 PM    
Academic Credits: 1

Trade, Development & Environment 

Professor: Caldwell
June 7 to 11 from 6 PM to 8:30 PM  
Academic Credits: 1

Environmental Justice & Community Lawyering   

Tutman, Leiter & Snape    
June 14 to 18 from 6 PM to 8:30 PM 
Academic Credits: 1