Summer 2017 Course Schedule

Environmental Justice (LAW-795EJ-001)
Alexandra Dapolito Dunn

Meets: (Cancelled) - Yuma - Room Y236

Enrolled: / Limit:

Administrator Access


Notices

Meets from 6/19-7/19. Students may earn academic credit for up to two credits per week in the summer semester (excluding full semester courses). This course counts toward the two credit per week limit. To register, email registrationservices@wcl.american.edu.

Description

This two-credit seminar covers current and thought provoking environmental topics with an umbrella theme of environmental justice - the disproportionate environmental burden borne by people of color, the poor, and indigenous peoples. Our primary focus will be domestic environmental issues, although some discussions will touch on the international implications of domestic activities (e.g., e-waste export, climate change). Important skills and concepts that will be taught in this course include: roles of lawyers in resolving "place based conflict." The techniques we discuss will be relevant for students considering a variety of practice placements, from NGOs, to government (local/state/federal), to in-house counsel, to private firms, to policy advisors; strategies for understanding and empowering clients involved in environmental conflicts; remedies for identified community environmental burdens, including litigation, application of administrative procedures, constitutional law, civil rights law, environmental dispute resolution, and voluntary agreements such as community benefits agreements; concepts of risk assessment, permitting, federal/state relations, equity, access to information, and lawyering skills. Each student will prepare a summary of a state’s environmental justice and community outreach program, using a common template. During the course, we will have guest attorney speakers and undertake a Harvard Program on Negotiation environmental conflict simulation. 80% of the final grade will be based on a closed materials final exam. The exam will consist of short answer questions and hypotheticals, and will draw on the readings and class discussions. Students will be able to take the exam at any time during the exam period. 20% of the final grade will be based on class preparedness, the state case study, classroom exercises, and class participation.

Textbooks and Other Materials

The textbook information on this page was provided by the instructor. Students should use this information when considering purchases from the AU Campus Store or other vendors. Students may check to determine if books are currently available for purchase online.

First Class Readings

Not available at this time.

Syllabus

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