{"id":144797,"date":"2026-02-25T15:14:16","date_gmt":"2026-02-25T23:14:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/xira.com\/p\/2026\/02\/25\/the-best-law-schools-for-environmental-law\/"},"modified":"2026-02-25T15:14:16","modified_gmt":"2026-02-25T23:14:16","slug":"the-best-law-schools-for-environmental-law","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/xira.com\/p\/2026\/02\/25\/the-best-law-schools-for-environmental-law\/","title":{"rendered":"The Best Law Schools For Environmental Law"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>For those in law school, environmental law isn\u2019t some niche, tree-hugger elective you take to feel virtuous \u2014 it\u2019s rapidly becoming one of the most consequential battlegrounds in the legal industry. From regulatory whiplash in Washington to high-stakes litigation over climate disclosures, ESG investing, and state-level enforcement, the lawyers who understand environmental statutes and administrative law are the ones steering billion-dollar decisions. For law students staring down an uncertain job market, fluency in environmental law isn\u2019t just about saving the planet (though that\u2019s wonderful too); it\u2019s about positioning yourself where the action is. Agencies are rewriting rules, courts are reshaping deference doctrines, and companies are scrambling for counsel who can translate shifting mandates into workable strategy. In other words: if you want to build a career that\u2019s resilient, relevant, and in demand, environmental law is a very smart place to start.<\/p>\n<p>The\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/nationaljurist.com\/white-paper-environmental-law-pace\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">National Jurist\u2019s preLaw magazine<\/a>\u00a0recently released its specialty ranking of the best law schools for environmental law on its Environmental Law Honor Roll, highlighting schools for the strength of their programs. Here\u2019s the methodology that was used:<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p>preLaw magazine grades law schools based on the breadth of their curricular offerings. The scores are figured as follows: 30% for a concentration, 24% for a clinic, 12% for a center, 12% for an externship, 9% for a journal, 8% for a student group, 5% for a certificate and added value for additional offerings.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>Without further ado, according to preLaw magazine, these are the law schools that earned A+ grades for their environmental law programs (listed in alphabetical order):<\/p>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Georgetown University Law Center<\/li>\n<li>George Washington University School of Law<\/li>\n<li>Harvard Law School<\/li>\n<li>Elizabeth Haub School of Law at Pace University<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Click\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/nationaljurist.com\/white-paper-environmental-law-pace\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">here<\/a>\u00a0to read all about the programs highlighted in this specialty Honor Roll.<\/p>\n<p>Congratulations to all of the law schools that made the cut for this important ranking.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/nationaljurist.com\/white-paper-environmental-law-pace\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">Specialties Honor Roll: Environmental Law<\/a>\u00a0[preLaw magazine \/ National Jurist]<\/p>\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image alignright\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"100\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/abovethelaw.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2016\/11\/Staci-Zaretsky.jpg?resize=150%2C100&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-66762\" title=\"\"><figcaption><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><strong><em><a href=\"https:\/\/abovethelaw.com\/author\/staci-zaretsky\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">Staci Zaretsky<\/a>\u00a0is the managing editor of Above the Law, where she\u2019s worked since 2011. She\u2019d love to hear from you, so please feel free to\u00a0<a href=\"mailto:staci@abovethelaw.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">email<\/a>\u00a0her with any tips, questions, comments, or critiques. You can follow her on\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/bsky.app\/profile\/stacizaretsky.bsky.social\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">Bluesky<\/a>,\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/stacizaretsky\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">X\/Twitter<\/a>, and\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.threads.net\/@stacizaretsky\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">Threads<\/a>,\u00a0or connect with her on\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/staci-zaretsky\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">LinkedIn<\/a>.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The post <a href=\"https:\/\/abovethelaw.com\/2026\/02\/the-best-law-schools-for-environmental-law\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">The Best Law Schools For Environmental Law<\/a> appeared first on <a href=\"https:\/\/abovethelaw.com\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Above the Law<\/a>.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"post-single__featured-image post-single__featured-image--medium alignright\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"197\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/abovethelaw.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2019\/04\/environmental-law-grass-scales-of-justice-GettyImages-961826918-300x197.jpg?resize=300%2C197&#038;ssl=1\" class=\"attachment-medium size-medium wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" title=\"\"><\/figure>\n<p>For those in law school, environmental law isn\u2019t some niche, tree-hugger elective you take to feel virtuous \u2014 it\u2019s rapidly becoming one of the most consequential battlegrounds in the legal industry. From regulatory whiplash in Washington to high-stakes litigation over climate disclosures, ESG investing, and state-level enforcement, the lawyers who understand environmental statutes and administrative law are the ones steering billion-dollar decisions. For law students staring down an uncertain job market, fluency in environmental law isn\u2019t just about saving the planet (though that\u2019s wonderful too); it\u2019s about positioning yourself where the action is. Agencies are rewriting rules, courts are reshaping deference doctrines, and companies are scrambling for counsel who can translate shifting mandates into workable strategy. In other words: if you want to build a career that\u2019s resilient, relevant, and in demand, environmental law is a very smart place to start.<\/p>\n<p>The\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/nationaljurist.com\/white-paper-environmental-law-pace\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">National Jurist\u2019s preLaw magazine<\/a>\u00a0recently released its specialty ranking of the best law schools for environmental law on its Environmental Law Honor Roll, highlighting schools for the strength of their programs. Here\u2019s the methodology that was used:<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p>preLaw magazine grades law schools based on the breadth of their curricular offerings. The scores are figured as follows: 30% for a concentration, 24% for a clinic, 12% for a center, 12% for an externship, 9% for a journal, 8% for a student group, 5% for a certificate and added value for additional offerings.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>Without further ado, according to preLaw magazine, these are the law schools that earned A+ grades for their environmental law programs (listed in alphabetical order):<\/p>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Georgetown University Law Center<\/li>\n<li>George Washington University School of Law<\/li>\n<li>Harvard Law School<\/li>\n<li>Elizabeth Haub School of Law at Pace University<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Click\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/nationaljurist.com\/white-paper-environmental-law-pace\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">here<\/a>\u00a0to read all about the programs highlighted in this specialty Honor Roll.<\/p>\n<p>Congratulations to all of the law schools that made the cut for this important ranking.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/nationaljurist.com\/white-paper-environmental-law-pace\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">Specialties Honor Roll: Environmental Law<\/a>\u00a0[preLaw magazine \/ National Jurist]<\/p>\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\" \/>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image alignright\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"100\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/abovethelaw.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2016\/11\/Staci-Zaretsky.jpg?resize=150%2C100&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-66762\" title=\"\"><figcaption><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><strong><em><a href=\"https:\/\/abovethelaw.com\/author\/staci-zaretsky\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">Staci Zaretsky<\/a>\u00a0is the managing editor of Above the Law, where she\u2019s worked since 2011. She\u2019d love to hear from you, so please feel free to\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/abovethelaw.com\/cdn-cgi\/l\/email-protection#0d7e796c6e644d6c6f627b68796568616c7a236e6260\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">email<\/a>\u00a0her with any tips, questions, comments, or critiques. You can follow her on\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/bsky.app\/profile\/stacizaretsky.bsky.social\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">Bluesky<\/a>,\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/stacizaretsky\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">X\/Twitter<\/a>, and\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.threads.net\/@stacizaretsky\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">Threads<\/a>,\u00a0or connect with her on\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/staci-zaretsky\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">LinkedIn<\/a>.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>For those in law school, environmental law isn\u2019t some niche, tree-hugger elective you take to feel virtuous \u2014 it\u2019s rapidly becoming one of the most consequential battlegrounds in the legal industry. From regulatory whiplash in Washington to high-stakes litigation over climate disclosures, ESG investing, and state-level enforcement, the lawyers who understand environmental statutes and administrative [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":144798,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[16],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-144797","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-above_the_law"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/xira.com\/p\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Staci-Zaretsky-GiT3yd.jpg?fit=150%2C100&ssl=1","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/xira.com\/p\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/144797","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/xira.com\/p\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/xira.com\/p\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/xira.com\/p\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/xira.com\/p\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=144797"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/xira.com\/p\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/144797\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/xira.com\/p\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/144798"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/xira.com\/p\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=144797"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/xira.com\/p\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=144797"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/xira.com\/p\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=144797"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}