The contributions and achievements of FSU’s law students have played an integral role in the College of Law’s expanded, nationally recognized environmental and land use program.

     The law school’s environmental and land use journal, the Journal of Land Use and Environmental Law, staffed entirely by students, is rated in the top 15 nationally among journals in environmental law, based on both citation by courts and “impact factor,” according to Washington & Lee University’s 2004 law journal ranking web site.

     The Environmental Moot Court has made it to the finals and semi-finals in its last two trips to the national Environmental Moot Court competition, held at Pace Law School in New York.

     The student-run Environmental Law Society has become an active force on campus and beyond. It holds regular brown-bag lunches that bring leading practitioners to the law school to meet with students over lunch; hosted a Green Tailgate event in November during FSU’s homecoming game, collecting pledges from citizens to commit to recycling over the next year; participated in the American Water Resources Association national meeting in Orlando; and will host a dinner this semester allowing local attorneys to meet with students interested in practicing environmental and land use law.

     We also place a premium on helping our students gain practical experience in the practice of law during their time at the law school. Through the College of Law’s innovative externship program, students work with the states major environmental agencies, such as the DEP and DCA. In addition, students serve as externs with environmental groups, such as Earthjustice and Wildlaw, as a way to help meet the legal needs of Florida residents who otherwise might not be able to obtain legal assistance. Many of our students also, of course, work with private firms.

     In short, our students, through their activities and accomplishments, have earned a stellar reputation among their peers and in the larger legal community. We have created a Mentoring Directory to facilitate our students’ talking with practitioners about the practice of environmental and land use law. As part of our effort to strengthen ties with the Section, we would be delighted to include additional volunteers in this important program. Please contact David Markell at dmarkell@law.fsu.edu if you’re interested in serving as a Mentor.