The University of Florida’s Levin College of Law now offers one of the nation’s most comprehensive programs for studies in Environmental and Land Use Law. Graduates and faculty of the program are among the leading environmental and land use lawyers in the nation and region.  

     Exciting new initiatives include a Certificate Program in environmental and land use law and summer externships that allow students to earn credit while gaining practical experience.  To receive the certificate, J.D. students must complete four required courses, several additional electives, and a writing requirement while maintaining a 3.0 grade point average in 15 credits of coursework in these fields.  In addition to these concentration requirements, the students must complete 96 total credit hours of study – eight more than the J.D. requirement.  In essence, it’s a J.D.-plus – something short of an LL.M. but requiring a level of commitment and achievement beyond what a J.D. requires. Fourteen students have graduated with certificates since the program’s inauguration in Spring 1999. 

     The development of UF’s Environmental and Land Use Law Program has been greatly enhanced by our Advisory Board, composed of attorneys from around the state, who helped design the certificate program and continue to help us by providing advice on program development and by mentoring students. Advisory Board members and other attorneys have also provided assistance through guest lectures, teaching as adjunct faculty, and helping to prepare a team of students for the national environmental moot court competition. 

     UF’s Program also features several other new opportunities, including summer externships. During the past three summers, between five and 20 students have had placements with governmental and non-profit agencies, working under the supervision of an attorney and a faculty member.  Placements available to students have included the St. Johns River Water Management District, The Nature Conservancy (Altamonte Springs), U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (Atlanta and Washington, D.C.), Florida Dept. of Environmental Protection, EarthJustice Legal Defense Fund, Florida Dept. of Transportation, City of Jacksonville Office of General Counsel, and several County Attorneys’ offices around the state. 

     Mary Jane Angelo, Senior Assistant General Counsel at the St. Johns River Water Management District, has supervised externs for each of the last three summers.  "Externships can be very rewarding for both the student and the supervisor,” she says. “However, supervising an extern is a significant responsibility.  Because externs are earning law school credit and are not being paid, both the student and the law school expect the extern to have a significant educational experience.  A successful externship takes a real investment of time and energy in training and mentoring the student, ensuring that they receive an appropriate mix of assignments, providing feedback on their work and ensuring that they are fully integrated into the legal office.  Despite this large investment, the results have been worthwhile and our office has benefited in many ways from the program."