I'm doing environmental law at BU. Honestly, I think that BC is better, but there are plenty of opportunities at BU. At the risk of outing myself, I spent my 1L summer at the Massachusetts Attorney General's Office with their Environmental Protection Division. It's a pretty important division, as they won Massachusetts v. EPA (the GHG case) back in 2007. Getting an EPA internship in Boston as a 1L is difficult, but it's easier as a 2L. There are also lots of private firms in Boston that do environmental law (WilmerHale, Mintz Levin, and foley hoag) if you wanted to go the firm route. I haven't done the externship program, but I know people who externed at the Department of Interior, the Conservation Law Foundation, and a land court. You could probably do EPA if that was your thing.ohpobrecito wrote:Is anyone able to speak to BU's environmental law opportunities (or lack thereof)? I know it's not something they really emphasize, but is there a history of students utilizing the Legal Externship Program to do environmental law stuff? I'm also thinking about doing the JD/MPH with a focus in Environmental Health (Environmental Exposure and Risk Assessment Emphasis), so if anyone knows anything about that, I would love you.
Getting a job in government with environmental law is more challenging. EPA doesn't really have an entry level program, but they have a two-year fellowship program in various cities. There have been students in the past who have done that. You could try for DOJ Honors, but it's highly competitive and I don't think students have made it to the Environmental and Natural Resources Division in recent years.
In terms of other opportunities at BU, there are some classes available: Admin Law, Environmental Law, and this year a land use class and an environmental justice class. I did my student note on environmental law and am trying to publish. The environmental law professor is more of an admin guy, but he's really nice and enjoys meeting with students. I did a pro bono spring break trip that had some connection to energy issues (I traveled to Oklahoma and worked with Native Americans). The Environmental and Energy Law Society has become more active -- this year, it had a happy hour with the environmental law professor, an event about the practice of environmental law at private firms, an individual career advising week which included people from DOJ and EPA, and a 1L internship list. There are maybe about five or six students in a given class who are serious about environmental or energy law.
As for dual degrees, I don't know much about that. But I know a guy with a strong interest in environmental law who is also getting an MBA at BU. Given BU's strong focus on health law, that degree combo could be great.
If you have any further questions, definitely feel free to PM me.