Clinic Information for Students

Students may work with a variety of clients, including nonprofit organizations, tribal governments and members, rural community organizations, and individuals.

The Clinic experience includes a seminar component and immersion in a law and policy project related to the student’s interests. Students develop critical skills in client counseling, analytical thinking, and creative problem solving. Our students also publish the Clinic’s blog Western Lands, Western Waters.

Clinical projects may run from participating in state and federal rulemaking processes, drafting white papers to advise on public lands issues, working with individuals to navigate permitting procedures, writing memoranda to analyze new developments in federal and state law, community engagement and settlement negotiation between parties, and public presentations and outreach to explain natural resource and water law concepts.

Students will acquire working knowledge of administrative, natural resource, environmental, and federal Indian law, while simultaneously developing critical skills in client counseling, analytical thinking and creative problem solving.

Requirements for Students

• The clinic is a one semester commitment, but students may elect to re-enroll in additional semesters. Once enrolled in the clinic, you may not drop the course.
• Some weekend and evening work may be required, and you should anticipate that the hours required for the clinic will vary throughout the semester according to the demands of the cases.
• Students must have already taken or be concurrently enrolled in Professional Responsibility. Other courses that are not required, but are helpful to take include Environmental Law, Water Law, Administrative Law, and Federal Indian Law.

Credits

• Students generally enroll for 3 credits but may elect to take between 2-4 credits each semester with permission of the instructor. All classwork is mandatory. The number of credits will determine the amount and types of projects students are assigned to work on during the semester.

Grading

• This is a graded course. There is no final exam. Grades will be based on measures including class participation, completion of required project hours, written assignments, handling of client matters, case and time management, and self and supervisor assessments.

Application Process

• You must apply and be accepted in order to enroll in the clinic. To apply, complete and submit the Clinic Registration Form distributed by the Registrar’s office during the registration period in the spring. All students who select the Natural Resource Use & Management Clinic on their registration form will be prompted to submit a resume and brief letter of interest to the clinic director. If you are selected to participate in the clinic, you will be notified before the close of the registration period.