The Hubbell Environmental Law Initiative (HELI) fosters academic and professional development, partnerships, and engagement opportunities for students interested in environmental law.
Lily Stens
James McCalley will speak at Panel 3 of the Hubbell Environmental Law Initiative, Tuesday, October 11, 2022, at the University of Iowa Law School in Iowa City.
The University of Iowa School of Law has created an initiative for students to learn about environmental law through mentorship and public debate on high-profile issues.
Law class of 1976 alumni Charlotte and Fred Hubbell Donated $5 million to the university in November 2021 to establish the Hubbell Environmental Law Initiative. The commitment is the largest in the history of the university.
The initiative hosted a three-part panel on 11 October to discuss solar energy practices and policies. The event featured speakers from Iowa’s city and state governments, environmental groups, sustainable energy companies, and university professors.
UI College of Low Dean Kevin Washburn The initiative aims to contribute to viable solutions to environmental problems by strengthening the environmental law bar and connecting people, he said at the event.
“This initiative will be an important resource for today’s students who are tomorrow’s lawyers.” washburn Said. “Providing opportunities for students to gain experience is an important part of this effort.”
City of Iowa Climate Change Coordinator Sarah Gardner He said it was important to recognize environmental legal issues as a bundle of challenges.
“There are financial challenges, cultural challenges, even engineering challenges. It’s everyone’s responsibility.” Gardner Said.
The initiative will have its second and final event of the semester on November 7th. This is a virtual and face-to-face panel at the Void Row Building focused on carbon pipelines across Iowa.
The initiative will host panel discussions and invite speakers and practitioners throughout the academic year.
Future program director of the initiative break loupe She said she hopes to grow the program into an academic and networking resource for students.
“There are many opportunities that are not shared or available to many different people, but having these networks and mentorships as we move forward will help strengthen the state and the universities themselves here. I think. hole Said.
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The initiative will also provide financial support to environmental law students on the Hubbell Environmental Law Scholarship in Fall 2022. A student receives her $5,000 grant for an unpaid summer environmental law internship at a government agency or nonprofit..
Students can also access networking opportunities, including speaking with UI Law alumni who act as mentors, advisors, and speakers to support their professional development and interact with others working in the field of environmental law. increase.
“There are many opportunities that are not shared or available to many different people, but having these networks and mentorships as we move forward will help strengthen the state and the universities themselves here. I think. hole Said.
Events and programs may refer to current environmental policies and issues, hole Participants say they don’t need to know much about the context of an issue to attend or participate in the initiative’s events.
“There are many opportunities to get into law school. The bridge to law school is through engineering and mathematics. — Basically any STEM field.” hole Said. “It takes different minds to study and solve these problems.”
