LSP Environmental Studies Community Event Reports

On Wednesday, October 1, I attended a lecture about environmental law run by the New York University Environmental Studies department, in the department’s headquarters on Mercer Street. The lecture was given by Katrina Wyman, a professor at NYU Law School. The lecture centered on discussion of environmental law and its purpose and benefits. It also served as an information session about law school, providing useful information for those who have an interest in eventually going to law school. The format was fairly informal, as Dr. Wyman lectured about the basics of environmental law, and about one third of the time was devoted to answering questions.
Dr. Wyman began by introducing herself as an associate professor of law at NYU’s School of Law, which is ranked in the top 10 nationally among law schools. She stated that NYU has a strong environmental law program, which many schools do not have. Dr. Wyman’s background is in law, and she became involved in the environmental aspects of law only after becoming a professor. First, we discussed law school and law as a profession, as many of the attendees were interested. Although this didn’t relate to the environment directly, we soon learned that law was a very important means in affecting positive change in the environment.
A person entering the field of environmental law will most likely be employed in one of a few places. They may work for a government organization, such as the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), or for a non-government organization such as the Sierra Club. Both of these would be very involved in politics. Working for the government, an environmental lawyer would be involved in drafting new legislation, perhaps working with Congressmen on environmental issues. Environmental lawyers were involved in drafting the numerous building codes, statutes, and regulations that all companies in the United States must abide by. Working for an NGO, lawyers would be involved in lobbying Congress to enact laws more eco-friendly, and encouraging techniques that conserve our resources and contribute to the sustainability of our natural resources. They could also be employed as counsel for a private sector company, in the event that an environmental lawyer is needed. This is actually fairly common, as any new building or land acquisition is likely to require the advice of someone with knowledge of the environment. Though Dr. Wyman stressed that there were many ways to be a lawyer and never actually go to court, she did provide examples where an environmental lawyer may become involved in litigation. One party may deem another’s building plans or waste management techniques harmful to the environment, and a lawsuit could ensue.
I don’t go to too many lectures but this felt like a familiar experience but the tone was informal. While the subject was law, which is a field I may work in one day, it was also very relevant to environmental studies. I thought it was helpful to the community because it educated younger individuals on the path to which they could one day become leaders in environmental reform.
Lawyers in general are often ridiculed as representing everything that is wrong with our society: the greed, dishonesty, etc. But environmental law is one field in which a lot of good can be done. There is always politics involved, as Dr. Wyman said, but there is much that can be done in the way of conservation and sustainability, and lawyers play an important role. Even private companies employ lawyers with specific environmental expertise, because the environment must be taken into account very often. Even when designing commercial parking lots, for instance, the law and the environment must be taken into account, as local statues might stipulate that there must be a certain amount of foliage per square foot of parking lot. This convergence of disciplines is something I find very fascinating.
At the lecture, we briefly brushed on the subject of international environmental law. However, as I walked out, I began to wonder if that wasn’t the most important aspect of environmental law and had been largely overlooked at the lecture. After all, our current relationship with nature could be called Global Environmental Citizenship. Humans are finally beginning to realize that our fate is intertwined with our ecosystems, and our actions have great consequences on the environment. Experts in the field of international environmental law were undoubtedly involved in the success of the Montreal Protocol, which helped reduce CFC emissions that were damaging the ozone layer. They were also involved in the failure of the Kyoto Accords, which failed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. International law and diplomacy will be needed to convince the entire world, including the United States, to agree to a plan that will help preserve our environment.
This lecture was very useful to anyone considering a career in law, or interested in the environment. I enjoyed it because it was particularly relevant to me. I want to do something to help the preservation of the environment and our natural resources, and I’m interested in law. I believe it was a wholly worthwhile event and I am glad I attended.

--Nick Carey