ELS, founded in 1969, is the oldest student environmental law society in the nation.

ELS builds a broad coalition of students interested in environmental law, conservation, and energy issues by bringing students, faculty and staff from both inside and outside the law school together in a number of ways.

ELS sponsors events showcasing prominent speakers from the environmental field. It also helps current students to make career decisions by hosting environmental professionals at career panels.  Finally, ELS organizes social activities such as hikes and dinners with Professors. In the past ELS even published a handbook on The Endangered Species Act.

Many ELS members participate in the Stanford Environmental Law Journal, the Environmental Law Clinic, the Steyer-Taylor Center for Energy Policy and Finance, SLS Energy Club, and earn joint MS and PhD degrees through the Emmett Interdisciplinary Program in Environment and Resources (EIPER).

ELS members also gain practical experience by interning over the summer with government and private organizations. Current ELS members have summered at the CA AG’s Environment Section, DOJ’s ENRD, Earthjustice, NRDC, EDF, Sierra Club, San Francisco Baykeeper, and Shute, Milhaly and Weinberger. ELS graduates have gone on to practice environmental law for private firms, public interest groups, and government agencies.

ELS encourages sustainable practices at SLS and works with a broader network of Stanford programs and centers, student sustainability groups, and faculty members to coordinate campus-wide events on environmental issues.