Environmental and Natural Resources Law & Policy Program
Uniquely situated in the heart of Silicon Valley and part of one of the world’s preeminent research universities, Stanford’s award-winning Environmental and Natural Resources Law & Policy Program (ENRLP) has earned its reputation as a leading program for education and research in this dynamic field. Indeed, with a nationally renowned faculty praised for its cutting-edge research and practice, the program has revolutionized environmental education.
Our students develop their skills in analyzing and solving problems through situational case studies, learn effective teamwork through Stanford’s Environmental Law Clinic, and master mediation and multiparty negotiation techniques through in-class simulations. Our clinical programs and courses foster collaborative solutions to real-world problems. Many of our courses involve other Stanford departments, and all integrate multidisciplinary materials. The program also provides access to a broad spectrum of practitioners, regulators, and academics in Silicon Valley and beyond, and to hands-on involvement in research, environmental advocacy, and collaborative dialogues. Beyond the classroom, our students pursue a wide array of extracurricular activities, such as membership in the Stanford Environmental Law Journal and the Environmental Law Society.
Stanford Law School graduates pursue a variety of distinguished careers in environmental and natural resources law. Our alumni currently hold positions—covering the spectrum from staff attorney to executive leadership—at national environmental organizations, federal and state agencies, the White House, major corporations, law firms with strong environmental practices, and academia.
Check out our exciting courses in the 2026–2027 academic year!
Fall 2026 Newsletter
Environmentalism is at a crossroads: major infrastructure to support renewable energy development needs to be built, but without dismantling important environmental safeguards. SLS Professor Deborah Sivas and Professor of the Practice, David Hayes, share their takes on permitting infrastructure reform and whether environmental law can deliver on abundance and democracy below. Read more in our Fall 2026 newsletter!
Read the Fall Newsletter here : Fall 2026 Newsletter2026 Bright Award Winner
Promise Mabilo, Founder of the Vukani Environmental Justice Movement in Action
In recognition of her leadership in Emalahleni, South Africa’s “coal country,” South African environmental justice organizer Promise Mabilo was selected as the 2026 winner of Stanford University’s Bright Award for Environmental Sustainability. Promise Mabilo, a South African environmental justice activist who has spent years organizing communities affected by coal pollution, received Stanford University’s 2026 Bright Award for Environmental Sustainability.
Recent Work
Water Permitting for Confined Animal Facilities in California
Health Impacts of Coal Plant Retirement: Lessons from a Health Impact Assessment of the New Madrid Power Plant in Southeastern Missouri