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 2025–2026 academic year!

Recent Work

ENRLP - Draft

Water Permitting for Confined Animal Facilities in California

California is home to a significant proportion of the confined animal facilities (CAFs) in the United States, including more large commercial dairies than any [...]

Read the Full Paper here
Read the Summary here

Featured in Stanford Lawyer Magazine

ENRLP Spring Newsletter

Spring 2026 Newsletter

Stanford scholars continue to drive their efforts forward on wildfire and energy policy, sustainable food systems, climate data, and market-based approaches to water conservation. Read more in our Fall 2025 newsletter!

Read the Spring Newsletter here : Spring 2026 Newsletter

2025 Bright Award Winner

Emilie Reuchlin, Marine biologist, co-founder and director of the Doggerland Foundation (the Netherlands)

In recognition of her advocacy for the North Sea, Emilie Reuchlin was selected as the 2025 winner of the Bright Award for Environmental Sustainability.

Reuchlin is a longtime advocate for the North Sea, most recently through the Doggerland Foundation, which she co-founded to restore biodiversity in the North Sea region, especially the Dogger Bank, a nutrient-rich submerged sandbank called “the ecological heart of the North Sea.” This vital habitat and marine life spawning ground lies at the center of one of Europe’s most industrialized and overexploited marine regions.

Read the Press Release

Dutch Advocate for the North Sea Selected for Stanford University’s 2025 Bright Award 1