Requirements

Requirements for Class of 2013 or later

21 credits that include:

• Mandatory Core Courses:
  • Either Administrative Law or Environmental Law.
  • Either Natural Resources Law or Water Law.
• Mandatory: A paper on a natural resources or environmental law topic, which fulfills the "seminar paper" portion of the law school's writing requirement. The Natural Resources Committee will identify particular seminars for which any completed paper will be recognized for the certificate; a paper written for another seminar may qualify, but only with the approval of the Committee.
• Mandatory: satisfactory completion of at least two of the following:
  • An externship in the natural resources or environmental field.
  • Natural Resources Journal membership (six credits total).
  • A Committee-approved, non-law graduate level course on a natural resources/environmental topic.
  • Moot court related to natural resources/environmental issues.
  • Independent study in natural resources/environmental issues.
• Additional courses
  • See list of courses approved by the Natural Resources Committee. Introduction to Natural Resources and Environmental Law is an approved course, but not a mandatory core course. If the student can demonstrate to the committee that he/she has taken an equivalent law school class, these requirements may be waived.
  • With prior approval from the Natural Resources Committee, graduate-level courses from other UNM departments may satisfy as many as six (6) hours of the course requirements.

Requirements for Classes of 2011 and 2012

Students have two options for obtaining the Natural Resources and Environmental Law Certificate.

Option One – 21 credits that include:

10 Credits - Natural Resources Journal (NRJ) through a write-on competition, completing all four sections. NRJ members can earn 10 credits toward the certificate and 12 credits toward graduation.

A natural resources or environmental law topic paper, which can fulfill the law school writing requirement.

An additional 11 credits that include:

• Mandatory Core Courses
  • Either Administrative Law or Environmental Law.
  • Either Natural Resources Law or Water Law.
• Other Courses in the Natural Resources/Environmental area
  • See list of courses approved by the Natural Resources Committee. If the student can demonstrate to the committee that he/she has taken an equivalent law school class, these requirements may be waived.
  • With prior approval from the Natural Resources Committee, graduate-level courses from other UNM departments may satisfy as many as six (6) hours of the course requirements.
  • Credit hours from an externship in the natural resources or environmental field.
  • An approved moot court competition related to natural resources/environmental issues may also be used to satisfy this requirement.

Option Two – 21 credits that include:

• Mandatory Core Courses:
  • Either Administrative Law or Environmental Law.
  • Either Natural Resources Law or Water Law.
• Mandatory: A natural resources or environmental law topic paper, which can fulfill the law school writing requirement.
• Mandatory: participation in two of the following:
  • An externship in the natural resources or environmental field.
  • Six credits of non-law graduate level courses in natural resources/environmental issues.
  • Moot court related to natural resources/environmental issues.
  • Independent study in natural resources/environmental issues.
• Additional courses
  • See list of courses approved by the Natural Resources Committee. If the student can demonstrate to the committee that he/she has taken an equivalent law school class, these requirements may be waived.
  • With prior approval from the Natural Resources Committee, graduate-level courses from other UNM departments may satisfy as many as six (6) hours of the course requirements.

Before students can receive the certificate, they must submit a completed Record of Completion for the Certificate Program and an unofficial transcript to the registrar within the first two (2) weeks of their last semester in law school. Any courses taken outside of the law school must also be pre-approved by the assistant dean for registration. For additional questions regarding the Natural Resources and Environmental Law Certificate, please check with the Natural Resources Committee, currently chaired by Professor Eileen Gauna.