THE UNIVERSITY of EDINBURGH

DEGREE REGULATIONS & PROGRAMMES OF STUDY 2020/2021

Information in the Degree Programme Tables may still be subject to change in response to Covid-19

University Homepage
DRPS Homepage
DRPS Search
DRPS Contact
DRPS : Course Catalogue : School of Law : Law

Postgraduate Course: Environmental Law Clinic (LAWS11411)

Course Outline
SchoolSchool of Law CollegeCollege of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences
Credit level (Normal year taken)SCQF Level 11 (Postgraduate) AvailabilityNot available to visiting students
SCQF Credits20 ECTS Credits10
SummaryThe Environmental Law Clinic will give students the opportunity to function as law reformers as well as legal consultants. Students will extend their knowledge and acquire practical skills whilst supporting the critical work of key environmental actors worldwide in need of free legal advice.
Course description The Environmental Law Clinic gives students the opportunity to function as law reformers as well as legal consultants. Students involved will extend their knowledge and acquire practical skills while supporting the critical work of key environmental actors worldwide in need of free legal advice (NGOs, public authorities, international organizations, and other public interest entities).

Under the supervision of the Clinic Director, the students selected to participate will collectively create innovative solutions to cutting-edge issues of EU and International Environmental Law faced by clients on a daily basis. For example, the students may be asked to work on Nature Conservation Law, Water Law, Waste Law, access to justice, public participation, access to information in environmental matters, etc.

Depending on the client¿s needs, students may research and prepare position papers on projects and policies having an impact on the environment; analyse and develop strategies on environmental law reform and policy initiatives; identify the legal tools available to enforce environmental law and challenge conflicting decisions; or present options and recommendations for clients to consider.

In weekly seminars, students will lead strategic discussions on the resolution of the client¿s issue based upon their own research while considering the client's needs and the continuous feedback from members of staff.

Ultimately, the Environmental Law Clinic provides students with the unparalleled opportunity to bridge their academic understanding and professional ambitions by contributing to the practice of EU and International environmental law.
Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
Pre-requisites Co-requisites
Prohibited Combinations Other requirements None
Course Delivery Information
Not being delivered
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
  1. Demonstrate an in depth understanding of the concepts and law applicable to the issues covered by the consultation as well as of the stakeholders involved.
  2. Demonstrate a critical understanding of the applicable law as well as of its adoption and implementation processes.
  3. Critically analyse and evaluate the variety of possible interpretations of the applicable law.
  4. Master the legal tools available to stakeholders in environmental law.
Reading List
Textbooks (Available online or in the library:)

* Beyerlin U., Marauhn T. International Environmental Law (Hart, 2011).
* Birnie P., Boyle A. and Redgwell C. International Law and the Environment, 3rd edn, (OUP, 2009).
* Brunnée J., Bodansky D. and Hey E. (eds) Handbook of International Environmental Law (OUP, 2007).
* Fisher, E. Environmental law: text, cases, and materials, 2013.
* Holder, J. and Lee, M. Environmental Protection, Law and Policy (Cambridge, 2007).
* Jans, J. and Vedder, H. European Environmental Law. After Lisbon, (Europa Law, 2012, 4th ed.).
* Kiss A. and Shelton D. International Environmental Law (2004, 3rd ed.).
* Kramer, L. EU Environmental Law, 7th edn. (Sweet and Maxwell, 2012).
* Lee, M. EU Environmental Law: Challenges, Change and Decision-making (Hart, 2014, 2nd ed.)
* Sands P., Peel, P. Principles of International Environmental Law (CUP, 2012, 3rd ed.).
Copies of these books are available on reserve in the Law Library.

Other useful references, online or in the library, includes:
* Boyle A., Freestone A. (eds.) International Law and Sustainable Development (OUP, 1999).
* Caldwell L.K. International Environmental Policy (Duke UP, 1996, 3rd ed.).
* Fitzmaurice M. et al (eds), Research Handbook on International Environmental Law (Elgar, 2010).
* Hedemann-Robinson, M. Enforcement of European Union Environmental Law: Legal Issues and Challenges (Europa Law, 2007).
* Lyster S. International Wildlife Law (2nd edn, Cambridge, 2010).
* Macrory, R. Reflections on 30 years of EU Environmental Law (Europa Law, 2006).
* Scott, J. Environmental Protection: European Law and Governance (Oxford, 2009).
* WCED, Our Common Future (OUP, 1987). Online.
* Craig, P. and De Búrca, G. EU Law: Texts, Cases and Materials (Oxford, 2011).
* Lenaerts, K. European Union Law (Sweet and Maxwell, 2011).
* Biondi, A., Eeckout, P. and Ripley, S. EU after Lisbon (Oxford, 2012).
* Borchardt, K. ABC of EU Law (EU, 2010) (available also online).
* Davies, K., Understanding European Union Law (Routledge, 2010).

Journals
Available in the library and/or as an electronic resource, via Heinonline, Westlaw or Lexis:

* Yearbook of European Environmental Law.
* Environmental Law Review.
* Journal of Environmental Law.
* Review of European Community and International Environmental Law (now re-named, Review of European, Comparative and International Environmental Law).
* Yearbook of International Environmental Law - there are two particularly relevant annual updates (one on the EU Courts and one on the EU).
* American Journal of International Law.
* Common Market Law Review.
* European Journal of International Law.
* European Law Journal.
* European Law Review.
* International and Comparative Law Quarterly.
* Yearbook of European Law.
Additional Information
Graduate Attributes and Skills Skills and abilities in Research and Enquiry:
a) Critically analyse source materials and use them to present a structured argument.
b) Be able to plan and draft a piece of independent research.
c) Develop their ability to analyse and apply current case law and scholarship to problems and to suggest possible solutions.
d) Understand the needs of a client and tailor the writing of the final findings accordingly.

Skills and abilities in Personal and Intellectual Autonomy:
a) Apply critical analysis, evaluation, and synthesis to issues which are at the forefront of a subject/discipline.
b) Identify, conceptualise, and define new and abstract problems and issues.
c) Develop original and creative responses to problems and issues.
d) Deal with complex issues and make informed judgements in situations in the absence of complete or consistent data/information.

Skills and abilities in Communication
a) Communicate, using appropriate methods, to non-academic audiences with different levels of knowledge/expertise.
b) Communicate with peers, more senior colleagues, and specialists.
c) Communicate appropriately with the clients and their partners.
d) Understand a broad variety of sources, including any document given by the client.

Skills and abilities in Personal Effectiveness:
a) Develop their ability to work independently under fixed deadlines.
b) Develop their ability to lead and participate in team work.
c) Develop their assertiveness with peers, supervising staff, and clients.
d) Participate effectively in seminars and discussions.
e) Develop their capacity for reflecting on their own and others' roles and responsibilities with a view to identifying strengths and weaknesses and furthering their own learning.
f) Develop their ability to present the outcome of independent research in a clear written and oral form.
g) Take responsibility for their individual and team work with a view to satisfying the client's needs.

Technical/practical skills:
a) Master the research tools in environmental law.
b) Develop their practical experience as consultants.
c) Develop their interviewing skills.
d) Develop their capacity to prospect new clients.
e) Develop their capacity to meet deadlines.
KeywordsConsultant,Legal Advice,NGO,Public Authorities,International Organisations,Enviromental Law
Contacts
Course organiserDr James Harrison
Tel: (0131 6)50 2040
Email: james.harrison@ed.ac.uk
Course secretaryMiss Maree Hardie
Tel: (0131 6)51 7890
Email: maree.hardie@ed.ac.uk
Navigation
Help & Information
Home
Introduction
Glossary
Search DPTs and Courses
Regulations
Regulations
Degree Programmes
Introduction
Browse DPTs
Courses
Introduction
Humanities and Social Science
Science and Engineering
Medicine and Veterinary Medicine
Other Information
Combined Course Timetable
Prospectuses
Important Information