Best Environmental Law Schools

The best environmental law schools are the programs U.S. News ranks highest in environmental law, judged mainly by reputation surveys of faculty in the field, supported by clinics, journals, and job placement. As of the 2026 rankings, the top environmental law programs include Pace, Lewis and Clark, UC-Berkeley, UCLA, and Harvard, per the U.S. News 2026-27 specialty rankings. Strong environmental law placement also depends on clinics, externships, and regional employers.

By Ali Unar, JD candidate at Georgetown Law and founder of Lovare Institut. Last updated August 2026. Every figure on this page was verified in August 2026 against the sources listed below.

What are the best environmental law schools?

The best environmental law schools are the programs U.S. News ranks highest in environmental law, judged mainly by reputation surveys of faculty in the field and supported by clinics, journals, and employer connections. As of the 2026 rankings, the leading environmental law programs are Pace, Lewis and Clark, UC-Berkeley, UCLA, and Harvard, per the U.S. News 2026-27 specialty rankings. Strong placement also depends on clinics, externships, and regional environmental employers.

Which schools rank highest for environmental law?

The table lists the top-ranked environmental law programs with the features that matter beyond the rank itself.

RankLaw schoolNotable clinics or facultyPlacement focus1Pace University (Haub)See the program pageSee the program page2 (tie)Lewis and ClarkSee the program pageSee the program page2 (tie)UC-BerkeleySee the program pageSee the program page4UCLASee the program pageSee the program page5 (tie)HarvardSee the program pageSee the program page

Ranks are from the U.S. News 2026-27 environmental law specialty ranking (via TaxProf Blog); clinic and placement details are on each school's own program page.

How is the environmental law ranking decided?

The environmental law ranking is built mainly from U.S. News peer-reputation surveys of faculty who teach in the field, so it reflects academic standing more than hard placement data. Clinics, environmental law journals, and externship pipelines add real value that a single rank cannot capture. Read the ranking together with each school's clinic offerings and employment outcomes.

How do you choose an environmental law program for you?

Choose an environmental law program by matching its clinics, faculty, and regional employers to the work you want, whether that is public-interest advocacy, regulatory practice, or energy law. Confirm your LSAT and GPA are competitive against the school's medians before applying. Lovare's free admissions calculator shows which of these programs your numbers realistically reach.

Frequently asked questions

What can you do with an environmental law degree?

An environmental law degree prepares you for work in regulatory practice, public-interest advocacy, energy and natural-resources law, corporate compliance, and government agencies such as environmental regulators. Graduates work at law firms, nonprofits, companies, and public agencies. The strongest paths usually combine coursework with clinics and externships that build real experience in environmental and regulatory matters.

Do you need a science background for environmental law?

No, you do not need a science background to study or practice environmental law, though a background in biology, chemistry, engineering, or policy can help with technical matters. Most environmental lawyers rely on legal analysis of statutes and regulations rather than lab science. Strong writing, regulatory knowledge, and relevant clinics matter more than an undergraduate science major.

Which schools have the best environmental law clinics?

The schools with the strongest environmental law clinics generally overlap with the top-ranked environmental programs, offering hands-on work on regulatory, litigation, and public-interest matters, led by the U.S. News 2026-27 environmental law leaders Pace, Lewis and Clark, and UC-Berkeley, though each school's specific clinic docket is listed on its own program page. Compare each program's clinic docket, externship partners, and regional employers, since clinical experience often shapes placement more than rank alone.

Is environmental law a good career?

Environmental law can be a rewarding career for those drawn to regulatory, energy, and public-interest work, with roles across firms, agencies, companies, and nonprofits. Pay varies widely by employer and market, and public-interest roles typically pay less than corporate practice. Demand tracks regulation and energy policy, so build clinics and internships that connect you to that work.

Sources

• U.S. News 2026-27 Environmental Law rankings (via TaxProf Blog)

Verified August 2026.