Wayne State Law School opens new environmental law clinic

The Wayne State University Law School is expanding into sustainability by creating an Environmental Law Clinic.

The new clinic will open this fall. The idea is to provide Wayne State law school students with the tools to help shape environmental law at the state and federal levels.

Students will help prepare policy papers and formal legislative testimony while working with the Great Lakes Environmental Law Center from its TechTown office.

"Ours is going to be the first clinic in Michigan dedicated to representing community groups and local citizens dealing with environmental problems," says Noah Hall, director of the Wayne State Environmental Law Clinic.

The University of Michigan and University of Detroit Mercy also have environmental law clinics, however, those work with the National Wildlife Federation and U.S. Attorney's Office, respectively. Wayne State's clinic will take on local grass root's causes, such as advocating for the prevention of new coal-burning power plants in Michigan.

"We're trying to move the city toward clean and renewable energy," Hall says.

Hall is an assistant law professor at Wayne State and a well-known expert on the environmental policies.

Wayne State also offers other law clinics. Those specialize in disability law, small business, non-profits, child advocacy and free legal aid.

Source: Noah Hall, director of the Wayne State University Environmental Law Clinic
Writer: Jon Zemke