The Environmental Law Journal (ELJ) provides a unique opportunity for students interested in all aspects of environmental law, including wildlife, environmental justice, energy, land use, and more, to explore their interests and network with environmental law practitioners and scholars. Law journal membership is one of the most respected activities in law school due to the legal research, writing, and analysis skills that are developed while serving on a journal.
Environmental Law Journal is a two-year commitment. Students serve as Staff Writers for one year and then become Associate Editors in their second year. Associate Editors may also apply to serve on the Editorial Board. Approximately 20-30 students staff the ELJ each year. Membership on the ELJ is by invitation. Students are eligible to join the ELJ after they have completed thirty units and invitations are extended at the conclusion of the spring semester.
Students are invited to join as writers in one of two ways. First, 1L day students and 2L part-time students who rank in the top 15% of their class are automatically invited to join the ELJ. Second, students may participate in a write-on competition at the end of spring semester. Students who exhibit exemplary writing, organization, and citation skills in the write-on competition will be invited to join the ELJ. All ELJ members must maintain a minimum GPA of 2.75.
Depending on year-to-year staffing needs, additional 2L day students and 3L part-time students may be invited to join ELJ as Associate Editors for one-year commitments. The application process for Associate Editors similarly allows two pathways and coincides with the spring write-on competition.
Staff Writers and Associate Editors earn two credits per year; one in the Fall semester and one in the Spring semester. Editorial Board members receive an additional credit for taking on the extra work of a leadership role.