The University of Montana School of Law

The University of Montana School of Law's environmental and natural resources law program is a comprehensive program offering students an environmental and natural resource legal education tailored to their needs. Options range from coursework supplementing a general legal education, to our Certificate Program requiring a special commitment to the topic, to a joint program culminating in a Master of Environmental Science as well as a law degree.

And there is no better place to pursue an education in environmental and natural resources law than in Montana—a state whose history and future are linked to its environment and natural resources—and at The University of Montana—an institution committed throughout its programs to environmental research and education.

The history of Montana is a history of people dependent on its natural resources: first its native populations subsisted by hunting and fishing; then for a century, mining, logging, and agriculture were the primary sources of work and income in the state. Now the state is in transition; agriculture remains an important part of the state's economy, while mining and logging continue decades-long declines. In the state's new economy, the importance of natural resources rests less on their extractive value than on their value in-place. Wilderness recreation, hunting, fishing, spectacular mountains, and pristine streams are what bring people to Montana as tourists and as new residents. Montana's future depends on how its citizens balance competing pressures on natural resources.

The issues in Montana are similar to those faced throughout the West and elsewhere in the United States. Indeed, many of the issues facing Montana are facing countries around the world. The education our students receive will equip them to deal with environmental/resource issues wherever they arise and wherever our students choose ultimately to practice. The University of Montana School of Law combines an outstanding general curriculum with a rich program in environmental and natural resources law. It offers all this in an intimate school featuring small classes, close relationships among students and faculty, and plentiful opportunities for student involvement.