Land Use & Natural Resources Clinic

Work with government agencies and non-profit organizations on public lands issues, wildlife law, and conservation issues affecting communities in the West. Clients may include Montana Water Court, National Wildlife Federation, Trout Unlimited, Missoula Parks & Recreation, Great Burn Alliance, Wildearth Guardians, and Confederated Salish & Kootenai Tribes.

  • In-House Clinic
  • Academic Year
  • This clinic satisfies the Natural Resources and Environmental Law Certificate.

(6 semester or academic year placements)

Clinic Director

Professor Sandi Zellmer

Pre-Requisites

Professional Responsibility

Recommended

It is strongly recommended that students in this placement take Administrative Law and one or more of the following:  Public Lands; Wildlife Law; Water Law; Introduction to Environmental Law; or Land Use Planning & the Environment. 

Areas of Emphasis

Public lands; natural resources law; water law; wildlife law; environmental law; land use; regulatory drafting; legal research and writing; problem-solving; presenting to governing bodies, the public, and other organizations; interacting with scientists, elected officials, planners, and other professionals in interdisciplinary settings.

Sample Projects

Model conservation easement provisions
Study on Montana’s water rights system
Drafting agency wildlife regulations
Report on agricultural land protection
Report on planning for wind farm development
Drafting wildland-urban interface fire protection regulations

General Information

The primary mission of the Land Use and Natural Resources Clinic is to provide government support on land use and natural resources issues facing our community and state.  On occasion, the clinic assists non-profit organizations that are engaged in studies or educational initiatives related to natural resource issues in the West.  The clinic does not represent non-profit organizations in litigation matters.  In selecting clinic projects, emphasis is made on the importance of community service, the interdisciplinary nature of natural resources law, and the complex balancing of stakeholder interests and perspectives that is necessary to a land use and natural resources practice.

This clinic has three tracks: land use, water, and wildlife.  Students are not limited to one track, and clinic projects often involve multiple natural resource issues.  For example, a student may work on a project involving both fish habitat concerns and water rights protection.  Another project might involve land use development and wildlife protection.

Students may work with local government, state agencies, or other organizations on projects related to land use, water, wildlife, or other natural resources issues.  Recent clients have included City of Missoula Parks and Recreation, Missoula County Planning Services, Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks, and the Montana Supreme Court / Water Court.  The clinic has also worked on educational projects for the National Land Trust Alliance, Montana Association of Land Trusts, and the National Wildlife Federation.

Selected Clinic Work

Agricultural Protection in Montana:  Local Planning, Regulation, and Incentive
The Role of Fish and Wildlife Evidence in Local Land Use Regulation
Local Government Regulation of Wind Energy Development in Montana
Local Government Water-Climate Planning Legislation Draft