New Trend Sweeping Law Schools, DU Ahead of the Curve

The National Law Journal and the Wall Street Journal have recently published articles highlighting a new trend in law degrees sweeping the nation: Master of Laws and Master of Science in Legal Studies. However, this isn’t a new trend for the Environmental and Natural Resources Law and Policy (ENRLP) program at DU College of Law in Denver, CO.

The articles identify new programs designed to offer students an abbreviated law school education, typically taking one third the time of a full Juris Doctorate degree (J.D.). The degrees aim to arm professionals with a more sophisticated understanding of their profession in society and help them to navigate the many areas where law becomes a part of their work.

The ENRL program has been offering these degrees to students for the past 20 years in the form of a Master of Laws in Environmental and Natural Resources Law and Policy degree- for those entering the program with a Juris Doctorate or foreign equivalent and a Masters of Resources Law Studies degree. The Master of Resources Law Studies degree is designed for students with an undergraduate or graduate degree who wishes to broaden their understanding of environmental and natural resources law and policy issues.

The Director of the ENRLP program, Don Smith stated, “We recognize a vital need for advanced graduate studies in this complex legal field and offer a comprehensive, multilevel program to help attorneys, natural resources professionals, and government regulators increase their knowledge of the issues, policies, and laws that affect resources and the environment worldwide.”

Students enrolled in the ENRLP program have the option of further specializing their studies in up to two of the following areas: oil and gas, environmental law, land use, mineral law, energy law, water law, sustainable development and renewable energy law, and finally, international resources transactions. These options allow students to fully develop their understanding in a particular area of environmental law.

For more information about the ENRLP program, visit our website, or email us directly at ldaberkow@law.du.edu.