Academic Programs
LL.M. Environmental & Land Use Law
The University of Florida Levin College of Law is pleased to accept applications for its newest degree program--a Masters (LL.M.) in Environmental and Land Use Law. This one-year post-J.D. degree provides an opportunity for experienced attorneys as well as recent law school graduates to spend an academic year full-time on the UF campus developing in-depth expertise in environmental and land use law. The program is now accepting applications for Fall 2009.
Students admitted to the program work with the LL.M. Program Director to design an individual course of study tailored to their particular interests. LL.M. students are eligible to participate in the Conservation Clinic and to apply for a seat in the Summer Environmental Law Study Abroad Program in Costa Rica. The LL.M. program adopts an innovative approach that combines the study of land use law with environmental law. Many environmental problems result from inappropriate uses of land. Air and water pollution, disposal and clean-up of hazardous waste, endangered species protection and balancing public health and environmental values against the protection of private property interests are challenges that face every community. Issues such as climate change and fresh water shortages are environmental problems with significant land use dimensions.
The program also capitalizes on the many outstanding programs at the University of Florida in disciplines related to environmental and land use law practice, including wildlife ecology, environmental engineering, urban and regional planning, and interdisciplinary ecology. The UF LL.M. program is unique in requiring that 6 of the 26 required credit hours must be from relevant courses that have substantial non-law content and are offered outside the law school or jointly by the law school and another department. In addition to completing required coursework, LL.M. candidates must complete a written project in connection with a seminar or the Conservation Clinic.