U of Washington Clinic

UW School of Law to Establish the
Kathy and Steve Berman Environmental Law Clinic

Law students to become hands-on advocates for region’s environment

April 22, 2003

Seattle – The University of Washington School of Law announces the establishment of the Kathy and Steve Berman Environmental Law Clinic. A substantial gift from the Berman family will fund the clinic, through which UW law students will become hands-on advocates for our region’s top environmental concerns.

In collaboration with faculty advisors and practicing lawyers who specialize in environmental law, students will conduct investigations, consult with scientific experts, develop and initiate cases, and work on testimony before agencies. They will also conduct research into emerging issues in environmental law and contribute to scholarly publications. A national search for a director is under way, and the clinic will accept students and begin taking cases in fall 2003.

“We’re elated that the Bermans have chosen to support the environmental law program in this way,” said William Rodgers, Jr. Stimson Bullitt Professor of Environmental Law. “The clinic represents a unique opportunity for our students and the wider university to be legal custodians of the natural treasures and environmental health of our region.”

Rodgers is widely recognized as one of the ‘founders’ of U.S. environmental law and author of leading treatises in the field. He has worked on dozens of cases involving issues of air and water pollution, nuclear power plant siting, toxics and the Federal Advisory Committee Act. He has appeared in the U.S. Supreme Court on issues of Indian treaties and salmon protection.

The Berman Environmental Law Clinic will draw on the University of Washington’s environmental law faculty and extensive cross-campus expertise in fields such as Zoology, Aquatic and Fishery Sciences, Forest Resources, Civil and Environmental Engineering, Marine Affaires, Environmental Health and Ecology. In addition to representing clients in court, the clinic will become a definitive information resource on contemporary environmental law and policy, with special focus on the Pacific Northwest.

“The driving force behind the clinic comes from Kathy’s and my appreciation of the natural resources we are blessed with here in the Northwest, and our desire to preserve those for our children and generations to come,” said Steve Berman, managing partner of the firm of Hagens Berman. “We believe that when we combine the resources of the University, those from the law school and other departments, with the energy of interested students and the experience of lawyers from my firm and others who will join us, we can become a powerful force that makes a difference on environmental issues important to our communities.”

Berman specializes in class actions and multi-plaintiff litigation, and has prosecuted numerous class action and complex litigations involving entities in such notable matters as the Washington Public Power Supply System, the Exxon Valdez Oil Spill, the Michael Milken Litigation and served as special assistant attorney general for 13 states in their tobacco litigation, including the states of Washington, Oregon, Idaho and Montana. He is currently involved in environmental matters involving a copper mine in Papa New Guinea, mines in Indonesia, agricultural practices in Northern Idaho and the lead pollution of the Silver valley in Idaho. In 2000, the National Law Journal named Berman as one of the top litigators in Washington State and as one of the 100 most powerful lawyers in the nation.

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For more information about the University of Washington Environmental Law Clinic, contact William Rodgers, professor of law at (206-543-5182) or Alan Kirtley, director of Clinical Law Programs at (206-685-6802).

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CLINICAL INITIATIVE ABOUT THE PROJECT Home Successes U of WA Clinic CLINICAL RESOURCES Home BACK TO PROJECTS Home NAELS Home	UW School of Law to Establish the Kathy and Steve Berman Environmental Law Clinic Law students to become hands-on advocates for region’s environment April 22, 2003 Seattle – The University of Washington School of Law announces the establishment of the Kathy and Steve Berman Environmental Law Clinic. A substantial gift from the Berman family will fund the clinic, through which UW law students will become hands-on advocates for our region’s top environmental concerns. In collaboration with faculty advisors and practicing lawyers who specialize in environmental law, students will conduct investigations, consult with scientific experts, develop and initiate cases, and work on testimony before agencies. They will also conduct research into emerging issues in environmental law and contribute to scholarly publications. A national search for a director is under way, and the clinic will accept students and begin taking cases in fall 2003. “We’re elated that the Bermans have chosen to support the environmental law program in this way,” said William Rodgers, Jr. Stimson Bullitt Professor of Environmental Law. “The clinic represents a unique opportunity for our students and the wider university to be legal custodians of the natural treasures and environmental health of our region.” Rodgers is widely recognized as one of the ‘founders’ of U.S. environmental law and author of leading treatises in the field. He has worked on dozens of cases involving issues of air and water pollution, nuclear power plant siting, toxics and the Federal Advisory Committee Act. He has appeared in the U.S. Supreme Court on issues of Indian treaties and salmon protection. The Berman Environmental Law Clinic will draw on the University of Washington’s environmental law faculty and extensive cross-campus expertise in fields such as Zoology, Aquatic and Fishery Sciences, Forest Resources, Civil and Environmental Engineering, Marine Affaires, Environmental Health and Ecology. In addition to representing clients in court, the clinic will become a definitive information resource on contemporary environmental law and policy, with special focus on the Pacific Northwest. “The driving force behind the clinic comes from Kathy’s and my appreciation of the natural resources we are blessed with here in the Northwest, and our desire to preserve those for our children and generations to come,” said Steve Berman, managing partner of the firm of Hagens Berman. “We believe that when we combine the resources of the University, those from the law school and other departments, with the energy of interested students and the experience of lawyers from my firm and others who will join us, we can become a powerful force that makes a difference on environmental issues important to our communities.” Berman specializes in class actions and multi-plaintiff litigation, and has prosecuted numerous class action and complex litigations involving entities in such notable matters as the Washington Public Power Supply System, the Exxon Valdez Oil Spill, the Michael Milken Litigation and served as special assistant attorney general for 13 states in their tobacco litigation, including the states of Washington, Oregon, Idaho and Montana. He is currently involved in environmental matters involving a copper mine in Papa New Guinea, mines in Indonesia, agricultural practices in Northern Idaho and the lead pollution of the Silver valley in Idaho. In 2000, the National Law Journal named Berman as one of the top litigators in Washington State and as one of the 100 most powerful lawyers in the nation. ### For more information about the University of Washington Environmental Law Clinic, contact William Rodgers, professor of law at (206-543-5182) or Alan Kirtley, director of Clinical Law Programs at (206-685-6802). [top of page]
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