1Ls welcome to law school! You are at the beginning of an exciting and difficult first year of law school. During the year you will learn how to read and brief cases, conduct legal research and writing, and take law school finals. You will also learn how to buy coffee in bulk and get by with a few hours of sleep. Good luck!

For students who come to law school looking for an education in environmental law, policy, and advocacy, first year can be a very frustrating experience. Most, if not all, of your core classes are set and reading assignments contain few direct references to environmental cases. In addition, career offices are often underequipped to support students looking for summer internships in environmental law and policy.

Fortunately for all of you, you can use the NAELS website and the NAELS network to supplement your first year experience and give you exposure to the environmental issues, education, and opportunities you are seeking. In addition, it is likely that your law school has an environmental law student group that will connect you to a community of like-minded students.. If not, you can start one using the NAELS How-To Guide. Follow the links below for more information.