Vermont Law School has the largest and deepest environmental program of any law school, and the Environmental Law Center (ELC) is where faculty, students, and advocates gather to work.

Founded in 1978, the ELC serves as the hub for a wide-range of activities, including classes, faculty, research centers and institutes, conferences, lectures, and other special programs. All of these activities contribute significantly to consistently high ranking which Vermont Law receives from U.S. News & World Report for environmental law. Over the past 29 years, VLS has ranked No. 1 in environmental law 20 times and No. 2 eight times, including No. 1 for 2019.

At the ELC, students and faculty work together to address crucial issues such as climate change, energy, water sustainable agriculture, environmental taxation, and land use.

In addition to our robust regular academic year curriculum, the ELC also organizes and hosts the Summer Session, where degree and non-degree students from around the world immerse themselves in environmental law and policy.