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The Robert R. Merhige Jr. Center for Environmental Studies at the University of Richmond School of Law engages in research, instruction, and public outreach on energy and environmental issues in the Mid-Atlantic region and beyond. The center hosts conferences, symposia, and speakers on pressing environmental issues, generating dialogue for policy solutions.

Studying Environmental Law
About Judge Merhige
Events & Conferences
Negotiation Competition
Alumni & Careers
Toxic Substance Resource

Summer Public Interest Fellowships

Each Richmond Law student is guaranteed one summer of funding for a public service or government sector job. Here are just a few examples of recent student placements in the environmental law field. 

  • Appalachian Trail Conservancy
  • Chesapeake Bay Foundation
  • Environmental Council on the States
  • Southern Environmental Law Center
  • Tennessee Department of Environment & Conservation
  • U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
  • U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, & Forestry
  • Virginia Department of Environmental Quality
Prof. Joel Eisen
Prof. Noah Sachs

Recent Scholarship

Prof. Sachs, Argument analysis: The trail, the pipeline and a journey to the center of the earth, SCOTUSblog (2020).

Prof. Sachs, The Paris Agreement in the 2020s: Breakdown or Breakup, Ecology Law Quarterly (2019).

Prof. Sachs, Regulation of Toxic Substances and Hazardous Waste, Foundation Press (3d edition 2018) (w/Applegate, Laitos, Gabba).

Prof. Eisen, The New(Clear?) Electricity Federalism: Federal Preemption of States' "Zero Emissions Credit" Programs, Ecol. L. Q. Currents (2018).

Prof. Sachs, Environmental Law Practice, Carolina Academic Press (4th Ed., 2018) (w/Anderson, Hirsch, Tormey).

Prof. Eisen, Free Trade in Electric Power, 2018 Utah L. Rev. 49 (2018).

In the News

Prof. Sachs, Morning Wave, Nov. 2019: Paris Climate Agreement and US withdrawal

Prof. Sachs, Energywire, Oct. 2019: What to watch in the Appalachian Trail pipeline fight

Prof. Sachs, Bay Journal, Aug. 2019: Shoreline industry poses hazards as sea level, floods increase

Prof. Eisen, Law360, Feb. 2019: Pa. Nuke Bailout Bill Fuels Political Fight With Gas Sector

Prof. Sachs, Bay Journal, Mar. 2019: New Report on Climate-Driven 'Toxic Flood' Threats in Virginia

Prof. Eisen, Richmond Times-Dispatch, Feb. 2019: UR professor is energy law scholar

Presentations

Prof. Eisen, "Climate Change in the Courts," Hot Topics Summer Lecture Series, Vermont Law School, South Royalton, Vermont (July 2019)

Prof. Eisen, "Community Solar Across the Nation: Preliminary Lessons from Ongoing Projects," Energy Law Clinic, Vermont Law School, South Royalton, Vermont (July 2019).

Prof. Eisen, "Clean Energy Justice: Charting An Emerging Agenda," Hot Topics Summer Lecture Series, Vermont Law School, South Royalton, Vermont (July 2019).

Prof. Sachs, "U.S. Climate Policy and Private Equity," Responsible Investment Forum (March 2018).

Prof. Sachs, "SJ295 and Regulatory Rollback," Virginia Conservation Network General Assembly Preview (Dec. 2017).

Contact: Prof. Noah Sachs, Director | nsachs@richmond.edu | 804-289-8555