Between scientists, fuel economists, automotive companies, and everyday drivers, the race to make the "alternative fuel dream" a reality is consistently front-page news. Household products, from light bulbs to water heaters, now come in eco-friendly versions for the modern consumer. Everywhere you look, a growing concern for the environment is on the agenda, which is but one reason that careers in "green" law are gaining more popularity—and viability—than ever.

Many of the nation's foremost law centers, like Pace Law School in New York, are incorporating specialized legal courses that focus on curtailing, if not immediately eliminating, the following threats to the environment:

• "Hummer" houses: Local governments and citizens alike, in cities from Atlanta to St. Louis, are fed up with the lack of legislation regulating mammoth private residences whose bulk has soared well into the 4,000?10,000-square-foot range in recent years. Although the average American family has scaled back in size, the average home grew from 983 square feet in 1950 to 2,349 square feet in 2004. Bigger homes require more upkeep and utility consumption—not to mention more space.
• Harmful vehicle emissions: As another example of how law schools are reevaluating their commitment to green politics, the Environmental Law Clinic at Stanford Law School recently announced a ruling by the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals claiming that the Bush administration committed an illegal act by ignoring global warming when it set national gas mileage standards for SUVs and pickup trucks. In the wake of this and other discoveries, Stanford Law School urges law programs across the nation to demand the utmost accountability from lawmakers, particularly where it concerns the environment.
• Water and air pollution: The University of Wisconsin-Madison Law School recognizes the need for training highly-skilled environmental attorneys by offering the Land Resources Program, an interdisciplinary track for graduate students. The program offers a variety of courses in land use planning, land-related environmental controls, soil and water conservation, land problems in developing countries, property rights and land tenure, and many more.

These are but three of the many thousands of paths where an environmental law education can lead. In tomorrow's culture, there will be endless opportunities for today's forward-thinking attorney. Passionate environmental lawyers will have the chance to formulate legislation that will not only regulate the conservative guidelines presently set forth, but they will also enable the use of sustainable, Earth-friendly, non-intrusive resources far into the future.

by Hannah Roberts, staff writer

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