TEXAS A&M ENVIRONMENTAL & NATURAL RESOURCES SYSTEMS CLINIC UPDATES

This past spring of 2022, Professor Gabriel Eckstein, Director of the Texas A&M Energy, Environmental and Natural Resource Systems Law Program, established one of the only Environmental Law clinics available to law students in Texas, the Texas A&M Environmental & Natural Resources Systems Clinic. Eckstein co-taught the course alongside Sara Thornton, principal attorney with Lloyd Gosselink Rochelle & Townsend , P.C., and one of the top environmental law attorneys in the state. The students enrolled in the clinic included: Brad Eckhart, Victoria LaFleur, Bret Nance, Haley Varnadoe, and Hagan Wright.

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The two primary objectives for the clinic were to address critical environmental and natural resource issues, and helping to equip Aggie law students with hands-on, practical experience to lead change in these areas as they begin their practice. The large number of Texas A&M law students focused on creating change in the field, coinciding with the limited availability of environmental law clinics across the state, garnered excitement among the participants.

The clinic ranges in class size from five to eight students and is taught every spring semester. Each year, students enrolled in the clinic collectively take on a single client and focus their efforts toward ensuring legal compliance with environmental regulations. The clinic allows students to gain practical experience in areas that a classroom setting cannot offer, such as time management, scheduling meetings, arranging meetings with experts, conducting site visits, and more.

Third year law student, Brad Eckhart, was one of the clinic participants in Spring 2022. Eckhart says “my biggest takeaway from the clinic was communication is key. You have to communicate the extent and scope of work you will be doing for the client, but it’s not just client communication. You have to communicate with your team, you have to line up group meetings outside of class time. Communication was necessary for success in every phase of the project.”

Participants in the Spring 2022 clinic helped to advise the Clearwater Underground Water Conservation District and their Board of Directors on the applicability and substance of TCEQ rules and regulations. The students created a risk-assessment memorandum which described the current reach of the Edwards Aquifer Protection Program, how it is administered, and by whom. Dirk Aaron, General Manager for the CUWCD, said the assessment “gave the District clarity and understanding in determining best business management practices.”

When Aaron was asked what three words he would use to describe the students’ work over the semester, he responded with “factual, superb, and timely.” He also expressed that the Board of Directors’ experience with the clinic left them with a sense of respect and awe for Texas A&M Law because the participants’ level of professionalism and overall work product indicated that they are ready to work with the issues involved in environmental and water law.

While the District enjoyed their experience working with Texas A&M Law law students, the students also enjoyed working with the District. Eckhart says, “I liked working with the District, and particularly Dirk Aaron, because they were technically and legally sophisticated.”

In addition to the working relationship established with the District, Texas A&M Law has established relationships with agencies such as the Trinity River Authority, Texas Target Communities, Texas Water Foundation, Tarrant Regional Water District, and other groups. As the Environmental & Natural Resources Systems Clinic continues to be taught, the list of agencies the school has a relationship with is sure to expand.