This past October, 29 clinic alumni representing classes spanning from 2007 to 2026 convened online to celebrate 20 years of hands-on legal education and to share updates about what CLC is tackling next. CLC’s founder and Executive Director from 2005-2019, Bill Weeks, joined the call to offer reflections on the Clinic’s early years, and current Executive Director Christian Freitag shared important updates about our current work and where we’re going.
Conservation Law Clinic has a vast network of alumni who are now passionate professionals striving to make a positive impact in many different fields. Some of their current practice areas include regulatory, corporate, immigration, energy, policy, and, of course, environment. The diverse expertise of our alumni base is an asset to CLC and to the broader cause of protecting the land, water, and wildlife.
“Though I didn’t end up working in environmental law, my time at the clinic helped propel me towards my goal of being a public interest lifer (18+ years now). The incredible vision and energy behind this clinic taught me how to think big when it comes to advocacy.”
Over the span of 20 years, nearly 300 students have gone through the clinic program. This robust web of dedicated professionals can continue to guide CLC’s work and help us train the next generation of environmental lawyers. We look forward to regularly reconvening our clinic alumni network, leveraging their shared and unique knowledge sets, and creating opportunities for mentoring and support of current clinic students—all for the greater benefit of conservation.
“I will always be grateful to CLC for welcoming me, an exchange student, with trust, openness, and a chance to participate in legal practice as a true team member rather than just an observer. I came away with a deeper appreciation of the people whose commitment gives the law its purpose – and an aspiration to become one.”
CLC is an independent, donor-supported nonprofit. In order to continue to offer law students clinical experience in the practice of law and the profession’s public service tradition, we need your support. Please consider donating today.
“Thank you for being a seminal part of me becoming a legal practitioner and continuing to make an impact in conservation.”
