Graduation is a couple weeks out and we've had a jam-packed month at the Emmett Institute. We're proud of all our students who have taken home impressive awards this year! Read on for more details. 

- Cara Horowitz ,  Co-executive director

Environmental Law Society Wins Student Organization of the Year
Environmental Law Society leadership receives Student Organization of the Year award. L to R: Christian Rivas '18, Grace Bowden '18, Eric Sezgen '19, Stephanie Oehler '19, Sunjana Supekar '19, Alexandra Gay '19 and Brianne Holland-Stergar '18.  
Photo credit: UCLA School of Law
UCLA environmental law students and alumni earn awards for public service, student leadership and entrepreneurship

The Environmental Law Society was honored as Student Organization of the Year at UCLA Law's annual Student Leadership Breakfast with  recognition for its emphasis on social justice, diversity, engagement and partnership with other organizations at UCLA Law. 

Earlier this month, the UCLA Law community honored environmental law alumni and students as part of a  public service awards ceremony.  Jerilyn López Mendoza, '96, deputy director at California Department of Toxic Substance Control, received the  Trailblazer Award;  Stephano Medina, 1L,  and  Emmett scholarship recipient, won a student award; and  Beth Kent, 3L,  won a student award for her work as president of the Environmental Law Society.   

Last week,  Mac Kennedy, 3L, and Mary Vu, 3L, won first place in the Lowell Milken Institute-Sandler Prize for New Entrepreneurs for a device that reduces the harmful environmental impact of bus emissions. With a total of $100,000 at stake, the LMI-Sandler Prize is the largest entrepreneurship competition at any law school in the United States.

The University of California is not on track to meet its ambitious target to reach net zero carbon emissions from the system's 10 campuses by 2025.  Julia Forgie  and  Ann Carlson  argue that for UC to achieve its carbon neutrality goal, campus leaders will need to look beyond scientific and technological breakthroughs, to focus on organizational behavior, communications strategy and operations management. Download the brief and read a blog post.

Cara Horowitz,  Nat Logar , Ann Carlson  and  William Boyd of University of Colorado Law School submitted a  comment letter to EPA with and on behalf of five electric grid experts: Benjamin F. Hobbs , Brendan Kirby , Kenneth J. Lutz , James D. McCalley  and Brian Parsons . 

The authors argue that the Clean Power Plan respects and effectively harnesses the unique features of the electric grid and is consistent with the twin aims of the grid: power reliability and affordability for all consumers.  Read the comment letter and a blog post. 

The Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach bring more goods into the U.S. than any other ports in the country. Yet together the ports are the single largest source of air pollution in Southern California. Photo credit_ Cityfabrick_ Flickr
The Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach bring more goods into the U.S. than any other ports in the country. Together the ports are the single largest source of air pollution in Southern California. Photo credit: Cityfabrick, Flickr

Co-hosted by UCLA Law and Berkeley Law, a conference at UCLA Covel Commons on June 8 will discuss how to achieve zero-emission freight at Southern California's ports. Speakers from industry, government and civil society will address questions on technology, finance and policy. Register today!
RSVP for discussion on California climate policy

Join the UCLA Luskin Center for Innovation on Monday, April 30 for an evening reception, presentation and panel discussion on California Goes Green, a new book from Michael Peevey and Diane Wittenberg on the state's air pollution and climate leadership. Ann Carlson will join a panel discussion.  Details and RSVP.
Last call for 2018-2020 fellowship applications!

April 30 is the deadline to apply to the  UCLA Emmett/Frankel Fellowship in Environmental Law and Policy for the academic years 2018-2020. This fellowship is a full-time, two-year faculty position beginning July 1, 2018.  Apply today!
Attorneys visit campus to share experiences and insights in environmental law 

Attorneys offer career advice at panel event. L to R_ Sean Hecht_ Kavita Lesser _03_ Mitchell Tsai_ Mike Leslie.
Attorneys offer career advice at panel event. L to R:  Sean Hecht,  Kavita Lesser '03,  Mitchell Tsai,
Mike Leslie. 
Photo credit: Daniel Melling  

The Environmental Law Society and Emmett Institute hosted several events this month where practicing lawyers offered perspectives on their work:
  • At a career panel (pictured), attorneys Kavita Lesser, '03, California Department of Justice, Environment Section, Mitchell Tsai, Law Office of Mitchell M. Tsai, and Mike Leslie, Boies, Schiller, Flexner shared stories and advice on paths to success in government and private practice.  
  • Zak Smith, '03, senior attorney at Natural Resources Defense Council spoke to students about his work to protect the vaquita, the world's smallest porpoise species, which could go extinct within the next year or two. 
  • And Eric Garner, managing partner, Best Best & Krieger, visited campus to speak to students and faculty about the 2014 Sustainable Groundwater Management Act and challenges for groundwater management across California. 
Trivia corner

The photo below was taken this April at a park in Southern California. Can you name the park? 


First correct answer sent to Daniel Melling, melling@law.ucla.edu, will receive a donut at LuValle Commons! 
For more Emmett Institute updates, follow us on Twitter @Emmett_UCLALaw and like our Facebook page. For insights on environmental law and policy from UCLA Law and Berkeley Law faculty, subscribe to our blog Legal Planet.