While the curriculum under the Center for Conservation Excellence does not expect to directly create hunters, anglers, or conservationists, this effort’s ability to arm future professionals with honest and accurate principles of conservation law and wildlife management will benefit the future of conservation in many ways and offer a critical balance to today’s legal education. Those working in the conservation industry depend on the legal system to defend their rights to operate under the North American Model to protect wildlife through modern data and science. For this to continue, law students and graduates need to understand the importance of conservation law and what it protects to help America’s wildlife, habitat, and rights to hunt and fish.
Educate,
Advocate,
Protect.
Education
To maximize our ability to reach the largest number of students, the steady addition of Wildlife Law/Policy courses in new universities is imperative. The concept of education in Wildlife Law/Policy is not limited to law colleges; existing programs allow for crossover between law colleges and, for example, master's programs in Natural Resources.
Students
Professionals
General Public
Continuing Legal Education
Most states require Continuing Legal Education (CLE) credits for active attorneys and judges to maintain their U.S. license to practice law after initial admission to a state bar association. Conservation Law CLE Seminars are hosted with a variety of partnering conservation organizations and state bar associations across the US; the goal being to educate practicing attorneys, judges, policy personnel, and beyond on the legal foundations and threats to conservation, hunting, fishing, firearms, and beyond.
By creating & utilizing videos, white papers, & PowerPoint presentations on introductory topics of Wildlife Law, we communicate the principles of wildlife management. This information is delivered by program staff to student organizations, conservation clubs, bar associations, and the general public. Nonprofit organizations can also utilize the resources to deliver the information to members and volunteers.
The final piece of the Conservation Flywheel model adds a practical element to the machine that attracts new partner colleges and new students to the program. The projects associated here are compiling conservation-based internships, externships, careers, and educators. Students looking to begin their careers in law and public policy and the schools that try to appeal to these individuals are interested in opportunities that increase a student’s chance of success once they graduate. With this goal, the Center is striving to create well-trained professionals that will eventually give back with their expertise and passion by embracing their new education and experiences in the conservation legal profession.
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Professional Opportunities
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Community Impact
The Center for Conservation Excellence recognizes the importance of educating current students, as well as post-graduate professionals in the legal/policy conservation industry as to the threats to modern conservation efforts- of which the Animal Rights movement is a prime example.
Educate, Advocate, Protect.
Shape the future. Preserve our heritage.
Conservation has been interconnected with legislative decisions, public policy, and public opinion since the late 1800s. If a favorable combination of scientific facts and public opinion is met, new legislation may surface that opens opportunities to advance wildlife conservation efforts. The alternative is also valid and represents a challenge facing the efforts of conservationists in America today. There have only been a few programs and projects undertaken to create awareness of wildlife law and policy concepts in the past. While these have been strong in intention and relied on influential experts to deliver the content, the scalability has been challenging when addressing this national conservation need.