Law Schedule of Classes

NOTE: Course offerings change. Classes offered this semester may not be offered in future semesters.

Apart from their assigned mod courses, 1L students may only enroll in courses offered as 1L electives. A complete list of these courses can be found on the 1L Elective Listings page. 1L students must use the 1L class number listed on the course description when enrolling.


271.2 sec. 001 - Biodiversity Law (Spring 2026)

Instructor: Eric Gustav Biber  (view instructor's teaching evaluations - degree students only | profile)
View all teaching evaluations for this course - degree students only

Units: 3
Grading Designation: Graded
Mode of Instruction: In-Person

Meeting:

MTu 3:35 PM - 4:50 PM
Location: Law 111
From January 12, 2026
To April 28, 2026

Course Start: January 12, 2026
Course End: April 28, 2026
Class Number: 33831

Enrollment info:
Enrolled: 14
Waitlisted: 0
Enroll Limit: 23
As of: 02/06 06:45 AM


This class provides an overview of the most important legal tools in the United States for the protection of biodiversity. The course begins with a short overview of the history of wildlife law in the United States, and coverage of state hunting and wildlife laws. It then turns to a detailed examination of the most important statute for protecting biodiversity in the United States, the Endangered Species Act. The course wraps up with an overview of constitutional limits on biodiversity protection, and a glimpse at emerging issues such as climate change and international environmental law.

Though the class focuses on the legal structure for protecting biodiversity, it will also explore policy questions such as the role of science and politics in decision-making, the meaning and value of biodiversity, and assessments of the success or failure of the ESA. Students will also gain experience with documents and work-product commonly produced in environmental law practice. Students can either take a final or fulfill the writing requirement through a paper option in the class.

Requirements Satisfaction:


This class fulfills Option 2 of the J.D. writing requirement for all students who elect the paper option.

Students wishing to fulfill the writing requirement must write 30 pages and submit a draft for comment and revision.

Option 2 form needed:

https://www.law.berkeley.edu/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/Writing_Requirement_2017.pdf

Students who elect to take the final exam will not receive writing requirement credit.


Exam Notes: (F/P) In-class Final Exam, or Paper: students option 
(Subject to change by faculty member only through the first two weeks of instruction)
Exam Length: 4 hours
Course Category: Environmental and Energy Law

If you are the instructor or their FSU, you may add a file like a syllabus or a first assignment to this page.

Readers:
No reader.

Books:
Required Books are in blue

  • Wildlife Law
    Goble
    Edition: 3rd/2017
    Publisher: West Academic
    ISBN: 9781628101041
    e-Book Available: unknown
    Price: $232.00
    Note: prices are sampled from internet bookstores. Law-school Bookstore prices are unavailable at this time.

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