Research Opportunities

Administrative, Environmental & Energy Law

Prof. Eric Biber

Prof. Biber is looking to hire research assistants for the summer and fall of 2019. RAs can work on a range of projects in administrative, environmental, and energy law, including but not limited to: (1) a survey of state and federal energy regulation laws and policies and their relationship with renewable energy policy and production; (2) whether and how state constitutional limits on taxes will prevent the implementation of environmental fees and charges (such as California’s cap-and-trade program); (3) Presidential authority to implement federal public lands laws (such as Presidential power to eliminate national monuments); (4) policy responses to fire risks on public and private lands in California and the West; (5) a survey and analysis of the California Endangered Species Act and how to reform it to make it more effective; (6) research on whether competition among states for business adversely affects state environmental laws and enforcement; (7) designing environmental laws and regulations to make them resilient to changes in political outcomes; (8) research on local and state land-use regulation in California and its impacts on housing production and costs; and (9) research on the environmental regulations being developed by California for the state’s newly legalized marijuana industry. RAs will have some choice as to which projects they will work on. RAs can work for credit (as a 297 class) in the fall semester, or for pay in the summer. Fall commitments are expected to be between 5-10 hours/week. In the summer, commitments can range from as little as 5 hours/week to potentially half- or full-time.

• Students can receive 297 credit (1 credit for every 4 hours/week of work) or pay.
• Prior experience or coursework in environmental law is preferred, but not required. 
• Please contact Prof. Eric Biber if you have any questions, would like to discuss, or to apply (resume, unofficial transcript, and brief statement of interest).

CALIFORNIA WATER

Climate Emergency

Professor Dan Farber is looking to hire a research assistant for Fall 2019 to address legal issues relating to a climate emergency. The work will include research on the use of presidential emergency powers to address climate change, and possibly research on the constitutional limitations on the use of Presidential power more generally.  Position is paid, and would involve 8-10 hours of work per week.

• Students can receive 297 credit (1 credit for every 4 hours/week of work) or pay.
• Prior experience or coursework in environmental law is preferred, but not required. 
• Please contact Dan Farber if you have any questions, would like to discuss, or to apply (resume, unofficial transcript, and brief statement of interest).

Ocean Law and Policy

JORDAN DIAMOND & HOLLY DOREMUS

Jordan Diamond and Prof Holly Doremus, Co-Directors of the Law of the Sea Institute, are looking to hire two research assistants for fall 2019 to work on ocean law and policy research.  The work will include drafting and editing sections about current marine issues, including: the nascent California offshore wind industry; the legal framework for marine scientific research; and examination of the status of the ocean as a commons.  Position would involve 4-8 hours of work per week.

• Students can receive 297 credit (1 credit for every 4 hours/week of work), or pay.
• Prior experience or coursework in environmental law and/or ocean law is preferred, but not required. 
• Please contact Jordan Diamond if you have any questions, would like to discuss, or to apply (resume, unofficial transcript, and brief statement of interest).