The Environmental Law Program has been a defining part of Courtney Johnson JD ’07’s journey, and now she’s returning to lead it!

As a Lewis & Clark law student, Courtney found her path toward a career in environmental law and advocacy. After graduation, she built an 18-year career in public interest environmental law, including nearly a decade as Executive Director of Crag Law Center. Now, she’s bringing that experience back to Lewis & Clark to help students find their own paths in environmental law.

Courtney is excited to work alongside students, faculty, and alumni to build on the program’s strong foundation and help prepare the next generation of adaptable, confident advocates.

Welcome back, Courtney! We’re so excited to have you leading the Environmental, Natural Resources, and Energy Law Program!

We are so proud of our incredible 2026 JD, MSL, and LLM graduates who were honored at the commencement ceremony on May 16th. 

This year 26 students received the Environmental & Natural Resources Law Certificate and 4 students received the Energy, Innovation, & Sustainability Law Certificate. We also celebrated 12 LLM and 13 MSL graduates.

We can’t wait to see the impact that all of our graduates make in law, policy, advocacy, business, government, and communities around the world.

Congratulations, Class of 2026! 

What if we allowed ourselves to fall in love with the future—and then figured out exactly how to build it?

That was the spirit behind “Empowering Local Climate Action: Education, Policy and Practice,” the opening event of Portland’s PNW Climate Week, held at Lewis & Clark College on July 13. Hosted by the Green Energy Institute at Lewis & Clark Law SchoolGreen Energy Institute at Lewis & Clark Law School, in partnership with Future Climate Collective and Electrify Oregon, the event brought together over 100 youth and climate advocates, both in person and via livestream, for a day of conversation, collaboration, and inspiration.

Law school alumni, professors, community partners, and members of the Lewis & Clark community contributed to panel discussions throughout the day. Lewis & Clark College students volunteering with Future Climate Collective also moderated panels and the keynote conversation with alpinist, author, and filmmaker Graham Zimmerman, whose remarks offered a powerful reminder of the future we have the opportunity to shape together.

More than anything, the day was a reminder of what is possible when we bring people together, create space for young people to lead, and imagine a future worth building.

As summer law clerks with the Global Law Alliance for Animals & the Environment, rising second-year students Nikki Smith, JD ’28, and Hannah Theriault, JD ’28 traveled to Geneva, Switzerland, to attend the 15th Open-Ended Working Group (OEWG) of the Basel Convention, the international treaty governing the transboundary movement and disposal of hazardous wastes.

GLA sent the students to the meeting to support the work of Lewis & Clark Law alum Amy Youngman, JD ’20, who works for the Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA), on waste trade and the growing global challenge of textiles.

Please join us on September 30th for our annual Distinguished Environmental Law Visitor & Graduates Event.

We are excited to welcome back alumna Professor Robin Kundis Craig JD'96 to campus as the 38th Distinguished Environmental Visitor. Professor Craig's lecture is entitled Food Security and Resilient Ecosystems: Marine Aquaculture for the Anthropocene. This year’s distinguished graduates are Oday Salim LLM '09, Chris Gunn JD '11, Marc Fink JD '95, Bubba Cook JD '03, and Paul Conable JD '97. We will also honor Tory Dille JD '26 as the Williamson Award Recipient. 

Founded in 1996 by Dan Rohlf and Craig Johnston, the Earthrise Law Center is celebrating its 30th anniversary – a milestone reflecting decades of advocacy, education, and environmental protection. Earthrise has provided students with unparalleled experiential learning opportunities while advancing meaningful environmental outcomes across the region and beyond.

Professors Craig Johnston and Dan Rohlf have left an enduring mark on the law school, its students, and the broader environmental law community.

October 24th, 2026 | 7pm

Lewis & Clark Law School – Wood Hall Lounge

10101 S Terwilliger Blvd
Portland, OR 97219