The Center for Conservation Excellence
Educating conservation professionals on the history, foundation, developments and threats to conservation law in the United States.
Conservation through Higher Education
The Center for Conservation Excellence exists:
- To showcase the importance of conservation law
- To build awareness of the field of conservation law and policy
- And, to bring conservation efforts, as well as the threats to those efforts, to the forefront of conversation.
Building an awareness of these threats to conservation is paramount to continuing the traditional methods of harvesting wildlife and enjoying the fruits of the discipline we commonly call the North American Model of Wildlife Conservation.
Colloquially known in America today as the “conservation industry,” it has sustained an interconnected relationship with legislative decisions, public policy and public opinion since the late 1800s. If a favorable combination of scientific fact and public opinion are met, new legislation may surface which opens opportunities to advance the efforts of wildlife conservation. The alternative is also true, and represents a challenge facing the efforts of conservationists in America today.
The Center of Conservation Excellence
Educates on the history of conservation, challenges facing modern efforts, and the key role of law, policy, state agency authority, and non-profit support.
Conservation Law Colleges
Continuing Legal Education/Seminars
Professional Opportunities
Universities & Law Colleges
Universities & Law Colleges that offer Wildlife Law, Conservation Law, or some variant of the course in line with the mission.
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Continuing Legal Education/Seminars
The Center offers CLE Seminars for practicing attorneys and judges, as well as students and other conservation professionals.
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Professional Opportunities
We aid in conservation internship and externship placement, plus connecting interested professors with teaching opportunities.
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Universities & Law Colleges Offering Education in Conservation Law
1. Michigan State University College of Law / East Lansing, Michigan
Contact:
- Shelby LaButte – SLaButte@nwtf.net
2. Hillsdale College / Hillsdale, Michigan
- Introduction to Wildlife Law
- Advanced Topics in Wildlife Law
- Nimrod Education Center
Contact:
- Shelby LaButte – SLaButte@nwtf.net
3. Indiana University Maurer School of Law / Bloomington, Indiana
Contacts:
- Professor Robert Fischman – rfishma@indiana.edu
- Professor Christian Freitag (Executive Director of the Conservation Law Center) – cfreitag@indiana.edu
4. University of Wyoming College of Law / Laramie, Wyoming
Contacts:
5. University of South Carolina School of Law / Columbia, South Carolina
Contact:
- Professor Josh Eagle – eaglej@law.sc.edu
Hybrid Internship Opportunities with the NWTF
- Legal & Policy Positions – Contact Shelby LaButte – SLaButte@nwtf.net
6. University of Georgia School of Law / Athens, Georgia
- Wildlife Law (JURI 5376)
- Georgia Law Rod & Gun Club
7. Central Michigan University / Mount Pleasant, Michigan
- Introduction to Public Administration, Conservation Law Application (PAD210)
Contact:
- Professor Rob Powell – powel1rw@cmich.edu
8. Husson University / Bangor, Maine
Contact:
- Professor Lori Perez – perezl@husson.edu
Continuing Legal Education
Continuing Legal Education is a form of professional education for practicing attorneys and judges after their initial admission to their State Bar Association. States may differ slightly in their requirements- including how many credits one needs every year (or two), how many credits of ethics are required (or not), or how many minutes constitutes one “credit hour.” Double check your CLE Requirements through your State Bar Association website or on the ABA website.
The Conservation Law Seminar is offered as a partnership opportunity between the Center and a co-host. Past and upcoming co-hosts of the seminar include, but are not limited to:
- The National Wild Turkey Federation & NWTF’s Palmetto Shooting Complex: Palmetto Shooting Complex – The National Wild Turkey Federation (nwtf.org)
- University of Wyoming College of Law’s Firearms Research Center: Firearms Research Center (uwyo.edu)
- South Carolina Bar Association’s Continuing Legal Education Division: Home (scbar.org)
- On-Demand Offering of Wildlife Law CLE HERE
- Missouri Department of Conservation: Missouri Department of Conservation (mo.gov)
- National Rifle Association’s Annual National Firearms Law Seminar: Largest Gathering of 2A Attorneys in the Country | NRA Firearms Law Seminar (nrafoundation.org)
The topics that are presented on differ slightly by state, based on state-specific legislation and game laws. However, topics consistently include:
- The History of Conservation: Development of Laws, Agencies, and Treaties
- Wildlife Management & the Evolution of the Public Trust Doctrine
- Federal Jurisdiction: Federal Authority for Fish & Wildlife Conservation
- Constitutional Right to Hunt & Fish
- International Hunting Law & CITES
- Human Rights for Animals & Natural Resources
Interested in partnering with the Center for a CLE in your region/state? Reach out to Shelby LaButte (SLaButte@nwtf.net)!
Professional Opportunities
Jobs/internships will be posted as they are available or as we secure reoccurring internship opportunities.
If you are a professor interested in teaching a version of the Wildlife Law course, our staff will assist you in pursuing a university or law college, as well as provide you with PowerPoints, White Papers, Assignments, and a Syllabus on the foundational topics of Conservation. Contact: Shelby LaButte (SLaButte@nwtf.net).
Internship Opportunities:
- National Wild Turkey Federation, Legal & Policy Internships
- Spring Term, Remote 10hrs/week
- Summer Term, Hybrid 30hrs/week
- Fall Term, Remote 10hrs/week
- Contact: Shelby LaButte – SLaButte@nwtf.net
Your Support Makes a Difference.