Environmental Law Clinic

The Gonzaga Environmental Law Clinic (Clinic) provides legal representation to not-for-profit environmental programs in the Inland Northwest, with a focus on representing the Spokane Riverkeeper and other area Keeper programs. The Clinic is modeled after a general-practice law firm. Managed by Michael Chappell, as supervising attorney, the Clinic gives students the opportunity to apply academics to legal practice.

Michael Chappell began the Clinic in the Fall of 2009 to fill a void that was identified at Gonzaga by faculty and students. Environmental Law is an increasingly popular subject given the challenges faced with the natural resources in the Inland Northwest and the United States as a whole, and students indicated an interest in applying their class work to real-world legal experiences in a clinical setting. The faculty quickly agreed to add the Clinic to the fall semester and interest in the program has been very high.

The synergy between the Spokane Riverkeeper and the Clinic was a natural for Mr. Chappell. He worked for over eight years in California for a law firm that represented each of the Keepers in California. The creation of the Spokane Riverkeeper in April 2009, was a perfect fit for the Clinic’s mission and the needs of a new environmental organization. Although the Clinic may represent other environmental groups that require free legal services, the priority of the Clinic will always be in conjunction with the mission of the Spokane Riverkeeper.

Students who enroll in the Clinic have all expressed an interest in pursuing a career in the environmental field. While they are enrolled in the Clinic, students will represent Spokane Riverkeeper, or other applicable organizations, on Clean Water Act citizen suit enforcement actions. Students may also appear on behalf of a client in front of regulatory agencies, or provide written comments, to protect the River and forward the mission of the environmental group. Students interact with clients and members of the organizations, they meet with regulators and dischargers, and they conduct investigations in conjunction with experts to determine whether facilities, construction projects, and municipalities are in compliance with the Clean Water Act. Utilizing law students, the program greatly increases the public and legal presence and influence of the Spokane Riverkeeper in processes impacting the Spokane River.

Here are a handful links directly related to our highway case, the Riverkeeper, or me!

Spokane Riverkeeper
"A Man for All Reasons": Profile of Prof. Chappell
"Stop Mucking Around": Lawyers’ discovery of mudflow into Fernan Lake leads Idaho conservation groups to file Clean Water Act notice on Federal Highway Administration

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