Students put environment at the heart of their law school
Northumbria University is leading the way in higher education environmental sustainability by becoming the first University Law School to join the Legal Sector Alliance.
The Legal Sector Alliance (LSA) is an inclusive movement of law firms and organisations committed to working collaboratively to take action on climate change by reducing their carbon footprint and adopting environmentally sustainable practices. In joining the scheme, Northumbria Law School is making a commitment to measure and reduce its carbon footprint, minimise resource use, engage employees in climate change activities and work with supplies to ensure responsible supply chain management.
Membership of the scheme is being co-ordinated by a group of students in the Environmental Law Project which is a free legal advice service offered by the Student Law Office at Northumbria University. The project aims to promote and provide access to justice in environmental matters, providing free legal advice and representation to organisations and members of public affected by environmental law and policy issues.
The Student Law Office at Northumbria has been taking on environmental cases since September 2011, covering a wide range of environmental legal issues including pollution and contamination, noise problems, waste, wildlife and countryside issues, flooding, water pollution and environmental prosecutions.
As part of the Environmental Law Project, the students will also be auditing the Law School’s current performance and will then make recommendations for carbon reduction and sustainability improvement measures. It is also anticipated that the Student Law Office will work more closely with the Law Society to promote the Legal Sector Alliance in the region and assist existing members to improve their environmental performance.
Commenting on the news, Judith Mason, Regional Manager of the Law Society said ‘‘I am delighted that Northumbria Law School have joined the Legal Sector Alliance and the Law Society look forward to working closely with the School to promote the scheme to law firms in the North East region’.
Kevin Kerrigan, Dean of Northumbria Law School added ‘Our staff and students are excited by the prospect of joining the Legal Sector Alliance which will help the Law School reduce our environmental impact while embedding sustainability issues across the curriculum. We fully endorse the principals of the Alliance and I am delighted that we have joined the scheme’.
Date posted: January 23, 2012
