3L Ellie Bowen Combines DOJ Experience and Leadership Roles in UC Law SF’s Environmental Law Concentration 

Ellie Bowen pursues her passion for environmental law through hands-on experiences at UC Law SF, connecting coursework, case law, and doctrine to litigation, law enforcement, and policy advocacy.

3L student Ellie Bowen explains how UC Law San Francisco’s courses, clinics, and student leadership opportunities helped her build a path in environmental law. She plans to graduate this May with an Environmental Law Concentration, one of 12 specialized tracks for JD students. 

• Tailored her JD experience with an Environmental Law Concentration, integrating courses, clinics, and leadership roles. 

• Worked with the U.S. Department of Justice through the Environmental Law Clinic and with a major advocacy nonprofit through a fellowship program. 

• Honed legal research, writing, and advocacy skills in Moot Court and co-organized a major academic conference on California water law. 

3L Ellie Bowen: 

I’ve long known that I wanted to pursue a career in environmental law. While many law students share that passion — which is encouraging — it also means demonstrating a sustained, concrete commitment is important. The concentration let me show employers I’ve intentionally built my coursework and experiences around this interest. 

Environmental law is incredibly multifaceted. The courses span litigation, policy, administrative law, and subject-specific areas like water, animal, and energy law. Because of that breadth, I feel well prepared entering my career without feeling overly specialized too early. The concentration struck the right balance between depth and flexibility. 

Taking Environmental Law Statutory Analysis as a 1L was a great introduction and a refreshing complement to core courses. It grounded me in major statutes and foundational case law and solidified my interest. My 2L course on Environmental Law and Policy dove deeper into key statutes and the policy considerations shaping regulation. Guest speakers connected doctrine to real-world practice. 

Through the Environmental Law Clinic, I clerked with the U.S. Department of Justice’s Environment and Natural Resources Division in the Environmental Enforcement Section. I saw how cases are developed and litigated, how agencies coordinate, and how tools like consent decrees function. The classroom component — reflecting on placements and learning from classmates — was equally valuable. 

I’m now taking Water Law and Administrative Law while serving as a Lawyers for America Fellow at the Center for Biological Diversity. Working there while studying these subjects lets me see statutory interpretation, rulemaking, and judicial review in real time. 

As a 2L, I competed on the Moot Court team at Pace Law School’s Environmental Law Moot Court Competition, which sharpened my research, writing, and oral advocacy in a specialized environmental context. 

I’m a member of the Environmental Law Association and a Senior Development Editor on the UC Law Environmental Law Journal. I also co-chaired the 2026 California Water Law Symposium, organizing a student-run program that brought together practitioners, academics, students, and policymakers from across the Bay Area. It was rewarding to engage with the California water law community and facilitate conversations about pressing issues. 

Together, these experiences have solidified my interest in environmental litigation and advocacy at the intersection of environmental protection, enforcement, and administrative law, while showing me the importance of staying adaptable in a broad, evolving field. 

I would absolutely recommend UC Law SF and the Environmental Law Concentration. One reason I chose San Francisco was the Bay Area’s strong public-interest environmental community. Being immersed in that ecosystem — surrounded by nonprofits, agencies, and engaged alumni — has been invaluable.  

The Career Development Office has been incredibly supportive. Alumni consistently mentor students, and the environmental law faculty are exceptional and accessible. I’ve had meaningful academic, professional, and leadership opportunities here, particularly within the environmental law community I’ve built over the past three years. For anyone interested in environmental law, UC Law SF is an excellent place to study and grow. 

The Evidence of Success series highlights UC Law SF students as they share how the college’s opportunities equip them with the experience, skills, and confidence to excel in the legal profession.