This course explores the intersection of law, science, and policy, examining how legal mechanisms are used to address environmental challenges such as pollution, climate change, and resource management. Students will gain insights into key legislation, landmark cases, and regulatory agencies that shape environmental protection. The course begins with an overview of the U.S. legal system and the place of case law and statutory law within that system. The course then explores the roots of environmental law, from early common law decisions to the growth of the 1970s environmental movement, before tackling pressing issues of environmental law in our current day.