JD Concentration in Sustainability
Our JD Concentration in Sustainability offers degree candidates competitive specialization in the emerging, interdisciplinary area of sustainability and its increasing importance in real estate, environmental, and regulatory legal work.
The concentration curriculum, developed with input from our Real Estate Law Advisory Board and the faculty, consists of fundamental, required courses in energy law, environmental law, local government law, real estate transactions, and sustainability in modern real estate transactions. JD candidates will further tailor their specialization by taking electives in a broad range of interdisciplinary areas.
For further information, contact Professor Celeste M. Hammond, Director, Center for Real Estate Law.
Requirements
Degree candidates interested in enhancing their career opportunities with the JD Concentration in Sustainability must complete a minimum of 16 sustainability credit hours, including 9 required credits, and must graduate with a cumulative overall GPA of 3.0 and a GPA of 3.25 in sustainability coursework.
JD candidates are allowed to apply up to 8 LLM credits toward the JD with the permission of the appropriate center director. (IBT-identified courses may have additional prerequisites.) Joint JD/LLM in Real Estate Law candidates may apply up to 10 LLM credits towards both degrees. These credits may also count towards the JD Concentration in Sustainability.
Students who matriculated prior to August 16, 2019, are subject to degree requirements in place when they first enrolled, provided they complete those requirements within the time limit for degree completion and do not interrupt their enrollment without formal approval. Students should consult the appropriate concentration faculty director regarding their concentration requirements.
Note: We are now fully converted to UIC course numbers. Please use the course conversion table if you need to review JMLS course numbers (no longer in use).
Curriculum
Required Courses
- Real Estate: Energy Law (JD 509/RE 509, 2 Credits)
- Real Estate: Natural Resources Law (JD 420/RE 420, 2 Credits)
- Real Estate Transactions (JD 439, 3 Credits)*
One of the following courses:
- Environmental Law (LAW 445, 3 Credits)
- Real Estate: Environmental Controls & Concerns (JD 426/RE 426, 2 Credits)
*Prerequisite to LLM in Real Estate Law courses
JD & LLM Elective Courses
- Independent Study in Real Estate Law (RE 596, 1-3 Credits)
- International Trade & Development Law (IBT 481, 1 Credit)
- Real Estate: Commercial Transactions (JD 440/RE 440, 2 Credits)
- Real Estate: Construction Law (JD 456/RE 456, 2 Credits)
- Real Estate: Historic Preservation Law (JD 531/RE 531, 2 Credits)
- Real Estate: Land Use Control & Zoning (JD 452/RE 452, 2 Credits)
- Real Estate: Public Finance (JD 458/RE 458, 2 Credits)
- Special Topics in Real Estate & Sustainability Law (RE 594, 1-2 Credits)
- Sustainable International Economic Development Law (JD 471/IBT 471, 1 Credit)
Please review each course description to determine what prerequisites apply.
JD & LLM Practice-Oriented Electives
Candidates may select only one of the following two practical courses.
- Externship: Sustainability (JD 545/RE 545, 1-3 credits)
- Stetson International Environmental Moot Court Competition (TADR 412, 1-2 Credits)†
†Concentration candidates interested in this course must contact the Center.