Hubbell Environmental Law Initiative

University of Iowa College of Law

About HELI Upcoming Events and Programming Opportunities for Students

Generating opportunities for the College of Law to deepen and broaden its engagement with environmental issues in Iowa and beyond.

About the Hubbell Environmental Law Initiative

HELI seeks to create an active forum for interdisciplinary engagement on important environmental issues, support law students and curriculum, and ultimately strengthen the environmental law bar in Iowa.

Upcoming HELI Events

A goal of the Hubbell Environmental Law Initiative is to host high quality and impactful events and programming. Listed here are events that are coming soon.

You can find more information about each event on the "Events and Programming" page.

Barred Owls, Spotted Owls, and Ethics in Wildlife Management

Thursday, September 25, 2025 12:45pm to 2:00pm

Boyd Law Building

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has finalized a plan where it would kill up to half a million federally-protected barred owls in the Pacific Northwest over the next thirty years. The government says that this action is necessary to help ESA-listed northern spotted owls and soon-to-be-listed California spotted owls. But is this justice for spotted owls? Animal activists and attorneys, including members of the panel, believe the government is unfairly scapegoating barred owls for the human-caused...

Law and Legacy: A Reception with the Next Generation of Lawyers

Friday, September 26, 2025 4:30pm to 6:00pm

Courtyard Iowa City University Heights

This unique twist on a networking reception will convene Iowa Law students, alumni, and legal practitioners from the region to kick-off Homecoming Weekend in Iowa City. Join us for engaging sessions with students, as they share their aspirations and build valuable relationships with those already working across the legal spectrum.This event is free but registration is required: https://uiowa.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_0oLyBbMQENHyMdgThis year’s event also marks a special milestone—the 25th...

The Private Sector and the Planet: Navigating the Shifting Landscape of Corporate Governance and Reporting

Monday, September 29, 2025 12:45pm to 2:00pm

Boyd Law Building

Join the Hubbell Environmental Law Initiative, Vanderbilt Law School’s Private Climate Governance Lab, and the Tippie Social Impact Community for the kickoff of The Private Sector and the Planet speaker series. The first talk in this series is a fireside chat with Jill Sanchez, Vice President of Financial Reporting at Deere & Company. VP Sanchez will give a talk on:"Navigating the Shifting Landscape of Corporate Governance and Reporting"As businesses strive to meet changing stakeholder...

Waters of the United States: POTUS, SCOTUS, WOTUS, and the Politics of a National Resource with Royal C. Gardner

Friday, October 10, 2025 12:45pm to 2:00pm

Boyd Law Building

Join Royal C. Gardner, the Professor of Law, Hugh F. Culverhouse Chair, and Director of the Stetson Institute for Biodiversity Law and Policy at Stetson Law, when he discusses his new book Waters of the United States: POTUS, SCOTUS, WOTUS, and the Politics of a National Resource, published by Island Press. In 2023, the Supreme Court made one of its most devastating rulings in environmental history in Sackett v. EPA. By narrowing the legal definition of ‘waters of the United States’ (WOTUS), the...

From the Driftless to the Delta: Rethinking Water Protections in the Mississippi River Watershed

Thursday, October 30, 2025 12:30pm to 2:00pm

Boyd Law Building

Join us for a timely panel discussion exploring how states, communities, and advocates are responding to the regulatory and environmental uncertainties left in the wake of the Sackett v. EPA decision. With a focus on wetlands and water protections across the Mississippi River watershed—from the bluffs of the Driftless Region to the bayous of the Delta—this conversation brings together regional experts to highlight innovative legal, policy, and collaborative approaches for safeguarding critical...

Student Stories: Reflections on Summer Environmental Law Internships

Thursday, November 20, 2025 12:45pm to 1:15pm

Boyd Law Building

Join the Hubbell Environmental Law Initiative and the Iowa State Bar Association for a dynamic session spotlighting Iowa Law students who spent their summer immersed in environmental law and policy work across the state, region, country, and world! Through 3–5 minute lightning talks, these future environmental leaders will share insights from their internships—from litigation and advocacy to research and regulatory practice. This session highlights the real-world impact of HELI’s experiential...

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Our 2024 - 2025 Recap

HELI had an incredible year! Here are some highlights from our Initiative.

18

Different events hosted

1800 +

Attendees at our events

# 50

In the Top 50 Best Environmental Law Schools

98

Different event speakers

About Iowa Law's Expanding Environmental Law Program

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Environmental Law Jobs and Internships

HELI updates job opportunities in 12Twenty each week. To search for these opportunities, in 12Twenty go to Job Listings and search for 'environmental' in the search bar!

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Iowa ELS is a student-run organization that aims to increase awareness of environmental issues.

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