Marking another milestone for the Hubbell Environmental Law Initiative (HELI), the University of Iowa College of Law ranks up to #39 for Best Environmental Law School according to the U.S. News & World Report Rankings. However, this not the first milestone HELI has celebrated recently; the program has soared from an unranked position just four years ago into the top 50 last year. This achievement reflects the College’s growing national presence and continued investment in environmental law education and engagement.

The jump from 50th to 39th this year recognizes HELI's continued support of the Environmental Law community, bolstering new programming, partnerships, and student opportunities:

Development of new Practitioner in Residence program: HELI's new program focuses on bringing prominent environmental practitioners to the University of Iowa for short-term stays dedicated to student learning and engagement. The Practitioner in Residence program is just one way the College of Law demonstrates its commitment to engaging with students and the community alike. 

HELI's partnership with the Vanderbilt Private Environmental Governance Lab: This partnership between University of Iowa College of Law, Tippie Social Impact Community, and Vanderbilt Private Environmental Governance Lab highlights HELI's involvement in tackling environmental issues across sectors. The four-part speaker series has been a year-long collaboration between programs, resulting in a number of high-profile speakers and events supported by HELI. 

Continued and expanded support of student experiential opportunities: Last summer, the HELI team assisted 15 Iowa Law students in landing transformative internships and experiences. These opportunities were made possible through HELI's extensive professional networks and persistence in supporting students in reaching their goals. 

These achievements just scratch the surface of HELI's capabilities as many more possibilities still lay ahead thanks to the growing support and recognition the University of Iowa College of Law has received. 

For more information about the Hubbell Environmental Law Initiative and its programs, please visit heli.law.uiowa.edu.