LAW 741 - VA Coastal Policy Clinic

The Virginia Coastal Policy Clinic (VCPC) will work in partnership with William & Mary’s Virginia Institute of Marine Science (VIMS) to integrate the latest science with legal and policy analysis to propose solutions to coastal resource management issues. Students in VCPC will learn the challenges currently facing Virginia’s coastal regions, and will, after appropriate legal and policy analysis, educate the Virginia policymaking, non-profit, legal, business, and military communities and, when appropriate, propose adaptive strategies for localities. As a result of the interdisciplinary partnership between the law school and VIMS, VCPC’s analysis and resultant recommendations with the foundational support of VIMS scientific data, will provide the most informed recommendations for Virginia coastal management currently available. VCPC students will address a variety of coastal resource management issues affecting Virginia, some of which are likely to include sea level rise, aquaculture, living shorelines, Bay-wide TMDL implementation, and public/private right disputes. In addition to research and writing related to these issues, and legal and policy analysis and resultant recommendations, students in VCPC will be responsibile for exploring scientific data with VIMS, interviewing members of constituences impacted by the issues, and preparing for and presenting education and outreach sessions for such constituences, for instance in conferences or town hall settings. Local ordinance or legislative drafting may also be necessary, as well as the drafting of white papers focused on coastal management and adaptive strategies. Enrollment is limited to 8 students; 2Ls and 3Ls may register.