McGeorge School of Law has been ranked #1 in the nation for Government Law by preLaw Magazine. This recognition highlights McGeorge’s commitment to excellence in public policy education and its strategic location in Sacramento, offering students unparalleled opportunities to influence state legislation and policy.
The legal profession has a reputation for being slow-moving;litigation or other proceedings across different areas of law may take months or even years. The enactment of change within regulations can take decades when people need to lobby and fight to dismantle ineffective precedents. Law is also a profession known for resisting operational change. Even when it comes to getting your legal education – a chapter culminating in needing bar passage in order to enter the practice of law – the process has not changed in many years.
A common school of thought is that to work in the legal field, you have to be a lawyer. This is far from the case (pun intended). Plenty of people – including lobbyists and even politicians, who help make laws – are not attorneys. You can work within your legal system as long as you understand it.
For those looking to use the law to increase environmental protections, McGeorge School of Law has two specialized program options. Both our LLM and MSL degrees in water and environmental law give our students the skill set to shape the future of environmental advocacy and policy.
Law books aren’t everything. Practical legal training prepares you for your career, and McGeorge School of Law’s program focuses on giving those skills to our students. Contact us today.
When deciding on what school to attend, there are many factors to consider, including the program, the location, its network, and its flexibility. You should also think about how the school can benefit your legal education and your future career.
The online MSL degrees in Government Law and Policy and Water and Environmental Law are programs for working professionals who would like to enhance their career with an advanced legal degree but who do not want to practice law.
In California, over one million people do not have access to safe, affordable, and reliable drinking water. Many small water systems and domestic wells are unable to meet safety standards under federal and state drinking water laws, and this problem disproportionately affects Latino, rural, and low-income communities. Two-thirds of the communities that suffer from drinking water insecurity or entire lack of drinking water are disadvantaged communities that have an annual median household income less than 80% of the statewide annual median. In many of these communities, the taps run dry, and where water runs, the water is toxic. Additionally, some California residents spend more than five times the affordable rate for water.
Lawmaking doesn’t stop during a pandemic. In fact, the work of lawmakers and lobbyists becomes, in many ways, more pressing than ever. With governments and their citizens facing the new challenge of life in a pandemic, lawmakers must find ways to continue serving their constituents. Also, lobbyists must continue to represent their causes and ideals.
Chris Micheli, adjunct professor at McGeorge School of Law and a principal with the Sacramento government relations firm of Aprea & Micheli, is continuing to lobby and engage with the legal processes of the California State Legislature throughout the pandemic. His experience informs his teaching at the McGeorge Capital Center for Law and the online Master of Science in Law (MSL) in Government Law & Policy program.
Get to know Clémence Kucera, Assistant Dean for the Graduate, Online, and International Programs at McGeorge School of Law. Clémence assists students through the admission process and helps them achieve their goals. She also works with alumni to continuously improve the program and foster a tight-knit community.
Learn all the ways an MSL in Government Law & Policy and help you advance in your Policy Advocate Career.
In our most recent webinar, we had the pleasure of talking with a current online MSL student, Savanna Sanders. She kindly joined us for a fun and informal conversation that nonetheless provided some great insights into the day-to-day life as a McGeorge online MSL student of Water and Environmental Law.
Professor Rebecca J. Olson is a founding partner of Miller & Olson, LLP, where she specializes in political, campaign, election, and nonprofit law. From high school student to founding partner of the firm, she has always been fascinated by election law. After earning a degree from McGeorge, she was happy to return to her Alma Mater to teach a subject she’s so passionate about.
Professor Rebecca Olson is a full-time attorney, one of the founding partners of Miller and Olson, LLP, who specializes in political, campaign, election, and nonprofit law. Professor Olson provides legal advice to corporations and trade associations; serves as general counsel and treasurer to many campaign committees for local, state, and federal candidates; handles matters relating to compliance with campaign, lobby, and election laws; and much more. Oh, and she earned her J.D. right here at McGeorge.
As California continues to grow, water rights continue to play an important, though often controversial, role in shaping its future. According to the Water Education Foundation, California’s growth has closely paralleled an evolving and complex system of water rights. So where do we go from here?
Kim Delfino, an adjunct professor at McGeorge School of Law and the President and Founder of Earth Advocacy, spoke with Clémence Kucera, the Assistant Dean for Graduate, Online, and International Programs, for an Earth Day webinar.
For some careers, having a higher education degree can give you a competitive advantage. This holds true for legislative staff and lobbyists. Many of them earn their bachelor’s degree and then go on to earn a master’s degree. By earning a master’s, you gain a depth of knowledge on a particular subject matter that’s immediately applicable to your career goals.
Earning a degree from McGeorge opens the door to endless Post-LLM career opportunities. A Master of Laws, or LLM degree, enables specialization in a particular area of law. At McGeorge School of Law, we offer a water and environmental law LLM program.
McGeorge’s online MSL programs offer a legal degree for non-lawyers. Neither the MSL in Water and Environmental Law nor the MSL in Government Law and Policy requires a Juris Doctor (JD) or a legal background. They are designed for working professionals and recent graduates who aim to gain a legal education to further their careers.