Environmental Ethics and The Law

Accreditation Wreath Icon WV
West Virginia selected on map

West Virginia CLE
Accreditation Info

Courses purchased through UnitedCLE.com are provided and fully accredited by The National Academy of Continuing Legal Education, a presumptive provider of CLE in WV, approved by the WV State Bar. To view our full accreditation details please .

All Courses Available iOS/Android Web

All Courses Available iOS/Android Web

About This Course

Since the Earth formed 4.5 billion years ago, it has undergone seven evolutionary eras and five mass extinctions. Today, we are in what many refer to as the Anthropocene—the era of humans—which may also be marked by a sixth mass extinction. To grasp the magnitude of this era, imagine compressing Earth's history into a single calendar year: life began with lightning strikes into the "primordial soup," dinosaurs roamed for roughly six months, yet humans have existed for just the last 30 seconds of December 31st. Despite this brief moment, human activity has impacted the environment more profoundly than any past disease or geological event that led to extinction.

This CLE course explores our moral and ethical responsibilities toward other species as the human population grows, potentially exceeding our planet’s carrying capacity. We will examine how international, national, and local environmental laws have evolved to reflect these responsibilities—laws that differ greatly from the more social and legal considerations of professional ethics, yet are grounded in similar fundamental principles. Unlike the more rigid rules of professional ethics, environmental law involves an interpretive moral balance that varies with each individual and, by extension, each lawyer navigating the Anthropocene. This course provides a deep dive into this balance, emphasizing the unique role of lawyers in shaping a sustainable future.

Decorative Arc

United Makes CLE Easy

A puzzle in a hand

One.

Select Course Package

  • Unlimited CLE

    Enables you to fulfill multiple CLE cycles with one purchase.

  • One-Stop Bundles

    Our most popular courses bundled to save you time and money.

  • Build-A-Bundle

    Select the courses that interest you most while taking advantage of our bundle discount.

A clipboard with a checklist

Two.

Immediate Access to CLE Courses

Courses are available immediately upon checkout. You will have 24/7 access to your purchased courses during the lifetime of your subscription.

Courses can be started, stopped, and paused at any time.

A certificate

Three.

Instantly Print Your Certificate

You can immediately print your CLE certificate upon completion of a course.

A copy of your certificate will remain in your account and will always be accessible to you.

Decorative Arc

Want Different Options?

For a custom suite of courses, our custom CLE option satisfies your CLE cycle requirements in one easy step.

Customize OptionsRight ArrowCustomize Options