The Iowa Law School is proud to announce that it has been admitted as a Constituent Law School of the Foundation for Natural Resources and Energy Law (FNREL). The foundation is the largest independent nonprofit organization in the nation dedicated to education in natural resources and energy law.

Iowa Law has long been a respected member of FNREL, which provides educational and legal resources to lawyers, law schools, nonprofit organizations, industry, and government agencies. Attaining Constituent Law School status brings the school advanced support and a seat on the foundation’s decision-making Board of Trustees. That seat will be held by Shannon Roesler, the Charlotte and Frederick Hubbell Professor of Environmental and Natural Resources Law, and faculty director of Iowa Law’s Hubbell Environmental Law Initiative.

The achievement was spearheaded by the Hubbell Initiative, which in two comprehensive reports documented the school’s record of education, research, and service, particularly with regard to environment, energy, and natural resources law. 

“We were thrilled to receive the news that the other constituent organizations, and the NREL itself, had approved and granted constituent status for Iowa Law,” said Blake Rupe, the Hubbell Initiative’s program director. Rupe said the designation brings funding for student tuition and professional development programs, as well as opportunities for collaborative advanced research by faculty. There are only 34* other law schools with Constituent Law School status in the foundation. 

Alex Ritchie, executive director of the FNREL, celebrated Iowa Law’s new status.

“This distinction gives Iowa Law a seat on the foundation’s Trustees Council and provides access for Iowa Law faculty and students to the foundation’s extensive scholar development programs for Constituent Law Schools,” Ritchie said.

Ritchie noted the high bar for acceptance as a constituent member. “Constituent Law School status is reserved for law schools that show dedication to and achievements in education and scholarship in the areas of natural resources, energy, and environmental law. To achieve this distinction requires the recommendation of both our Credentials Committee and Board of Directors, as well as the approval of our Trustees Council.”

Ritchie added that the NREL “appreciates Iowa Law’s long history as a leader in scholarship surrounding Indian and Indigenous Peoples law, which is an area of significant interest for the foundation, particularly as it relates to jurisdiction and sovereignty over resources and resource development and use.”

Iowa Law graduate Scot Anderson (JD ‘87) is a former president of the foundation’s Board of Directors. He said his alma mater is an excellent fit for constituent status, describing the FNREL as a vital forum dedicated to sharing knowledge, ideas, and solutions from across the legal profession, industry, government, and environmental and other nonprofit organizations.

Ritchie agreed. “We have a big tent,” he said of the NREL. “We value collegiality and bring together lawyers, professionals, academics, and students to learn and network in a supportive environment where all participants are valued. We welcome Iowa Law and their newly appointed member of our Trustees Council, Professor Roesler, to our community.”

*as of July 20, 2024.