Inside E-LAW U.S.: Origins of E-LAW, Fall Externs

Origins of E-LAW

In 1989, public interest lawyers from ten countries were working together at a public interest law conference at the University of Oregon School of Law. As they talked, they discovered that communities in their countries were facing similar environmental challenges. They realized that if they could share strategies and legal and scientific information across borders, they could promote environmental protection more effectively. This idea became the Environmental Law Alliance Worldwide.

E-LAW’s founders agreed to collaborate, replicate successful environmental policies, and learn from each other’s experience. They began their cross-border collaboration in the early days of e-mail.

As the network of public interest lawyers grew, E-LAW became a pioneer in wiring the grassroots. E-LAW brought the first e-mail to public interest advocates in Indonesia and Mongolia. Today, roughly 300 grassroots lawyers and scientists in 60 countries call on the E-LAW network for critical legal and scientific tools.

E-LAW co-founder John Bonine was instrumental in bringing the E-LAW network to life. He serves on the board of directors of E-LAW’s U.S. office and recently published his personal reminiscences of E-LAW’s founding in the Widener Law Review (”Public Interest Environmental Lawyers – Global Examples and Personal Reflections,” Volume X, 2004, Issue 2). You can find John’s report on E-LAW’s website. Go to: www.elaw.org/resources/text.asp?ID=2661

Fall Externs

Neil Weingert

Ryan Casey in Venezuela

E-LAW U.S. thanks its Fall 2004 legal externs – Naomi Melver, Ryan Casey, and Neil Weingart – for helping E-LAW advocates worldwide better protect the environment through law. Last year, E-LAW U.S. launched a formal "externship" program with the Environment and Natural Resources Program (ENR) at the University of Oregon School of Law. Naomi, Ryan, and Neil will all receive academic credit for their work with E-LAW U.S. during the fall term 2004. These externs help make the high impact work of E-LAW U.S. possible. Many thanks to ENR Director Richard Hildreth for making this program possible.