The sustainability business clinic – Australian clinical legal education for a “new environmentalism” and new environmental law

Abstract

Australia is observing a “new environmentalism” – with the community shifting their attention away from government action towards enterprise collaboration and community organisation as a means of achieving environmental protection. Meanwhile, legal scholars are writing about a “fourth generation” of environmental laws which are “integrated” – more connected with other sub-disciplines of law. Scholars have also proposed a transformation of legal education that positions environmental problems within the domain of multiple subject areas. Within this community and scholarly context, Melbourne Law School conceptualised a novel legal clinic: the Sustainability Business Clinic. The clinic responds..