MESSAGE FROM THE CHAIR

Written by Miles Hogan

Hello, ELS Members! I am thrilled and honored to start my one-year term as Chair of the Environmental Law Section (ELS). I am joined by fellow Officers Peter Ton as Vice Chair, Leuwam Tesfai as Treasurer, and Darcy Brown as Secretary. We look forward to leading our Executive Committee in putting on excellent educational programs and networking events for our current and future members. We cannot wait to hear your ideas and connect with you.

This year, in addition to maintaining all our existing programs, it is our goal to bring our members more educational webinars, more opportunities for regional get-togethers, hikes, and field tours, and more options to contribute or volunteer. Here are some opportunities this year:

• Chair’s Corner: Networking with ELS—Join us for these monthly Zoom gatherings to meet with other members and the Executive Committee about upcoming ELS events, ask questions or provide ideas and feedback on ELS programs, and discuss current issues in environmental law.
• Diversity Conference—Tentatively scheduled for Friday, February 28, 2025, at Loyola Law School in Los Angeles.
• Law Student Negotiation Competition—UCLA School of Law on Friday, March 21. Encourage any law students you know to participate, and volunteer to be a judge if you’re in the Los Angeles area.
• Climate Change Conference—Spring 2025.
• Mentorship Program—Apply to be mentor and encourage your colleagues and contacts to participate.
• Diversity & Inclusion Fellowship—You or your organization can make a tax-deductible contribution to help fund the program, or governmental agencies and public interest organizations can host a summer Fellow.
• Environmental Law News—Write an article for this publication or volunteer to be an editor.