The University of Tulsa College of Law is a leader in energy, environmental, and natural resources legal education through the SERL program. Students participate in a rigorous curriculum focusing on current international, national, state, and local issues taught by leading scholars in energy, environmental, and resources law and policy.
Degree Programs
- Juris Doctor, SERL Concentration (JD)
- Juris Doctor and Master of Laws in Energy and Natural Resources Law (JD/LLM combined degree)
- Master of Laws in Energy & Natural Resources Law (LLM)
- Master of Jurisprudence in Energy Law (MJEL)
The Sustainable Energy and Resources Law (SERL) program at TU Law offers an intensive curriculum focusing on energy, environmental, and natural resource law and policy. Legal and policy choices have far-reaching public health and economic consequences in today’s world. While each area has independent significance and importance, SERL’s primary focus is the nexus between energy and natural resources on one hand and the environment on the other. Accordingly, SERL is especially concerned with promoting laws and policies that encourage energy reliability, sustainable supplies of natural resources, and a healthy environment.
Accomplished by
- An advanced curriculum in energy, environmental, and resources law
- SERL policy reviews
- The Energy Law Journal
- ABA Section on Environment, Energy and Resources Year in Review
- SERL scholarship and research
- The SERL Board of Visitors
- Student-related activities
- Public policy conferences and symposia
- Community outreach
The SERL certificate will not be available to students who matriculate in the College of Law after fall 2019. Students who matriculate in fall 2019 must satisfy the requirements for the SERL certificate by the end of the spring 2022 term.
Bulletin/Catalog Information
Program Objectives
- To offer comprehensive training in the fields of energy, environmental, and natural resources law
- To produce nationally and internationally recognized scholarship and research that contributes to the public policy debate
- To facilitate communication among the many individuals, companies, organizations, and public bodies interested in energy, environmental, and natural resources, with the expectation that such communication will lead to more enlightened national and international laws and policies
SERL Partners
Board of Visitors
The Sustainable Energy and Resource Law Board of Visitors is comprised of energy, environmental, and natural resources professionals in the midst of prestigious careers.
Energy Law (Oil & Gas, Electric Power, Renewable Energy)
Private Practice
Jason Aamodt (JD ’96), Partner, Indian & Environmental Law Group, PLLC
Pamela Anderson (JD ’85), Shareholder, Hall Estill
Brendan Cook (JD ’81), Partner, Baker & McKenzie LLP, Houston, Texas
Jim Roth, Director and Chair of Clean Energy Practice Group, Phillips, Murrah, PC
Thomas Schroedter (JD ’79), Shareholder, Hall Estill
John Williams (JD ’92), Partner, Connor & Winters LLP
Government Practice
Laurence Yadon, General Counsel of a major federal power agency
Corporate Practice
Angie Beehler (JD ’94), Former Senior Director, Energy Regulation/Legislation; Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.
Curtis Craig (JD ’80), Vice President, General Counsel, Corporate Secretary, Explorer Pipeline Company
Curtis Frasier (JD ’82), Former Executive Vice President, General Counsel; Shell Oil Company in the US, Royal Dutch Shell Upstream Business in Americas
Henry Hood, Former General Counsel & Senior Vice President – Land, Chesapeake Energy
Kirk Moore (JD ’81), Associate General Counsel, Noble Energy, Inc.
Stuart Solomon, President, Chief Operating Officer; AEP-Public Service Company of Oklahoma
Environmental Law
Private Practice
David Page (JD ’81), Of Counsel, Leach & Sulllivan, LLP
Non-Profit Advocacy
Kelly Hunter Foster (JD ’96), Senior Counsel, WaterKeeper Alliance; Former head of Environmental Division, Oklahoma Attorney General Office
Natural Resources (Water, Public Lands)
Private Practice
Kevin Patrick (JD ’78), Founding Shareholder; WaterLaw: Patrick, Miller, Kropf
Government Practice
Charles Babst, Jr. (JD ’91), Attorney-Advisor with a major federal natural resources management agency
Faculty
Robert A. Butkin
Professor of Law, SERL Director, Energy Law Journal
Warigia Bowman
Assistant Professor of Law
Melissa J. Luttrell
Assistant Professor of Law
Judith V. Royster
Professor of Law
Rex J. Zedalis
Professor of Law
Journals
SERL provides editorial and staff support to the student editorial boards of two preeminent professional law journals in the energy/environment industry, the Energy Law Journal and the Year in Review. Students who work on these publications have the rare opportunity to enhance their academic experience and publish articles and reports of crucial interest to practitioners and students.