Cultivating a Greener Future
Aleksandra “Sasha” George (’16) immerses herself in environmental litigation through a Semester-in-Practice at the Environment and Natural Resources Division of the Department of Justice.
When Aleksandra “Sasha” George (’16), a native of the Bronx with a BA in Economics, Philosophy, as well as Environmental Policy from Fordham University, began to look at law schools, she liked BU Law because it “provides a great opportunity to come together with people of diverse backgrounds.” After showing interest in the School, she discussed the curriculum with Professor Jay Wexler, who “explained the different avenues there are for environmental law at BU, specifically the Semester-in-Practice (SiP) program.” This conversation solidified her decision to participate in practical clinics, she says, because she knew she “wanted to gain work experience while in law school,” which the SiP program allows her to do.
George has always been a passionate advocate for environmental issues and policy, especially those regarding urban concerns such as clean water and how to encourage communities to actively engage in environmental justice. “Through the law, I saw a way to fix the problems surrounding me,” she says. “Law and policy are such fascinating aspects of environmental protection.” Elements of different disciplines coalesce to make an impact: “For example, in the realm of environmental regulation, incentive-based market measures encourage sustainable practices.” She has seen this type of collaboration directly during her internship at the Environmental Protection Agency and her SiP clerkship with the Environmental Enforcement Section at the Environment and Natural Resources Division of the Department of Justice.
For the Semester-in-Practice, George divides her time between the Environmental Justice, Regions 7 and 10, and Power Plants groups. Her main responsibilities surround litigation dealing with the Clean Air Act, Clean Water Act, Environmental Justice and the CERCLA Act. This has allowed her the opportunity to hone the skills acquired through courses such as Corporations, Environmental Justice, Constitutional Law, and Civil Procedure. She conducts research and drafts motions, and her name is sometimes credited in the final documents. “I really enjoy the opportunity to participate and provide feedback,” she notes, “especially recently in a series of mock trial sessions with the Power Plants group.”
At BU Law, George has pursued her varied interests, previously serving as president of the Environmental and Energy Law Society (EELS), vice president of the Latin American Law Student Association (LALSA), the 1L representative and mentor for the Black Law Student Association (BLSA), and as assistant director of Legal Follies Contraband’s spring performance. She paired her creativity with philanthropy when she coordinated EELS’s “Snowpocalypse: Climate Change, Extreme Weather & Our Policy Response” event to call attention to climate change and the increasing frequency of severe weather events worldwide. “At the School,” she says, “I’ve found a community that cares.”
When she returns in the spring, George looks forward to taking advantage of the new Environmental Justice Practicum, in which students will have the opportunity to complete an environmental justice-related legal project for a local environmental law organization, such as Alternatives for Community and Environment or the Conservation Law Foundation.
“I am extremely grateful for the chance to work with all of the attorneys and directors in the DOJ ENRD,” she adds. “You need as much specialized experience as possible in environmental law, so I appreciate the opportunities BU Law provides to tailor my work experience to get as much engagement with the specialty as possible.”
Reported by Patricia Broe (CAS’16)