About the Clinic
The connection between people and their environment, and the interplay between them, is a well-known fact. Although we are all affected by global warming, by the air pollution we breathe, by Israel's waste challenges, and by damage to open spaces and natural assets, legal efforts to improve the situation and promote a better future remain insufficient.
Driven by a sense of mission among academics, members of civil society, and scientists — environmental activists at heart — the Environmental Regulation Clinic was founded in 2001. The Clinic's goal is to achieve real results on the ground through proper enforcement, the promotion of sustainable legislation, and regulation that advances environmental justice, while taking into account Israel's unique challenges. The Clinic is currently supported by a team of researchers and activists who are part of the faculty of the Faculty of Law and the Department of Environmental Studies, Planning and Sustainability at Bar-Ilan University. A central focus of our work is the connection between environmental hazards and issues of social justice.
As an integral part of legal education, the Clinic provides legal guidance and assistance to individuals, communities, and organizations seeking to advance environmental justice, nature protection, and sustainable planning. The Clinic's caseload focuses mainly on planning and construction matters and environmental hazards. At the same time, the Clinic works to shape policy vis-à-vis decision-makers by drafting bills, writing position papers, and commenting on government initiatives in this field. Work at the Clinic combines legal education, academic research, and hands-on practice, with the goal of cultivating open-mindedness and entrepreneurial ability among students.
Leadership Team
Prof. Oren Perez is the academic advisor who has guided the Clinic since founding it in 2001. Prof. Perez, one of Israel's senior environmental law scholars, previously served as Dean of the Bar-Ilan Faculty of Law and currently serves as founder of the University's School of Sustainability and the Environment.
Adv. Racheli Hecht directs the Clinic and leads its practical legal work. She holds an LL.B from Bar-Ilan University, summa cum laude, and has approximately six years of experience as an attorney in environmental and civil litigation. She previously served as a pre-internship clerk in the Knesset's Interior and Environment Committee and State Control Committee.
The Clinic brings together two groups of students: third-year students from the Faculty of Law and MA students from the Environmental Regulation and Policy program. Combining the two groups makes it possible to handle a wide range of projects with a comprehensive view of the field, while gaining familiarity with environmental law across its civil, administrative, and regulatory aspects.
Students take an active part in every stage of case management — from direct contact and meetings with clients, through strategic brainstorming on case management and conducting legal research, to drafting pleadings, dealing with government authorities, and drafting bills and position papers.