Our Sections' Histories
The Public Lands Division began 100 years ago with nine staff and two major practice areas: lands and Indian matters. Today’s Environment and Natural Resources Division comprises nearly 700 lawyers and staff who are working in nine practice areas dedicated to the enforcement of the nation’s civil and criminal environmental laws and programs as well as the defense of the United States in matters concerning the stewardship of the nation’s natural resources and public lands.
The Division also brings and litigates cases concerning Indian rights and claims and the condemnation of land for congressionally authorized public use. With offices across the United States, ENRD is the nation’s premiere environmental and natural resources lawyer, representing virtually every major Federal executive branch agency in courts across the United States and its territories and possessions.
ENRD litigates under hundreds of diverse and wide-ranging Federal statutes and treaties, adding a depth and richness to the Division’s legal practice that provides opportunities for attorneys to work in a variety of interesting areas. Attorneys who remain with the Division for several years have the opportunity to move among practice areas as they chart their career paths, including work in field offices, while others may spend an entire career successfully developing expertise and experience in one highly specialized area of law.
Learn more about our practice areas, present and past, using ENRD section links below.
